Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- The Frederic T. Bioletti Papers document the work of University of California professor Frederic Bioletti's pioneering work in grape-growing and wine-making practices in California. The collection includes correspondence, research material, publications by Bioletti, and extensive set of publications by others on a variety of agricultural topics, a small series of specimen photographs, and papers pertaining to the University Farm and the creation of Viticulture Department in Davis.
- Extent:
- 14.4 linear feet
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Frederic T. Bioletti Papers, D-363, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Frederic T. Bioletti Papers document the work of University of California professor Frederic Bioletti's pioneering work in grape-growing and wine-making practices in California. The collection includes correspondence, research material, materials relating to the development of the Viticultulre Department and the University Farm, publications by Bioletti, an extensive set of publications by others on a variety of agricultural topics, and a small series of specimen photographs.
Of particular interest are Bioletti's notes and research data on little-leaf disease of grapes and his proposals for an enological laboratory at the University Farm (later known as the University of California, Davis).
These materials were separated from the Harold P. Olmo papers, D-280, and additional materials related to Bioletti's work may still be located there.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Frederic Theodore Bioletti was born in Liverpool, England in 1865. In 1878, he came to the United States and settled in Sonoma County, California. After graduating from Heald's Business School in San Francisco, he worked on Senator Stanford's Vina Ranch, where he was employed in the senator's commercial wine cellar. Bioletti studied at the University of California, Berkeley from 1889-1900; he earned his Bachelor's degree in 1894 and his Master's degree in 1898. During this time, he was also an assistant to noted soil scientist Professor E.W. Hilgard. While working with Hilgard, Bioletti studied the fermentation of wines under a variety of conditions. The results of his experiments aided California vintners in refining their wine production practices and improving the resulting wines.
In 1901, Bioletti left the University of California for Elsenburg College in South Africa, where he taught viticulture, enology, and horticulture for the next three years. Bioletti returned to California in 1904 and rejoined the Department of Viticulture and Enology. With the exception of a brief hiatus from 1908-1910 and another in 1930, Bioletti worked in the department until his retirement in 1935. He was the University of California's first Professor of Viticulture as well as the first chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology.
Bioletti's greatest passion was systematic botany. His last publication was on the classification of vinifera grapes grown in California. Bioletti's academic work fell along similar lines: he was active in introducing and breeding new grape varieties and founded the grape breeding program at the University of California Agricultural Experiment Station. During Prohibition, Bioletti worked on finding additional uses for wine grapes. He also worked extensively with olive products and pioneered the use of an alkaline brine for olive canning.
Frederic Bioletti died in 1939.
Sources:
University of California, In Memoriam. 1939.
- Acquisition information:
- Separated from Harold Paul Olmo Papers, D-280. Gift of Richard W. Hoenisch, 1999.
- Processing information:
-
Elizabeth Phillips, Manuscript Archivist, processed the collection and created the finding aid. Elizabeth Wood, Project Archivist, updated the collection in 2023.
- Arrangement:
-
The Collection is arranged into eleven series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Research; 3. Publications and Manuscripts by Bioletti; 4. Publications by Others; 5. Photographs. 2023 Addition: 6. Correspondence Addendum 7. Research Addendum 8. Publiations and Manuscripts by Bioletti Addendum 9. Viticulture Department Papers 10. Conferences and Conventions 11. Teaching Records.
- Physical location:
- Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections, University of California, Library, Davis as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Frederic T. Bioletti Papers, D-363, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library100 NW QuadDavis, CA 95616-5292, US
- Contact:
- (530) 752-1621