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Whitaker (Thomas W.) Papers
D-578  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Biography
  • Scope and Content
  • Arrangement of the Collection
  • Access
  • Processing Information
  • Acquisition Information
  • Preferred Citation
  • Publication Rights

  • Language of Material: English
    Contributing Institution: University of California, Davis General Library, Dept. of Special Collections
    Title: Thomas W. Whitaker Papers
    Creator: Whitaker, Thomas W. (Thomas Wallace), 1904-1993
    Identifier/Call Number: D-578
    Physical Description: 1.8 linear feet
    Date (inclusive): 1928-1990
    Abstract: Thomas W. Whitaker (1904-1993) served as a geneticist for the United States Department of Agriculture where he developed new varieties of cantaloupes, gourds, and lettuce. The collection contains his articles, talks, and manuscripts, as well as correspondence received upon his retirement, and a photograph album.
    Physical Location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.

    Biography

    Thomas W. Whitaker was born on August 13, 1904 in Monrovia, California. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1927 and received his PhD in Biology at the University of Virginia in 1931. He served as a postdoctoral scholar at Harvard University in 1933. In 1934, he became an Associate Professor at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1936-1973, he worked as a geneticist for the United States Department of Agriculture where he developed better tasting and disease resistant varieties of cantaloupes, gourds, and lettuce.
    Whitaker passed away on November 29, 1993.
    Source:
    Thomas W. Whitaker Obituary, La Jolla Light, December 9, 1993.

    Scope and Content

    The collection contains Whitaker's articles, talks, and manuscripts, as well as correspondence received upon his retirement, and a photograph album.

    Arrangement of the Collection

    The collection is arranged alphabetically.

    Access

    Collection is open for research.

    Processing Information

    Sara Gunasekara processed this collection with assistance from student employee Michelle Xie.

    Acquisition Information

    Gift of Beverley Whitaker Rodgers in 2014.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], D-578, Thomas W. Whitaker Papers, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis.

    Publication Rights

    All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. 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 Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Melons -- Research
    Lettuce -- Diseases and pests
    Cucurbitaceae
    Gourds -- Research
    Whitaker, Thomas W. (Thomas Wallace), 1904-1993 -- Archives