Frank C. Vasek papers
Finding aid prepared by Andrea Hoff, University Archivist.
Special Collections & University Archives
The UCR Library
P.O. Box 5900
University of California
Riverside, California 92517-5900
Phone: 951-827-3233
Fax: 951-827-4673
Email: specialcollections@ucr.edu
URL: http://library.ucr.edu/libraries/special-collections-university-archives
© 2019
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Frank C. Vasek papers
Date (inclusive): circa 1954-1999, undated
Collection Number: UA 365
Creator:
Vasek, Frank C.
Extent:
2.5 linear feet
(2 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Abstract: The Frank C. Vasek papers contain articles, reports, correspondence, photographs, and other material from Vasek's tenure as
life sciences professor at the University of California, Riverside. The bulk of the collection consists of information on
plants from California and other areas.
Languages: The collection is in English.
Access
This collection is open for research, with the exception of select files that are restricted.
Publication Rights
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction,
and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by
copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions
apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for
obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Frank C. Vasek papers (UA 365). Special Collections & University Archives, University
of California, Riverside.
Acquisition Information
Provenance unknown.
Processing History
Processed by Andrea Hoff, University Archivist, in August 2019.
Biographical Note
Frank C. Vasek was a professor in the department of Botany at the University of California, Riverside.
He received a B.S. from Ohio University in 1950. He went on to earn his Ph.D. from U.C.L.A. in 1955 and began teaching at
UC, Riverside in 1954. He served as Chair of the department of Biology from 1970-1974. He also played a key role in establishing
the Botanic Gardens at UCR, acting as the first director from 1962-1967.
Vasek is known for his research about ancient creosote rings. In the late 1970s, he discovered what is possibly the oldest
creosote bush ring in the Mojave Desert, which he named 'King Clone.' It was thought to be the oldest living plant in the
world at an estimated 11,700 years old.
Collection Scope and Contents
The Frank C. Vasek papers contain articles, reports, correspondence, photographs, and other material from Vasek's tenure as
life sciences professor at the University of California, Riverside. The bulk of the collection consists of information on
plants from California and other areas.
Collection Arrangement
The Frank C. Vasek papers are arranged into four series as follows:
- Series 1. Publications, 1956-1996, undated
- Series 2. Correspondence, 1954-1989
- Series 3. Creosotes and King Clone materials, 1981-1988, undated
- Series 4. Other professional activities, 1964-1999, undated
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Desert plants
Life sciences
Universities and colleges -- Faculty
Genres and Forms of Materials
Articles
Correspondence
Photographs
Reports
Series 1. Publications
1956-1996, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series contains articles written by Vasek. The bulk of the articles in this series are reprints.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically according to the year the articles were published.
Box 1, Folder 1
"Induced Aneuploidy in Claria Unguiculata (Onagraceae)"
1956
Box 1, Folder 2
"The Relationship of Clarkia Exilis to Clarkia Unguiculata"
1958
Box 1, Folder 3
"A Cytogenic Study of Clarkia Exilis"
1960
Box 1, Folder 4
"Trisomic Transmission in Clarkia Unguiculata"
1961
Box 1, Folder 5
"'Multiple Spindle' - A Meiotic Irregularity in Clarkia Exilis"
1962
Box 1, Folder 6
"Trivalent Formation in Multiple Trisomics of Clarkia Unguiculata"
1963
Box 1, Folder 7
"A Note in Taxonomic Characters in Lolium"
1963
Box 1, Folder 8
"Phenotypic Variation in Trisomics of Clarkia Unguiculata"
1963
Box 1, Folder 9
"Backcross Progenics of a Hybrid Between Clarkia Exilis and C. Unguiculata"
1963
Box 1, Folder 10
"Outcrossing in Natural Populations. I. The Breckinridge Mountain Population of Clarkia Exilis"
1964
Box 1, Folder 11
"The Evolution of Clarkia Unguiculata Derivatives Adapted to Relatively Xerix Environments"
1964
Box 1, Folder 12
"Two New Species Related to Clarkia Unguiculata"
1964
Box 1, Folder 13
"Outcrossing in Natural Populations. II. Clarkia Unguiculata"
1965
Box 1, Folder 14
"A Case of Gene Homology in Clarkia"
1966
Box 1, Folder 15
"The Distribution and Taxonomy of Three Western Junipers"
1966
Box 1, Folder 16
"Outcrossing in Natural Populations. III. The Deer Creek Population of Clarkia Exilis"
1967
Box 1, Folder 17
"Analysis of the Oils of Western North American Junipers by Gas-Liquid Chromatography"
1967
Box 1, Folder 18
"Outcrossing in Natural Populations: A Comparison of Outcrossing Estimation Methods"
1968
Box 1, Folder 19
"The Relationship of Two Economically Marginal, Sympatric Clarkia Populations"
1968
Box 1, Folder 20
"Analysis of N-alkanes from Three Species of Clarkia"
1971
Box 1, Folder 21
"Variation in Marginal Populations of Clarkia"
1971
Box 1, Folder 22
"Variations in the Leaf Oils of Three Species of Juniperus"
1973
Box 1, Folder 23
"Productivity, Diversity and Stability Relationships in Mojave Desert Roadside Vegetation"
1975
Box 1, Folder 24
"Jeffrey Pine and Vegetation of the Southern Modoc National Forest"
1978
Box 1, Folder 26
"Southern California White Fir (Pinaceae)
1985
Box 1, Folder 27
"Evolutionary Modification in Clarkia. I. Selection for Hairlessness"
1986
Box 1, Folder 28
"Effects of Mineral Nutrition on Components of Reproduction in Clarkia Unguiculata"
1987
Box 1, Folder 29
"Evolutionary Modification of Clarkia. II. Role of Flower Bud Pubescence in Section Phaeostoma"
1989
Box 1, Folder 30
"Natural Hybridization Between Species of Ambrosia and Hymenoclea Salsola (Compositae)"
1996
Box 1, Folder 31
"On the Growth Rate of Joshua Tree"
undated
Series 2. Correspondence
1954-1989
Series Scope and Contents
This series consists of the professional correspondence maintained by Vasek during his tenure as a professor at UC, Riverside.
Note that correspondence can also be found in series 3 and 4 of this collection.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged chronologically and has largely been maintained in original order. Correspondence filed topically
by Vasek can be found in series 3 and 4 of this collection.
Box 1, Folder 36
Correspondence
Aug. 1974-Feb. 1975
Box 1, Folder 37
Correspondence
July 1976-Sept.1976
Box 1, Folder 38
Correspondence
Sept. 1975-July 1976
Box 2, Folder 2
Correspondence (folder 1 of 2)
1988
Box 2, Folder 3
Correspondence (folder 2 of 2)
1988
Series 3. Creosotes & King Clone materials
1981-1988, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series consists of materials related to Vasek's research about the creosote bush in general and 'King Clone' in particular.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged in alphabetical order.
Box 2, Folder 6
Clippings about King Clone
1981-1984
Box 2, Folder 7
Correspondence regarding creosote measurements
1985-1986
Box 2, Folder 8
Creosote clone 120 mm negatives
undated
Box 2, Folder 9
Creosote clone rings in the Red Rock Canyon vicinity
1986
Box 2, Folder 10
Creosote clones near Garlock
1988
Box 2, Folder 12
Econews television program
1985
Box 2, Folder 13
Inquiries about King Clone
1983-1985
Box 2, Folder 14
King Clone photos and negatives
undated
Box 2, Folder 15
King Clone slides
undated
Box 2, Folder 17
Talk invitations and publication submissions
1984-1987
Series 4. Other professional activities
1964-1999, undated
Series Scope and Contents
This series documents Vasek's many professional activities. It includes information about committees he served on, correspondence
and articles written by others.
Series Arrangement
This series is arranged alphabetically.
Box 2, Folder 18
Articles written by UCR faculty
1993-1996
Box 2, Folder 20
Juniperus correspondence
1964-1979
Box 2, Folder 21
Letters of thanks
1981-1983
Box 2, Folder 22
Manuscript reviews
1968-1988
Note on Access
Access to materials in this folder is restricted.
Box 2, Folder 23
Manuscript review
1978
Note on Access
Access to materials in this folder is restricted.
Box 2, Folder 24
Proposal evaluations
1988-1989
Note on Access
Access to materials in this folder is restricted.
Box 2, Folder 25
Research inquiries post-retirement
1989-1999
Box 2, Folder 26
Sabbatical leave
1968-1969
Box 2, Folder 27
Smithsonian Institution grant, "Cooperative Studies in the Cytotaxonomy of the Yugoslavian Flora"
1974-1980
Note on Access
Access to materials in this folder is restricted.
Box 2, Folder 28
Thesis feedback
1968-1973
Note on Access
Access to materials in this folder is restricted.
Box 2, Folder 29
White Mountain Research Station Advisory Committee
1988-1989
Box 2, Folder 30
White Mountain Research Station
1989-1990
