Biography

American forester and botanist. A world authority on rubber production, Whitford also laid claim to completing the first doctorate in ecology. Born in Manhattan, Kansas, he graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in 1890 and gained a master’s degree in 1900. In 1903 he was awarded his doctorate in plant ecology at the University of Chicago, where he was employed as an assistant in botany (1900-1904). Whitford’s thesis dealt with succession in the forests of northern Michigan. Following this, he conducted research in the Philippines, first as a collector for the Bureau of Science (1904-1906) and then as chief of the Bureau of Forestry division of investigation (1906-1912). Becoming an expert on the native forests of the islands, he completed several works during this time including The forests of the Philippines (1911) and a checklist of the islands’ commercial timbers.

His career continued as assistant professor of forestry at Yale, and later as professor of tropical forestry (1916-1923). In 1913 Whitford was tasked with directing a survey of the forests of British Columbia for the Commission of Conservation of Canada. He was joined by forester Roland Craig in this and together they published their report in 1916, after which Whitford’s research focus fell on the forests of tropical America, Malaya and nearby regions. He began work for the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1923 as chief of a crude rubber survey, and was appointed manager of the crude rubber division of the Rubber Manufacturers’ Association in 1925. The genera Whitfordia Murrill, Whitfordia Elmer and Whitfordiodendron Elmer were named in honour of him.

Sources:
NYBG Archives and Manuscripts, Harry Nichols Whitford Papers:
http://library.nybg.org/finding_guide/archv/whitford_ppb.html
The New York Times, 18 May 1941.