Aaron J. Sharp Papers
This collection houses the papers of University of Tennessee Botany Professor Aaron Jack Sharp. Among these materials are photographs of Botany professors, foam-backed displays, slides used in Botany classes, notes that Sharp made during research trips to Mexico, Japan, and the Smoky Mountains, correspondence (including letters of condolence from botanists across the country following the 1934 Morrill Hall fire that destroyed Sharp's extensive herbology collection), class rolls, student papers, and publications.
Interested researchers may also wish to consult MS.1569: Aaron J. Sharp Collection, 1937-1988 (Bulk 1937-1965) and MS.2442: A. J. Sharp Diary, 1934 for more information about Dr. Sharp's life and work.
Dates
- 1934-1997 (bulk 1934-1974)
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
7 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection houses the papers of University of Tennessee Botany Professor Aaron Jack Sharp. Among these materials are photographs of Botany professors, foam-backed displays, slides used in Botany classes, notes that Sharp made during research trips to Mexico, Japan, and the Smoky Mountains, correspondence (including letters of condolence from botanists across the country following the 1934 Morrill Hall fire that destroyed Sharp's extensive herbology collection), class rolls, student papers, and publications.
Biographical/Historical Note
Aaron John (usually called Jack) Sharp was born to Prentice Daniel and Maude Katharine (Herriott) Sharp in Plain City, Ohio on July 29, 1904. He earned his AB from Ohio Wesleyan University (1927), his MS from the University of Oklahoma (1929), and his PhD from Ohio State University (1938). He later returned to Ohio Wesleyan, where he completed his DSc in 1952. Sharp spent the majority of his professional career at the University of Tennessee, where he began working as an Instructor in 1929. He later held posts as an Assistant Professor (1937-1940), an Associate Professor (1940-1946), a Professor (1946-1965), and a Distinguished Service Professor (1965-1974). Sharp also worked with the UT Herbarium as curator (1949-1968) and as associate curator (1968-1980) and served as the Head of the Department of Botany (1951-1961). Sharp retired from the University in 1974 and died in Knoxville, Tennessee on November 16, 1997.
Arrangement
Collection consists of eight boxes divided into six series:
Missing Title
- Series I: Teaching Materials, 1930-1974
- Series II: Research, 1944-1974
- Series III: Papers
- Series IV: Photographs
- Series V: Specimens
- Series VI: Oversized Materials
Acquisition Note
These papers were donated to the University of Tennessee Archives.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository