Denis P. Lavender Papers, 1935-2008

Title: Denis P. Lavender Papers, 1935-2008

Predominant Dates: 1965-2003

ID: MSS Lavender

Primary Creator: Lavender, Denis P.

Extent: 7.0 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Denis P. Lavender Papers document the forestry research conducted by Lavender at Oregon State University and the University of British Columbia, especially regarding conifer seedlings and reforestation. Lavender earned his MS and Ph.D. degrees in forestry at Oregon State University in the late 1950s and early 1960s and then became a Professor of Forest Science until 1984. In 1985-1992, he was head of the Forest Science Department at the University of British Columbia.

Scope and Content Notes

The Denis P. Lavender Papers document the research activities and publications of Lavender, an Oregon State University Forest Science professor and alumnus. The Papers include article reprints, conference proceedings, correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, presentation materials, reports, research data, and theses. The collection reflects Lavender's work at Oregon State University (1950-1984)and the University of British Columbia (1985-1992), especially his research on the storage and planting of Douglas-fir, white spruce and lodge-pole pine seedlings. Lavender's role in the establishment of the Silvicultural Institute of British Columbia is documented.

The bulk of the collection is comprised of reference materials. These consist of article reprints and publications by other researchers, conference proceedings, correspondence, and notes -- all of which were arranged by Lavender into topics such as root growth, seedling storage, prescribed burning, flowering, and the possible impacts of global warming (climate change) on conifer forests. About 300 color slides include text and images prepared and assembled for presentations.

An addition to the collection (Accession 2014:043) is made up of article reprints, conference papers, correspondence, notes, overhead transparencies, photographs, reports, research data, and a student paper.These materials document research published by the Forest Science professor Lavender as well as his presentations at conferences and workshops. About half of this transfer is made up of reference materials collected by Lavender reflecting topics such as soil compaction, seed/cone maturity, drought root systems, forestry herbicides, and pollination. In addition to published research from various sources, the reference materials also include photographic slides (74 in total) that were part of a presentation on drought root systems. Four other images (photographic prints) depict Lavender as a part of the Alberta Advanced Forest Management Institute.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Denis P. Lavender earned his MS (1958) and Ph.D. (1962) degrees in forestry at Oregon State University and was a faculty member in forest science until 1984. After leaving Oregon State in 1984, he served as head of the Forest Science Department at the University of British Columbia until his retirement in 1992, when he returned to Oregon State as a Professor Emeritus in Forest Ecosystems and Society. Lavender's association with Oregon State dates from 1950 when he began working for the Oregon Forest Research Center, which later became the Forest Research Laboratory. Lavender's research focused on Douglas-fir as well as white spruce and lodge-pole pine. He developed a methodology for storing and planting seedlings that increased conifer survival rate by 20 percent. His findings enabled reforestation of the Tillamook Burn 10 years earlier than originally estimated. While in Canada, Lavender and several colleagues established the Silvicultural Institute of British Columbia (now known as the Forest Management Institute of British Columbia).

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 300 photographs; 7 boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: The Lavender Papers were received by the Special Collections & Archives Research Center in 2012.

Related Materials: The Special Collections and Archives Research Center includes extensive and substantive collections documenting forestry research in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest including the College of Forestry Records (RG 139), the Gerald W. Williams Collection (MSS WilliamsG), and numerous collections of faculty papers.

Preferred Citation: Denis P. Lavender Papers (MSS Lavender), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Processing Information: This collection is not fully processed; this guide is preliminary.

Other URL: A preliminary container list was created for this collection on or before November 14, 2014.

Creators

People, Places, and Topics

Climatic changes--Environmental aspects.
Conifers--Seedlings--Storage.
Douglas fir--Oregon--Seedlings.
Douglas fir--Planting--Oregon.
Douglas fir--Seeds.
Forests and forestry--Research--Oregon.
Lavender, Denis P.
Natural Resources
Oregon State College. School of Forestry
Oregon State University. College of Forestry
Oregon State University. School of Forestry
Reforestation--British Columbia.
Reforestation--Oregon.
University History
University of British Columbia. Forest Science Department