Letter to Frederick Orpen Bower from Francis Wall Oliver

Item Summary

Reference Code

GB 0248 DC 002/14/375

Date(s)

06 February 1918

Extent and medium of the unit of description

letter

Name of creator

Oliver | Francis Wall | 1864-1951 | Quain professor of botany, University College London

Scope and Content

Letter to Frederick Orpen Bower from Francis Wall Oliver concerning his lack of success in getting a lecturer to assist Abercrombie Anstruther Lawson. He has seen [James] Small, who he considers an ideal candidate, the previous day and who is seriously considering the matter and will let him know. Holding two posts at Bedford College he would complement Lawson. The current salary from his two posts is greater than the salary being offered. Oliver has suggested that the University of Sydney may, under duress, offer something to make it more attractive. The recent birth of Small's son will be an important factor in his eventual decision

He goes on to discuss Sir Arthur George Tansley's 'Manifesto' and is of the opinion that students interest is greater in physiology than morphology. The issue of larger class sizes is largely a matter of both organisation and the number of demonstrators available. He commends the work of TG Hill, 'a born teacher', who has come to the conclusion, based on his military experience that there is a severe lack of staff. Oliver states that to keep students in botany, a greater contact with the outside world is necessary

Ecology is a convenient entry into botany but from it 'you can switch to anything'. He hopes proper biology for 1st year medical students may also evolve.

Index

Subjects

People

Businesses and Organisations

[View administrative information]

Glasgow University Archive Services
Letter to Frederick Orpen Bower from Francis Wall Oliver
Item Summary
Reference Code	GB 0248 DC 002/14/375
Date(s)	06 February 1918
Extent and medium of the unit of description	1 letter
Name of creator	Oliver \| Francis Wall \| 1864-1951 \| Quain professor of botany, University College London
Scope and Content
Scope and Content	Letter to Frederick Orpen Bower from Francis Wall Oliver concerning his lack of success in getting a lecturer to assist Abercrombie Anstruther Lawson. He has seen [James] Small, who he considers an ideal candidate, the previous day and who is seriously considering the matter and will let him know. Holding two posts at Bedford College he would complement Lawson. The current salary from his two posts is greater than the salary being offered. Oliver has suggested that the University of Sydney may, under duress, offer something to make it more attractive. The recent birth of Small's son will be an important factor in his eventual decision He goes on to discuss Sir Arthur George Tansley's 'Manifesto' and is of the opinion that students interest is greater in physiology than morphology. The issue of larger class sizes is largely a matter of both organisation and the number of demonstrators available. He commends the work of TG Hill, 'a born teacher', who has come to the conclusion, based on his military experience that there is a severe lack of staff. Oliver states that to keep students in botany, a greater contact with the outside world is necessary Ecology is a convenient entry into botany but from it 'you can switch to anything'. He hopes proper biology for 1st year medical students may also evolve.
Index
Subjects	Biology Botany Class Size Ecology Job Vacancies Morphology Physiology Salaries Students
People	Bower \| Frederick Orpen \| 1855-1948 \| regius professor of botany, University of Glasgow Hill \| TG \| fl1914 \| botanist Lawson \| Abercrombie Anstruther \| 1870-1927 \| professor of botany, University of Sydney Oliver \| Francis Wall \| 1864-1951 \| Quain professor of botany, University College London Small \| James \| 1889-1955 \| professor of botany, Queens University Belfast Tansley \| Sir \| Arthur George \| 1871-1955 \| plant ecologist
Businesses and Organisations	Bedford College \| educational institution \| Bedford (England) University of Sydney Australia \| 1858-: \| university \| New South Wales (Australia)
[View administrative information]