Knowles A. Ryerson

Profile Picture of Knowles A. Ryerson

In Memoriam
Professor of Horticulture, Director of the College of Agriculture
1892-1990

KNOWLES AUGUSTUS RYERSON

Birth: October 17, 1892, Seattle, Washington
Death: February 1, 1990, Alameda County, California

Education

  • B.S., Horticulture, University of California, Berkeley, 1916
  • M.S., Horticulture, University of California, Berkeley, 1923
  • Doctor of Laws, University of California, 1961

Military Service

  • World War I, 22 months

Employment

  • Horticulturist, UC Agricultural Extension Service, 1919–1925
  • Horticulturist, Haiti
  • Advisor, Joint Palestine Survey Commission
  • Plant Introduction Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1928–1933
  • Chief, Bureau of Plant Industry, USDA, 1933–1934
  • Office of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture, Riverside, 1934–1937
  • Professor and Director, UC Davis, 1937–1952
  • Dean, College of Agriculture, UC Berkeley, 1952–1960
  • Consultant, United Nations, 1961

Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies

  • Certificate of Merit, President Harry Truman, 1946, for agricultural survey and wartime service in the South Pacific
  • American Horticultural Society Teaching Award, 1975
  • Namesake: Ryerson Hall, UC Davis residence hall
  • Namesake: Knowles A. Ryerson Award in Agriculture (UC Davis and UC Berkeley)

Research Contributions and Impact

Ryerson’s expertise lay in subtropical and tropical horticulture, including avocados, persimmons, and other fruit crops. At USDA’s Plant Introduction Service, he organized plant collection expeditions abroad, creating valuable germplasm resources for U.S. agriculture. His work helped establish a foundation for California’s subtropical fruit industries.

As Director of the UC Davis campus, he oversaw major developments including the creation of the School of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Letters and Science. His vision for an arboretum along Putah Creek laid the groundwork for the UC Davis Arboretum, blending research, teaching, and campus beautification.

Publications and Scholarly Leadership

Ryerson authored several bulletins and reports on subtropical fruit culture, including works on cherimoya and persimmon. His broader leadership in agricultural policy and horticulture shaped national and international practices in crop introduction and development.

Teaching and Mentorship

As dean and professor, Ryerson supported international students and emphasized the importance of cross-cultural exchange. He developed and taught a course in international agriculture at UC Berkeley, underscoring his commitment to training future leaders in global agricultural development.

Collaboration and Community

Ryerson served internationally with assignments in Haiti, Palestine, and the South Pacific, applying horticultural science to pressing agricultural and food security issues. His leadership extended to the Hopkins Commission that established civilian governments in Guam and Samoa. At UC, he fostered community through the International Friendship Committee and programs that supported foreign students and their families.

Legacy

Knowles Ryerson’s legacy spans horticultural science, international agriculture, and academic leadership. His plant introduction work enriched U.S. agriculture, while his administrative vision shaped UC Davis and UC Berkeley’s agricultural programs. His impact endures through Ryerson Hall, the scholarship that bears his name, and the Arboretum he helped establish.

References

For additional tributes, interviews, and biographies, see the following resources: