Louis G. Gentner Papers, 1829-1980

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gentner, Louis G., 1892-1980.
Title
Louis G. Gentner Papers
Dates
1829-1980 (inclusive)
1914-1980 (bulk)
Quantity
2.2 cubic feet, including 100 photographs, (8 boxes)
Collection Number
MSS Gentner
Summary
These papers were generated by Louis G. Gentner, entomologist, alumnus and faculty member at Oregon State College. They document his coursework at Oregon Agricultural College, species identification and his field research regarding insect damage to vegetation.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Alumnus and entomologist, Louis G. Gentner, was born in Portland, Oregon, in February 1892. Gentner received his B. S. from Oregon Agricultural College in 1915, his M. S. from the University of Wisconsin in 1918, and completed his doctorate at Oregon State College in 1953. He did his post-graduate work at Oregon State College in 1945 and 1946. After working as an entomologist in Wisconsin and Michigan, he became associate entomologist and assistant superintendent of the Southern Oregon Branch Experiment Station in Medford in 1930. Gentner's studies with alfalfa varieties led to the selection and naming of "Talent" alfalfa, now grown extensively for seed production exports. His work with beetles led to the elimination of the Klamath goat weed infestation on southern Oregon infested rangeland and enabling thousands of acres to be become viable again. Gentner retired from the station in 1962 and died July 16, 1980. Additional biographical information is included in the collection.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Gentner Papers document the entomological research conducted by Gentner, primarily on flea beetles, as well as his professional activities and undergraduate and graduate education. The collection includes correspondence, class notebooks, publications, extensive field and research notes, and photographs.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Louis G. Gentner Papers, Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is organized into six series: I. Biographical Information; II. Correspondence; III. School Records and Materials; IV. Entomology Field Work and Research Notes; V. Organizations; and VI. Photographs.

Custodial History

A portion of these papers were donated directly to the University Archives by Louis Gentner's daughter, Laura Gentner Dunwald, in December 1985. Other materials were donated to the Horner Museum by the OSU Archives in 1985 and were subsequently returned to the Archives in August 1996. It is likely that they were also donated by Laura Gentner Dunwald. A subsequent addition to the collection was transferred from the Entomology Department in 2001.

Related Materials

Other materials relating to the Entomology Department can be found in the Agricultural Experiment Station (RG 025) and Entomology Department (RG 027) Records. Other entomological collections held by the OSU Archives are the papers of Ralph Berry, John D. Lattin, Merton Lane, Charles H. Martin, James McIver, Hugh E. Morrison, Paul W. Oman, Paul Ritcher, Robert G. Rosenstiel, and Herman A. Scullen and the A.B. Cordley Entomological and Horticultural Scrapbook. Materials relating to Gentner's research on flea beetles are held by the Smithsonian Institution Archives ( Louis G. Gentner Papers, RU 7341).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Biographical Information, 1926-1979Return to Top

Series I consists of a list of Gentner's publications and a biographical data sheet.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Biographical Information and List of Publications of Louis G. Gentner
1926-1969
1
Entomological Publications
1949-1979

Series II:  Correspondence, 1929-1978Return to Top

Series II contains both professional correspondence relating to Gentner's Ph.D. thesis, coursework for students and entomological correspondence pertaining to specimen identification and supplies. Much of the correspondence relates to Gentner's work on his Ph.D. at Oregon State College.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Letters from Mont. A. Casier and Paul O. Ritcher
1955 and undated
1
Letters regarding Gentner's Ph.D. thesis
1951-1953
1
Information and Procedures for Graduate Students and County Extension Agents Seeking Master Degrees at OSC
1948-1951
1
Entomology and Zoology Correspondence
1962-1974
1
Professional Correspondence
2 folders
1930-1980
1
Specimen Donations Correspondence
1940-1978
1
Entomological Supplies Correspondence
1960-1970
1
Flea Beetle Sales Correspondence
1929-1978

Series III:  School Records and Materials, 1908-1963Return to Top

Series III contains various materials ranging from receipts for graduate school classes to references to textbooks. The classroom materials include laboratory notebooks dating from 1911 to 1917 for undergraduate and graduate classes in English, zoology and economic entomology. An interesting item in this series is Gentner's high school laboratory book dated 1908. Other classroom-related materials include student seminar papers, a thesis written by Gentner for a Civil Service Examination, study outlines, and teaching notes.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Grades, tuition receipts and OSC Ph.D. program notes
1945-1953
OAC Class Notebooks
Box
1
English 32 and English 42
undated
1
Animal Parasitology
1914
1
Zoology 302
1914
1
Zoology notebook with insect pencil drawings
1916
1
Zoology 315
Entomology of Field Crops
1913
1
Zoology 301
Introductory Entomology
1913
1
Zoology 107
With bird pencil drawings
1913
1
Zoology I
With mollusks pencil drawings
1911
1
Zoology II
With chordata pencil drawings
1912
Box
1
Economic Entomology 105
1916-1917
1
Student Lab Book
1908
1
Student Seminar Papers
1917
1
Photography
1916
1
Thesis in Connection With United States Civil Service Examination for Scientific Assistant in Entomology
circa 1917
1
Class Study Outline for Economic Entomology
circa 1917
1
Teaching notes and outlines
1946
1
Insects Injurious to Grapes talk delivered at Michigan State College
1927
1
Entomology Books and Price Lists
1936-1963

Series IV:  Entomology Field Work and Research Notes, 1829-1975Return to Top

Series IV includes tables, field notes, handwritten manuscripts, outlines, and articles written by Gentner. It also contains four card file boxes of detailed entomology research field notes and bibliographies.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Research tables, field notes, portion of handwritten manuscript
undated
1
Miscellaneous entomology outlines and notes
circa 1916
1
Typescripts of published articles by Gentner
undated
1
Articles published in Wisconsin Horticulture by Gentner
1919-1920
1
List of Species Collected by Gentner
circa 1924-1975
1
Haltica Identification notes
undated
1
Coleoptera notes
1931
1
Aphids(Cenara)
1961
1
Epitrix notes
undated
1
Chaetocnema semichalcea (flea beetle) Identification
1951
1
Citations and Notes on Various Entomology Topics
undated
1
Techniques for Mounting and Preserving Specimens
1922-1946
1
Potato Flea Beetle Projects
1963-1964
1
Field and Research Notes
undated
1
Plant Identification Collections
1939-1958
1
Flea Beetle and Distribution Information
1914-1975
1
Herbarium Specimens of Flea Beetle Damage
Specimens discarded.
1924-1940
1
Systematic Catalogue of British Insects
Photocopy from microfilm.
1829
1
Illustrations of British Entomology
Photocopy from microfilm.
1830
2
Reference notes on index cards
undated
3
Halticinae References Under Species
undated
4
Halticinae Field Notes and Data Distribution
undated
5
Halticinae Bibliography
undated

Series V:  Organizations, 1916-1980Return to Top

Series V documents Gentner's membership in various entomological organizations.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
6
Entomological Society of America
1916-1980
6
Biological Research Institute of America
1973-1976
6
North American Beetle Fauna Project
1972-1976

Series VI:  Photographs, 1914-1936Return to Top

Series VI includes approximately 100 black and white photographs documenting insect damage to vegetation. One photograph of Gentner, taken in 1914, is also included.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
7
Black and white photographs showing insect damage
apx. 100
1916-1929
7-8
Haltica probata Fall, leaves of a wild rose showing larval injury
Print and nitrate negative.
1936
7
Louis Gentner holding a bug net
1914

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Beneficial insects.
  • Entomology--Research--Oregon.
  • Entomology--Study and teaching (Higher)--Oregon.
  • Flea-beetles--Oregon.

Personal Names

  • Gentner, Louis G., 1892-1980.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Agricultural College.
  • Oregon State University. Dept. of Entomology.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Nitrate negatives.
  • Photographic prints.