Fonds MSS 184 - A.H. Reginald Buller fonds

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A.H. Reginald Buller fonds

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Fonds

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CA UMASC MSS 184

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Physical description area

Physical description

129 lantern slides & 1.99m of lantern slides
356 wall charts, watercolour wall charts, and posters
11 maps
4.73m of textual records
2 photocopies; 1 map folder; 1 oversized box; 1 poem; 1 booklet; 17 applications; 3 pins; 1 obituary; 2 luggage tags; 1 urn of ashes; 1 certificate of cremation; 1 plaque; 15 scientific and photographic artifacts; 1 collector's cabinet ; 1 glass display cabinet; 2 flat file cabinets; 1 card catalogue

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1874-1944)

Biographical history

Arthur Henry Reginald Buller was born August 14, 1874 to Alban Gardner Buller and Mary Jane Higgins in Moseley, Birmingham, England. Buller was the fifth of seven children. Alban Buller was the first in his family to pursue post-secondary education. He obtained his law degree and worked as a barrister, magistrate, and city councillor. Little is known about Buller’s mother.

Buller attended a boarding school in Birmingham and then attended Queen's College, Taunton where he developed his love of natural history. To obtain his bachelor's degree, Buller attended Mason Science College, a University of London affiliate (B.Sc. in 1896). While there he was awarded the Science Research Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 and used it to further his studies in Germany. He attended Leipzig University from 1897-1899 under the supervision of Wilhelm Pfeffer and obtained his PhD. Following that, Buller studied under Robert Hartig at the Forstbotanisches Institute in Munich until 1901 and worked at the British Association table at the Stazione Zoologica in Naples during the summers of 1900 and 1901. He then returned to the University of Birmingham as an assistant lecturer and completed his DSc. in 1903 while working.

In 1904, Buller was appointed the first professor of Botany and Geology at the University of Manitoba, one of the original six professors hired by the University. Buller was integral in developing the scientific community in Winnipeg and creating a laboratory and research based scientific educational program at the University of Manitoba. A tireless worker, Buller won international recognition for his work on fungi (mycology) and wheat rust (plant pathology). Buller developed a vast network of colleagues and friends and maintained extensive correspondence, which the University of Manitoba Archives now holds. He also actively campaigned to focus public attention upon the University's problems, including the inadequacy of its downtown campus. Buller served as Head of the Botany Department until his retirement in 1936, after which he became Professor Emeritus.

He was awarded an L.L.B. from the University of Manitoba in 1924 and was made a professor emeritus on his retirement in 1936. In 1963, the Science Building at the University of Manitoba Fort Gary campus was renamed the Buller Biological Laboratories in his honour.

Among his many awards and achievements, Buller was president of the Botanical Society of America in 1928, and vice-president in 1926. He acted as vice-president of the Mycological Society of America in 1936. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1909 and President of the Society in 1927. He was awarded the Flavelle Medal in 1929. In 1937, Buller became a member of the Royal Society of London and winner of its Royal Medal.

Honorary degrees came from many universities, including a D.Sc. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1933, a D.L. from the University of Calcutta in 1937, and an L.L.D. from Saskatchewan in 1928. Buller served as President of the British Mycological Society in 1913, President of the Canadian Phytopathological Society in 1920, and President of the Botanical Society of America in 1928. He died in Winnipeg on July 3, 1944.

Custodial history

1998-031 was transferred from the University of Manitoba, Department of Biological Sciences to the Archives in March 1984, accessioned in 1998.

2004-025 was donated from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Cereal Research Centre via Library and Archives Canada in March 2004.

2004-096 was transferred from the University of Manitoba, Department of Biological Sciences to the Archives via Dr. David Punter in August 2004.

2005-095 was donated from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Cereal Research Centre ca. 2005.

2007-062 was donated from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Cereal Research Centre in October 2007.

2008-062 was donated by Linda LaBlanc in June 2008.

2013-113 was transferred from the University of Manitoba, Department of Biological Sciences to the Archives in August 2013 via Dr. David Punter.

2013-134 was donated from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Cereal Research Centre in June 2013.

2013-143 was donated from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Cereal Research Centre in June 2013.

2014-003 was donated from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada via Sean O’Hara to the Archives in January 2014.

2014-120 was transferred from the University of Manitoba, Department of Biological Sciences to the Archives via Dr. David Punter.

2018-119 was transferred from the University of Manitoba, Department of Biological Sciences to the Archives. Accessioned in September 2018. Previously stored at the Delta Marsh Field Station before transfer.

2018-120 was transferred from the University of Manitoba, Department of Biological Sciences to the Archives. Accessioned in September 2018.

2018-121 was transferred from the University of Manitoba, Department of Biological Sciences to the Archives. Accessioned in September 2018.

Scope and content

1998-031 is comprised of glass lantern slides that Buller used for lectures and teaching.

2004-025 contains personal and professional correspondence of Dr. Buller’s. It also contains hand painted wall charts created by and under the direction of Buller for use in his classes and lectures.

2004-096 contains numerous objects used for scientific experiments and imaging by Dr. Buller. There are also numerous glass lantern slides which he used for lectures and teaching.

2005-095 is comprised of glass lantern slides that Buller used for lectures and teaching.

2007-062 contains an array of photographs, illustrations, and manuscripts relating to Buller’s research and publications. It also includes many of Buller’s notebooks from his own education at Mason Science College.

2008-062 contains personal correspondence of Buller’s with various parties, mainly from the early 1900s.

2013-113 one card catalogue by Office Specialty Manufacturing Company limited.

2013-134 involves Buller’s cremation and his remains. The urn is enclosed in the Tyndall stone monument in front of the Buller Biological Laboratories at the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus. The plaque in this accession was previously installed at the Cereal Research Centre where Buller’s remains were held.

2013-143 consists of a wide range of ephemera and documents from Buller. It includes attendee pins and luggage tags as well as several maps, correspondence and drafts relating to Fungi of Manitoba, and Buller’s applications for several teaching positions from the early 1900s.

2014-003 consists primarily of lithographed wall charts purchased by Buller for teaching during his tenure at the University. There are also court records from a real estate dispute and a poem.

2014-120 consists of lantern slides which Buller used for his lectures and presentations.

2018-119 a filing cabinet for large format documents. Dr. Buller used this to store his wall charts.

2018-120 a filing cabinet for large format documents. Dr. Buller used this to store his wall charts.

2018-121 two furniture pieces from Dr. Reginald Buller which he used to store items.

Notes area

Physical condition

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Language of material

  • English

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Restrictions on access

There are no restrictions on access to this material.

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There are no restrictions on use.

Finding aids

A finding aid can be downloaded from the fonds-level description by clicking on the “Download’ link under “Finding Aid” on the right hand side of the screen.

Generated finding aid

Associated materials

Digitized Material: A.H. Reginald Buller Botanical Drawings

University of Manitoba Vascular Plant Herbarium: https://winherbarium.weebly.com/

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General note

We gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance of the Ralph & Doreen Estey Family Endowment Fund Collection in the creation of this finding aid.

Alternative identifier(s)

PC

175

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Draft

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Partial

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Inventory for A2004-025 was prepared by Julianna Trivers & Jon Nordland (May 2003 & July 2004) and updated by Nicole Fletcher (February 2019).
All other finding aids created by Nicole Fletcher (February 2019). Revised by N. Courrier (March 2019).

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