|
A Michigan Born Visionary (1858-1954) Liberty Hyde Bailey was an American polymath. His work during the 20th century impacted so many areas of study that it is difficult assign Bailey a singular historical role. A naturalist at heart, Bailey's childhood passion for learning the living world around him brought acclaim for his visionary work in Botany, Education, Environmentalism and Horticulture. |
|
|
1858-1878: Formative Years
March 15, 1858: Liberty Hyde Bailey Jr. born in South Haven, Michigan, located along the Southwest Michigan Fruit Belt, the largest non-citrus fruit producing region in North America. 1859: Charles Darwin's, Origin of Species, published. 1861: Liberty Hyde Bailey Jr. and brother Dana contract scarlet fever, claiming Dana's life. December 16th, 1862: Death of Liberty Hyde Bailey's mother, Sarah Harrison Bailey. Bailey continues to memorialize his mother by tending her Garden of Pinks (Dianthus). 1868: Bailey begins grafting trees for his father and neighbors. February 26, 1870: Michigan Pomological Society (later named Michigan Horticultural Society) organized. September 4th, 1873: Bailey pens essay "Birds" at the age of 15 and delivers it to the Michigan Pomological Society. 1874: Bailey is introduced to a copy of Asa Gray's Field, Forest and Garden Botany. 1876: Botanist Lucy Millington arrives in South Haven and helps Bailey identify local plants. Bailey invites Professor William James Beal of the Michigan Agricultural College to lecture at South Haven. |
|
|
Liberty Hyde Bailey as
a boy |
|
|
|
|
Back to HOMEPAGE
