Bohumil Shimek Papers

Collection

Identifier: RG99.0036

Staff Only

The Papers of Bohumil Shimek include published material and field notes taken by Shimek, assessing geological and botanical features of Iowa counties and other areas of the Midwest around the turn of the twentieth century. The collection also includes a set of his articles, both published and unpublished, arranged alphabetically by title.

Dates

1890-1937

Creator

Shimek, Bohumil (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Extent

5.50 linear feet

Photographs: Box 4 other_unmapped

Additional Description

Abstract

University of Iowa professor of botany. founder of the Iowa Lakeside Biological Laboratory and the university herbarium. His papers include field notes pertaining to geology and flora of many Iowa counties.

Biographical / Historical

Bohumil Shimek was born in Shueyville, Iowa, on June 25, 1861. His parents emigrated from Bohemia to the United States for political reasons in 1856. Shimek's mother died when he was five years old, and he grew up poor in Iowa City. In 1883, Shimek received his undergraduate degree in civil engineering at the State University of Iowa and worked in Iowa City as a surveyor after graduation. He taught at Iowa City High School from 1885 to 1888, then taught zoology at the University of Nebraska for two years.

Thomas H. Macbride, head of the SUI Botany Department in 1890, lured Shimek back to Iowa City to instruct botany classes. In 1902, he took his masters degree at SUI. Shimek helped establish the Lakeside Biological Laboratory in 1908, and served as curator of the herbarium and chairman of the department. He traveled the state of Iowa to collect botanical and geological samples for his research and for deposit at the University. Shimek made many contributions in the area of conservation, as well as botany, geology, and zoology. Bohumil Shimek died January 30, 1937.

Physical Access Requirements

The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on Property Rights, usecoll Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials

Method of Acquisition

The Papers of Bohumil Shimek were transferred to the University Archives from the Dept. of Geosciences. The photographs in box 4 were donated as Accession 2005-87 by David A. Konvalinka. The field notes comprising boxes 5-7 were received as Accession 2010-62 from the Dept. of Biology.

Related Materials

Folder, "Shimek, Bohumil," in Faculty and Staff Vertical Files collection, University Archives (RG01.0015.003)

"Professor Shimek to Be Honored at Commencement Luncheon." University of Iowa News Bulletin, 7 no. 5 (May 1932): 1-4, illus. Shimek's reminiscences of UI, 1870s-1880s.

Conard, Rebecca. Places of Quiet Beauty: Parks, Preserves, and Environmentalism. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1997. 382 pp., illus., map, tables, notes, bibliog.

"Bohumil Shimek." Iowa Academy of Science Proceedings 44 (1937): 31-33, illus.

Conard, Henry S. "Notes for a Biography of Bohumil Shimek." Iowa City, 1947. 76 pp.

Loehwing, Walter F. Bohumil Shimek. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1947. 36 pp., illus. In "Centennial Memoirs".

Loehwing, Walter F. Bohumil Shimek, a Golden Anniversary. Iowa City, 1932. 39 pp.