Guide to the John P. Watson Papers,
1946-1988.

Collection Number: 22-3-3565

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
Guy Smith
Date completed:
July 2007
EAD encoding:
Annie Eller, July 2007
Date modified:
RMC Staff, January 2011

© 2007 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
John P. Watson papers, 1946-1988.
Collection Number:
22-3-3565
Creator:
John P. Watson
Quantity:
4 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, Research Materials
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
The collection contains primarily correspondence files as well as course work materials that date from his undergraduate days at the University of Massachusetts, which awarded him a B. S. in 1948. Watson received his M. S. from Rutgers University in 1950.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

John P. Watson was a pomologist at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in the Department of Horticultural Sciences. His career as a fruit breeder at the Experiment Station in Geneva began in 1950. He worked with varieties of grape and plum for New York and the Northeastern United States. Watson was in charge of the care of seedling vineyards and assisted in planning and making crosses of potential grape varieties. During his 37 years at the Station, he was involved in the introduction of 17 varieties of grape, including Cayuga White, Einset Seedless, and Chardonel and the Iroquois, Seneca, Oneida, and Mohawk plums. In 1988, a new raspberry introduced by the Geneva Station was named Watson in his honor. Watson retired as a Senior Research Support Specialist in 1987, the year he was also named Most Outstanding Employee at the Experiment Station.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The collection contains primarily correspondence files as well as course work materials that date from his undergraduate days at the University of Massachusetts, which awarded him a B. S. in 1948. Watson received his M. S. from Rutgers University in 1950.
Also, subject files including plum varies.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Wagner, Philip
Watson, John P.
Eastern Wine and Grape Archive.
New York State Agricultural Experiment Stateion--Horticultural Sciences.
New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
New York State Fruit Testing Cooperative Association, Inc.

Subjects:
Pomology--New York (State)
Grape varieties--New York (State)
Plum varieties--New York (State)

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
John P. Watson papers, #22-3-3565. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
RELATED MATERIALS

Forms part of the Eastern Wine and Grape Archive. (EWGA)
CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
Series I: Course Material
1946
Course Work
 Box 1 Folder 1
University of Massachusetts, Horticulture and Botany (undergraduate)
1948
Course Work
 Box 1 Folder 2
University of Massachusetts, Plant Breeding 51 (Undergraduate)
1977-1984
Pesticide Application-Certification
 Box 1 Folder 3
1982-1983
Plums Correspondence
 Box 1 Folder 4
1978-1982
Prunes Correspondence
 Box 1 Folder 5
1968-1969
Trickler Farm Plantings (Layout)
 Box 1 Folder 6
Series II: General Correspondence
1962-1988
A
 Box 1 Folder 7
1962-1987
B
 Box 1 Folder 8
1963-1985
C
 Box 1 Folder 9
1967-1987
D
 Box 1 Folder 10
1965-1981
E
 Box 1 Folder 11
1963-1985
F
 Box 1 Folder 12
1967-1987
G
 Box 1 Folder 13
1962-1987
H
 Box 1 Folder 14
1972-1979
I
 Box 1 Folder 15
1969-1986
J
 Box 1 Folder 16
1965-1987
K
 Box 1 Folder 17
1967-1985
L
 Box 1 Folder 18
1962-1976
M, Part 1
 Box 1 Folder 19
1977-1987
M, Part 2
 Box 1 Folder 20
1973-1985
N
 Box 1 Folder 21
1962-1986
O
 Box 1 Folder 22
1958-1987
P-Q
 Box 1 Folder 23
1963-1987
R
 Box 1 Folder 24
1963-1987
S
 Box 1 Folder 25
1966-1987
T
 Box 1 Folder 26
1963
U
 Box 1 Folder 27
1963-1986
V
 Box 1 Folder 28
1960-1986
W-X
 Box 1 Folder 29
1966
Y
 Box 1 Folder 30
1963-1973
Z
 Box 1 Folder 31
1951
Miscellaneous Correspondence
 Box 2
1953-1962
Correspondence A-O
 Box 2
1953-1962
Correspondence P-Z
 Box 3
1939-1962
Correspondence I
 Box 3
1939-1951
Correspondence II
 Box 3
Series III: Subject Files
1959-1985
Plum Records
 Box 2
Concerning planting, plum propagation, and virus index.
1961-1963
General Notes
 Box 2
Regarding nursery records, nursery planting, and greenhouse propagation.
1954-1983
Miscellaneous
Variety Lists-Geneva 1954-1966
Weed Control 1977-1983
Open House 1982
Planning Committee 1983
Box 3
1940-1949
Plum-Cooperations, Old-Inactive
Thomas Mark's Nursery 1941-1948
L.C. Anderson, Claverack, NY 1943-1947
Sigma XI 1940-1949
Spencer Lens Material 1941-1942
Minn. Plum and Pear Planting 1940
Box 3
1940-1969
Data
Orchard Discards 1969
FTA 1968
Plum Progress Report 1965
Project Summaries 1960
Moving Data 1969
Greenhouse 1963-1964
Plum Variety Trial 1962
Box 3
1935-1954
Reports
Plant Physiology 1950
Horticulture 1935-1946
Advanced Pomology-references 1950
Peach Genetics 1949
Apple Breeding 1954
Box 3
1940-1981
Notebooks
Greenhouse 1980
Plum Correspondence 1940
Plums, etc. 1966
Greenhouse P + V 1981
Green notebook, has his wife's name, Judith Lambert, but is his writing on apples, berries, etc.. Also Department of Agriculture Visitor's Booklet, 1947. ca. 1950
Box 3
1946-1981
Bulletins
NY Peach Bulletin 1946
Articles on Fruit Varieties
NY Apricot Varieties + Rootstocks 1965
Balsgard, Nybum, Mutants, etc. 1968
Box 3
1948-1984
Plant Breeding
Plant Breeding Class-Outlines 1978
Cornell Fruit Breeding Class Notes 1981-1984
Rutgers Advanced Breeding Course 1948-1949
Box 3
1947-1989
Systematic Pomology
Sys. Pomology Description Sheets 1949-1978
Systematic 1949
Strawberry-Economics 1960-1989
Box 3
1959-1987
Plums
 Box 4
Includes plum propagation, IR-2 Repository papers, data lists of plum varieties, and general notes regarding canned plums, processing, planting, and spray data.
1957-1986
Pomology Progress Reports
 Box 4
Covers plums, apricots, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.
1948-1985
Plum Project Reports
 Box 4
Includes project statements, progress reports, and notes/data regarding plum breeding.
1953-1986
Miscellaneous
 Box 4
Includes USDA-plant inspection and permits, stone fruit bud distribution, IR-2, Tree Fruit Scion Available List, and data regarding peach varieties and Xiphinema.