Term: Davis, John Jefferson 1852 - 1937

Definition: physician, mycologist, b. Davis, Ill. He graduated from the Univ. of Illinois (1872) and Hahneman Medical College in Chicago (M.D., 1875). He practiced medicine in Racine (1875-1911), and devoted his spare time to studying the flora of the area and plant diseases. In 1911 he came to the Univ. of Wisconsin as curator of the herbarium, and served in this capacity until his death. An authority on plant parasites, he issued several lists of parasitic fungi, the most notable of which was Provisional List of Parasitic Fungi in Wisconsin (1914). Davis was president of the Wisconsin State Medical Society (1894), and of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters (1903-1906). Amer. Men of Sci. (1933); Wis. Archeologist, 17; [C. E. Allen, et al.], Tribute to J. J. Davis [Madison, 19371; Racine Journal-Times, Mar. 1, 1937.