access:

Open for research.

publication rights:

Consult Head, Special Collections Department

preferred citation:

Verona Devine Burton Papers, MS 278, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical Note

Verona Devine Burton (b. 1922), a native of Reading, Pa., graduated from Hunter College in 1944.  She received her M.A. (1946) and PhD (1948) in Plant Anatomy from the University of Iowa.  She was employed as an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Mankato State University (1948-1983) and Professor Emeritus for the same department.  She also served as Compliance Officer from 1973 to 1975.  In the late 1950s she was denied her position at the university due to the fact that her husband was also a member of the faculty.

She is a member of numerous professional societies, including the Botanical Society of America, the American Fern Society, and the Torrey Botanical Club.  Dr. Burton has also been recognized by several organizations for her teaching ability and her work involving women’s rights.  Her most recent award was the Clarence E. Harris Award for Cultural Diversity in 2000.

Collection Description

This collection contains a thesis, dissertation, correspondence, certificates, publications, and articles.

Her thesis is entitled, “Floral Abscission in Lychnis Alba,” and her dissertation, “Embryology of Lychnis Alba.”  The bulk of the collection lies in Burton’s correspondence which documents her career at Mankato State and her personal life.  Included is correspondence with the Mankato administration, former students, and politicians (including Walter Mondale).  Of particular interest is Burton’s struggle with university officials regarding her tenure.  The remainder of the collection concerns talks given by Burton on English gardens and mushrooms.  Certificates and diplomas from a variety of sources are in the collection as well as several newspaper clippings documenting the activities of Verona and Dan Burton. 

Organization

This collection is arranged in chronological order.