History

In 1885 Henry Shaw, founder of Missouri Botanical Garden, established the Henry Shaw School of Botany at Washington University. Henry Shaw stipulated that the director of the Garden (then Dr. William Trelease) also hold the George Engelmann Professorship of Botany at Washington University; today, Dr. Peter H. Raven holds these prestigious positions.

Henry Shaw (left-hand side), founder of Missouri Botanical Garden, and
Dr. William Trelease (right-hand side), the first director of Missouri Botanical Garden

The first graduate of the Henry Shaw School of Botany was Dr. Anna Isabel Mulford who received her doctorate in 1895. In the intervening 100 years, Washington University has awarded over 300 graduate degrees to students affiliated with Missouri Botanical Garden. During this period, the Henry Shaw School of Botany merged with the Department of Biology at Washington University. Both Washington University and Missouri Botanical Garden currently share responsibility for the education and support of students in plant systematics, evolution and ecology.

In the past 30 years Missouri Botanical Garden has developed collaborative ties with three other universities in the St. Louis area: Saint Louis University (SLU), Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) and University of Missouri - St. Louis (UMSL). A consortium agreement was established in the 1960's among these three universities, Missouri Botanical Garden and Washington University to coordinate their graduate programs in botany. The result of this agreement is a broad-based botanical program encompassing systematics, evolution and ecology. Students enroll in one these universities and complete the degree requirements of their institution, but have full access to Missouri Botanical Garden staff, facilities and research opportunities. Students may cross-enroll in any of the courses offered by the four universities in the consortium. The exceptional faculty and programs at these universities, combined with the excellent herbarium, library and research staff at the Garden, make this a unique and stimulating program. The Garden's strong commitment to tropical research also provides students with outstanding opportunities for field-oriented studies.