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13L4.                              Wisconsin Academy Review
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     GEORGE SMITH BRYAN was
born in Charleston, S. Carolina
on May 2, 1879 and died in
Madison, March 5, 1958. His
ancestors had been South Caro-
lina Low Country residents
since the 17th and 18th centu-
ries. He attended secondary
schools in Greenville and then
Furman University, receiving
the A.B. degree in 1900. After
a decade of service in the
secondary schools of his native state, he began graduate work in
botany at the University of Chicago.   Receiving the Ph.D. degree
summa cum laude in 1914, he came to the UW as an instructor. In
1917 his academic career was interrupted by the war, but in 1919
he returned and by 1927 he had risen to full professorship. He
served as chairman of the Botany Department from 1943 to 1948.
     Prof. Bryan was a superb teacher. Few students in his large
elementary classes failed to respond to his fine lectures, but
perhaps he was at his best in leading classes on field expedi-
tions. The textbook of general botany of which he was co-author
has been used in scores of colleges and universities. His admin-
istrative ability was revealed in many ways. As department chair-
man, he showed the strength of his convictions and the breadth
of his tolerance. One of the few things he could not understand
was the lack of human understanding in others.
     His special botanical interests were in the higher Cryptogams
and the Gymnosperms. After retirement in 1949 he devoted much
time to research and from this effort three of his best scientific
contributions emerged. He was also a profound student of botan-
ical history, a theme Miuich he developed in one of his favorite
courses.
     Throughout his life he was an out-of-doors enthusiast. In
1925 he went on a scientific expedition to Peru under auspices of
the Field Museum of Natural History and in 1927 to Tanganyika on
a private expedition in company with Prof. R. J. ROARK. He was
an ardent sportsman and a keen and observant naturalist, who took
great satisfaction in obtaining good film records of plants and
animals in their native habitats.
     Prof. Bryan was a member of the AAAS, the Botanical Society
of America, the S. Carolina Society of Colonial Wars, the ;Viscon-
sin Academy, Madison Literary Club and Getaway Club. He was
elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Sigma and Sigma Xi. The honorary
degree Litt.D. was conferred upon him in 1946 by Furman University.
MEMORIAL COMM4ITTEE: Herbert J. Clarke, Richard I. Evans, Emma L.
Fisk, Mark H. Ingraham, Raymond J. Roark, Henry R. Trumbower,
Myron P. Backus, Chairman.                      # # #
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Wisconsin Academv Review