beirut, botany, and bible scholarship the contributions of george edward post (1838-1909) to bible...
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Beirut, Botany, and Bible Scholarship
the contributions of George Edward Post (1838-1909) to Bible dictionaries and his
interaction with Harvard botanists
Beirut, Botany, and Bible Scholarship
the contributions of George Edward Post (1838-1909) to Bible dictionaries and his
interaction with Harvard botanists
Lytton John MusselmanLytton John Musselman
-The Post family
George Post’s educationCivil war service-
-Bible botany
His link with Harvard-
Postscript-why is Post important?
We can find George Post’s memory several places in
Beirut.
But we must begin in New YorkCity where Post was born.
GeorgeEdwardPost
1838-1909
Sprung from a distinguishedfamily of scholars
George Edward was the son of Harriet Beers and
Alfred C. Post.
His father,Alfred Charles Post (1806-1886), was a well known
surgeon. He studied underhis uncle, Wright Post.
Wright Post was one of the teachers of John Torrey, father of North American Botany.
Wright Post 1792-1821
A. C. Post was president of the New York Medical MissionaryAssociation
Alfred Charles Post 1806-1886
In addition, he wasa director of the Union TheologicalSeminary and anelder in the Churchof the Covenant
Alfred Charles Post 1806-1886
Was his father’stheological interests one of thethings that motivated Georgeto become a minister?
Alfred Charles Post 1806-1886
Post died in Aleyand is buried in
Beirut
Three of his infant childrenare also buried here.
Missionary, Teacher, Surgeon
His son, Bertram Van Dyck Post,wrote an early flora of the Bosphorus
Bertram’s grandson, WilfredMcIlvaine Post, is currentlya botanist in Tennessee!
A living legacy of Botany
Graduated withhonors from City College of New York in 1854 atage 16.
A. M. degree in 1857.
George E. Post studied Latinat age of six.
M. D. degreeconferred in 1860.
Ordained aminister in 1861.
Graduate of UnionTheologicalSeminary, 1861
Enlisted in the Civil War,commissioned Chaplainof the 15th Regiment,
New York Volunteers in 1861.
Military record of Post
Saw action in theVirginia campaigns
Near Fredericksburg
And in battles near the Chickahominy River
In a written history of thisregiment, reference is made
to Post
A different side of Rev. Dr.Post is shown in the “food
dispute” involving theallegation of better food being
given to officers.
Chaplain lectures on digestion
The “food dispute.”
1863
July—resigned as chaplainSeptember—Married to Sarah
ReadNovember—Arrived in Tripoli??—D.D.S., Baltimore College
of Dentistry
Settled in Tripoli,beganmedical practice andstudy of Arabic.
He was 25 at the time!He was 25 at the time!
Post was appointed Professor of Surgery and Botany in1869. He remainedin this position,under varioustitles, until hisdeath in 1909.
George Post inthe 1870’s.
George Post andthe “Lewis Affair”.
Edwin Lewis
Unlike Post, Lewis was a popular teacher. He was chosen to give the commencement address in 1882.
Edwin Lewis wasProfessor of Chemistry and Geology.The faculty of the Syrian Protestant
College in the 1870’s.
In his speech, Lewisspoke of three great scientists of the age: Lyell, Pasteur, and Darwin.
Darwin was “. . . an example of the transformation of knowledge into science by long and careful examination and accurate thinking.”
An uproar ensued. Lewis was censured by the mission society running the Syrian Protestant College. Students went on strike. Faculty resigned in support of Lewis.Most prominent among those resigning was Cornelius Van AlenVan Dyck who had worked closelywith Post.
C. Van Dyck wasProfessor of Chemistryand Surgery (notto be confused with William Van Dyck, his son, also a professor of surgery.)
Cornelius Van Dyck was one of thegreatest scholars in the Middle East andtranslated many books into Arabic, including the Bible. His translation remains one of the most widely used in the Arab world.
Van Dyck had more than a passing interest in botany and participated in an expedition to the source of the Jordan River in 1877. His familiarity with plants and work with Post led to aBible translation more botanically accurate than many.
The resignation of the Van Dycks insupport of Lewis threatened the futureof the Syrian Protestant College.
Post took a strong stand againstLewis’ supporters including hisfriend and colleague, C. VanDyck. Student strikers support-ed Van Dyck against Post.
Student complaintsagainst Post chargedhim with: “cruelty,avarice, . . .injuriousto the peace of thecollege.”
One of their demandswas the demotion ofPost to the rank ofinstructor.
George Post andBible botany
William Smith’s DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE; Comprising its antiquities, biography, geography,
and natural history. Revised and edited by Professor H. B. Hackett, D.D. with the cooperation of Ezra
Abbot, LL.D. 1880. Boston: Houghton, Osgood and Company. The Riverside Press, Cambridge.
Post was a contributor to the Americanedition of this popular encyclopedia.
Post’s notes wereadded to many
animal and plantentries although
he also commentedon other topics.
This is his note added to the originalentry for hyena.
Hyssop is a typical entryexcept for the linedrawing by Post.
Post drew the imagesfor the first edition of his flora and many ofhis specimens have
original figures, usually in pencil, with
them.
Origanum syriacumhyssop of the Bible
Van Dyck contributedto the first volume of
the three volume Bibleencyclopedia, Post wrote
for the first two.
Did the “Lewis Affair” endthe collaboration between
Post and Van Dyck and theencyclopedia?
George Post and hisassociation with Harvard botany.
Papaver postii
Post and Horace Mann, jr.
Post participated in an exchange program of Horace Mann, jr. (1844-1868) who published a list of species available for exchange.
I have found noinformation on Mann’s exchangeprogram although it must have beenextensive.
Mann was a student of Asa Gray.
Gray hoped HoraceMann would assumehis position at the GrayHerbarium at Harvard.
Asa Gray
Horace Mann, jr. is best known for his work on the
flora of the Hawaiian Islands which was the topic of his bachelor’s
thesis.
Bryophytes from Hawaii
The Hawaiian bryophytes in the Post herbarium are likely from Mann
Hypnum
Hawaiian Islands
But his untimely death from tuberculosis ended a promisingbotanical career.
He died at the age of 22, the veryday he was elected to the Academyof Sciences.
I have not been able to locate anyof his North American botanicalcorrespondence of Mann or Post.
Page from Post’s copy of Mann’s listing of plants for exchange. Many well knownU. S. collectors arerepresented.
“Plants which I have are marked out”
Did Mann distributeother specimensnot held in USherbaria?
Post’s herbarium isone of the few known herbariawith Mann’s collections.
George EdwardPost and the Post Herbarium
George EdwardPost and the Post Herbarium
The collections of George Post.The collections of George Post.
Let’s go there. . . . Let’s go there. . . .
Components of the CollectionSpecimens of Postand his students
Materia medica
Mann exchange Program (includingbryophytes?)
Craig (?) ferns
Economic botany
Boissier Herbarium building, Geneva
The modern herbarium in Geneva
I located 77 of Post’s type specimenshere.
Geneva is particularlyrich in plants of westernAsia. The collections ofMouterde and Pabot are
also here.
Why Study George Post?Why Study George Post?
Why Study George Post?Why Study George Post?1. Founder of a major university.1. Founder of a major university.
Why Study George Post?Why Study George Post?1. Founder of a major university.1. Founder of a major university.
2. Pioneer scientist in the Middle East.2. Pioneer scientist in the Middle East.
Why Study George Post?Why Study George Post?1. Founder of a major university.1. Founder of a major university.
2. Pioneer scientist in the Middle East.2. Pioneer scientist in the Middle East.3. Interacted with botanical luminaries
of his day.3. Interacted with botanical luminaries
of his day.
Why Study George Post?Why Study George Post?1. Founder of a major university.1. Founder of a major university.
2. Pioneer scientist in the Middle East.2. Pioneer scientist in the Middle East.
3. Interacted with botanical luminariesof his day.
3. Interacted with botanical luminariesof his day.
4. Influenced American Bible Scholarship.
4. Influenced American Bible Scholarship.
Why Study George Post?Why Study George Post?1. Founder of a major university.1. Founder of a major university.
2. Pioneer scientist in the Middle East.2. Pioneer scientist in the Middle East.
3. Interacted with botanical luminariesof his day.
3. Interacted with botanical luminariesof his day.
4. Influenced American Bible Scholarship.4. Influenced American Bible Scholarship.
5. Product of the Second Great Awakening.5. Product of the Second Great Awakening.
George Post inspires botanists almost a century after his death.
Acknowledgements
Cedrus libaniTannourine
Biology Department, AUB, for support and encouragement.
Archives section of Jafet Library,American University of Beirut.
Reference library atOld Dominion University
Library and herbarium of the BotanicalGarden, Geneva
Solo Deo Gloria
Wadi Jhannem, northern Lebanon