Departmental Legacy Scholars

H.K. Hayes

Researcher, teacher, and author in plant breeding, who developed techniques for breeding hybrids and disease resistance used today, and who wrote an internationally adopted textbook

William Anderson


For more than fifty years a prominent scholar, advisor, teacher, activist-reformer, and disciplinary leader in political science

Joseph Valasek

Discoverer of the phenomenon of ferroelectricity, the electrical analog of ferromagnetism, one of the most important physical science discoveries ever made at Minnesota

Richard Hartshorne

One of geography's most prominent theorists and historians, noted for his classic book "The Nature of Geography"

Florence L. Goodenough

Professor and author of numerous texts and articles dealing with exceptional children and mental testing, well known for her "Draw-a-Man" Test used as an index of intelligence.

Jonas J. Christensen

Pioneer in the genetics of plant pathogens, a superb teacher and a contributor to international agriculture

Ralph Hall Brown

One of the country's most eminent historical geographers, author of the classic books "Mirror for Americans" and "Historical Geography of the United States"

Katharine J. Densford

Developed administrative, teaching and treatment techniques that came into common use in hospitals and schools throughout the world