William Louis Culberson | |
---|---|
Born |
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |
April 5, 1929
Died | February 8, 2003 Durham, North Carolina, United States |
(aged 73)
Residence | United States |
Nationality | United States |
Citizenship | United States |
Alma mater | University of Cincinnati, University of Paris, University of Wisconsin–Madison |
Spouse(s) | Chicita F. Forman (m. 1953) |
Awards | Acharius Medal (1992) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Lichenology |
Institutions | Duke University |
Influences | E. Lucy Braun |
William Louis "Bill" Culberson (April 5, 1929 in Indianapolis, Indiana—February 8, 2003 in Durham, North Carolina) was a lichenologist.
Culberson earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Cincinnati, where he was influenced by E. Lucy Braun; he subsequently attended the University of Paris and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1955, Culberson joined the botany department at Duke University; he subsequently managed Duke's acquisition of the lichen-centric herbaria of Julien Harmand and Johan Havaas. He served as the Hugo L. Blomquist Professor. In 2010, the lichen collection was officially named the William Louis & Chicita F. Culberson Lichen Herbarium & Library.
He served as president of the Botanical Society of America and the American Bryological and Lichenological Society and as director of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. He was the first editor-in-chief of the journal Systematic Botany. In 1992, he became one of the first modern recipients of the Acharius Medal.
In 1953, Dr. Culberson married fellow lichenologist Chicita F. Forman.