A Short look at the History of Botany at Harvard. Commonly said: "When you start concerning yourself with history, you've had it". Perhaps I have "had it" but did not willig to admit it tonight. My excuse for my concern with history Rather, I will place the blame on the chairman of the program committee. You may recall that a year or so ago, a meeting was devoted to the Arnold Arboretum. That was appropriate because it was the "centennial year". But I believe that after we had been detailed about the achievements and extraordinary features of the Arnold, our chairman was either feeling a little guilty that the Gray Herbarium was being slighted or possibly he felt a similar treatment for the Gray Herbarium would show it up by contrast in a poorer light and thus by contrast contribute even further to the glories of the Arboretum. Whatever his true motives, and I do not impute them, he asked me then if I would talk on the history of the Gray Herbarium and I said I would when he thought it appropriate. Tonight seems to have been chosen as the appropriate time,