Frederick William Humphreys | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 3 September 1967 | (aged 59)
Monuments |
|
Other names | Fred |
Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
Occupation | Government official |
Known for | Botany |
Notable work | The Banksia Book |
Frederick William Humphreys (11 November 1907 – 3 September 1967) was an Australian government official and an amateur photographer and botanist whose work culminated in the posthumous publication of The Banksia Book, a book on the flowering plant genus Banksia. He discovered Banksia grossa in the Stirling Range in 1967. [1]
Humphreys was born in Kalgoorlie. He attended University of Western Australia, where he participated in track and running events. He graduated with a Diploma in Commerce in 1934. He took a position with the Commonwealth Public Service in Immigration and Social Services. He later returned to Western Australia as State Director of Social Services. [2]
Both Humphreys and his wife Evelyn were keen members of the Wildflower Society of Western Australia. Author Alex George said Humphreys conceived the idea of a series of popular books on plants such as Banksias, Dryandras, and Verticordias, and endeavoured to photograph every species of Banksia. [3] However, he died before he could accomplish this. His enthusiasm prompted George to finish a book on banksias, after the conclusion of his monograph " The genus Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae)". [3] Humphreys donated his slides of flowers to the Western Australian Herbarium and the Australian National Botanic Gardens. [2]
At the time of his death the Social Services Department was located in the building which bore his name, Humphreys House. [2] The F.W. Humphreys Perpetual Trophy at UWA is named in his honor. [2] American botanist Sherwin Carlquist named a triggerplant from the Great Victoria Desert, Stylidium humphreysii, in his honour in 1969. [4]
Frederick William Humphreys | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 3 September 1967 | (aged 59)
Monuments |
|
Other names | Fred |
Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
Occupation | Government official |
Known for | Botany |
Notable work | The Banksia Book |
Frederick William Humphreys (11 November 1907 – 3 September 1967) was an Australian government official and an amateur photographer and botanist whose work culminated in the posthumous publication of The Banksia Book, a book on the flowering plant genus Banksia. He discovered Banksia grossa in the Stirling Range in 1967. [1]
Humphreys was born in Kalgoorlie. He attended University of Western Australia, where he participated in track and running events. He graduated with a Diploma in Commerce in 1934. He took a position with the Commonwealth Public Service in Immigration and Social Services. He later returned to Western Australia as State Director of Social Services. [2]
Both Humphreys and his wife Evelyn were keen members of the Wildflower Society of Western Australia. Author Alex George said Humphreys conceived the idea of a series of popular books on plants such as Banksias, Dryandras, and Verticordias, and endeavoured to photograph every species of Banksia. [3] However, he died before he could accomplish this. His enthusiasm prompted George to finish a book on banksias, after the conclusion of his monograph " The genus Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae)". [3] Humphreys donated his slides of flowers to the Western Australian Herbarium and the Australian National Botanic Gardens. [2]
At the time of his death the Social Services Department was located in the building which bore his name, Humphreys House. [2] The F.W. Humphreys Perpetual Trophy at UWA is named in his honor. [2] American botanist Sherwin Carlquist named a triggerplant from the Great Victoria Desert, Stylidium humphreysii, in his honour in 1969. [4]