Bohumil Shimek
Encyclopedia
Bohumil Shimek was an American naturalist, conservationist, and a professor at the University of Iowa
. The Shimek State Forest
in Iowa
is named after him.
. In 1866, the family moved to Iowa City to have access to medical care for his mother, who was suffering from tuberculosis
. However, she succumbed to the disease soon afterwards. Shimek's father worked as a cobbler
. In 1878, Francis Shimek became paralyzed and later died in 1880.
at the University of Nebraska from 1888 to 1890, and later returned to the University of Iowa as an instructor in botany
. In 1895, he became Assistant Professor in botany and curator of the herbarium, and he continued in the latter position until his death. In 1902 he was awarded a Master's degree in science. He served as head of the botany department at University of Iowa from 1914 to 1919.
Shimek traveled extensively in North America studying nature, and also spent time traveling in Czechoslovakia
, and Nicaragua
. He especially traveled extensively throughout the American midwest
and throughout every region of Iowa. Records show that between 1925 and 1928 Shimek had collected more than 10,000 specimens in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois. It has been estimated that, over his lifetime, Shimek contributed 200,000 specimens of vascular plants and 5,000 specimens of bryophytes to the collection.
He was a member of the Iowa State Geological Board. He was also chairman of the geological section of the International Scientific Congress held in Europe in 1911 as a tribute to his important contributions. The Geological Society of America
awarded him a research grant in 1936.
. He worked with his personal friend, historian Thomas G. Masaryk, who was exiled to the United States. After Czechoslovakian independence, Shimek was invited to the Charles University of Prague to teach Botany as an exchange professor in 1914. Here he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in recognition of his scientific contributions. He was also awarded a special Czech medal of honor in 1927.
. He was 75 years old at the time of his death.
His services to Iowa and education were memorialized by the Iowa legislature in a unanimous resolution of tribute, passed after his death, on February 1, 1937.
in eastern and western Iowa. He based this after extensive study of fossils, habitats, and animal/plant life in the area. This discovery proved to be a major contribution to the study of the environment in the region.
Upon his death Shimek's shell collection contained nearly two and a half million specimens, about half of which are loess
fossils. This collection was sold to the Smithsonian Institution
, according to his wish.
On December 23, 1991, Shimek's house at 529 Brown Street in Iowa City was declared a National Historic Site. The Shimek State Forest
in southern Iowa is named after him. Additionally an elementary school in Johnson County, Iowa
is named after him and an award was created in his honor - the Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award.
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. The Shimek State Forest
Shimek State Forest
Shimek State Forest is an Iowa state forest maintained by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Its five units are strung along the Des Moines River a few miles above its confluence with the Upper Mississippi River in Lee and Van Buren Counties in the southeast corner of Iowa...
in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
is named after him.
Family and early life
Shimek was born on a farm near Shueyville, Iowa to Czech parents, Maria Theresa and Francis Joseph Shimek, who came to the United States to escape religious and political persecution under the Austrian EmpireAustrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. In 1866, the family moved to Iowa City to have access to medical care for his mother, who was suffering from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. However, she succumbed to the disease soon afterwards. Shimek's father worked as a cobbler
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
. In 1878, Francis Shimek became paralyzed and later died in 1880.
Education and career
Bohumil Shimek first attended college in 1878 at the University of Iowa as a student of engineering. He graduated from the university in 1883 with a degree in civil engineering, and subsequently worked as a railroad and county surveyor. He later taught of ZoologyZoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
at the University of Nebraska from 1888 to 1890, and later returned to the University of Iowa as an instructor in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
. In 1895, he became Assistant Professor in botany and curator of the herbarium, and he continued in the latter position until his death. In 1902 he was awarded a Master's degree in science. He served as head of the botany department at University of Iowa from 1914 to 1919.
Shimek traveled extensively in North America studying nature, and also spent time traveling in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. He especially traveled extensively throughout the American midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
and throughout every region of Iowa. Records show that between 1925 and 1928 Shimek had collected more than 10,000 specimens in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Illinois. It has been estimated that, over his lifetime, Shimek contributed 200,000 specimens of vascular plants and 5,000 specimens of bryophytes to the collection.
He was a member of the Iowa State Geological Board. He was also chairman of the geological section of the International Scientific Congress held in Europe in 1911 as a tribute to his important contributions. The Geological Society of America
Geological Society of America
The Geological Society of America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the geosciences. The society was founded in New York in 1888 by Alexander Winchell, John J. Stevenson, Charles H. Hitchcock, John R. Proctor and Edward Orton and has been headquartered at 3300 Penrose...
awarded him a research grant in 1936.
Political involvement
Shimek worked for the independence of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He worked with his personal friend, historian Thomas G. Masaryk, who was exiled to the United States. After Czechoslovakian independence, Shimek was invited to the Charles University of Prague to teach Botany as an exchange professor in 1914. Here he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in recognition of his scientific contributions. He was also awarded a special Czech medal of honor in 1927.
Death
In 1932, Shimek retired after teaching for over 46 years. He died in Iowa City, Iowa, on January 30, 1937 of heart complications caused by influenzaInfluenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
. He was 75 years old at the time of his death.
His services to Iowa and education were memorialized by the Iowa legislature in a unanimous resolution of tribute, passed after his death, on February 1, 1937.
Legacy
In a series of papers written in 1890, 1896, and 1898, Shimek concluded that wind (rather than water) was responsible for the deposition of loessLoess
Loess is an aeolian sediment formed by the accumulation of wind-blown silt, typically in the 20–50 micrometre size range, twenty percent or less clay and the balance equal parts sand and silt that are loosely cemented by calcium carbonate...
in eastern and western Iowa. He based this after extensive study of fossils, habitats, and animal/plant life in the area. This discovery proved to be a major contribution to the study of the environment in the region.
Upon his death Shimek's shell collection contained nearly two and a half million specimens, about half of which are loess
Loess
Loess is an aeolian sediment formed by the accumulation of wind-blown silt, typically in the 20–50 micrometre size range, twenty percent or less clay and the balance equal parts sand and silt that are loosely cemented by calcium carbonate...
fossils. This collection was sold to the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, according to his wish.
On December 23, 1991, Shimek's house at 529 Brown Street in Iowa City was declared a National Historic Site. The Shimek State Forest
Shimek State Forest
Shimek State Forest is an Iowa state forest maintained by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Its five units are strung along the Des Moines River a few miles above its confluence with the Upper Mississippi River in Lee and Van Buren Counties in the southeast corner of Iowa...
in southern Iowa is named after him. Additionally an elementary school in Johnson County, Iowa
Johnson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 130,882 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,967 housing units, of which 52,715 were occupied.-2000 census:...
is named after him and an award was created in his honor - the Bohumil Shimek Environmental Educator Award.