Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus, born in Safed
, Palestine on October 20, 1884, was Chief of the Division of Plant Pathology and Physiology
of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University
) from 1916 until his death on December 13, 1937. During his life, he was also a leader in Jewish affairs at the university and was a founder of Texas A&M Hillel
.
He graduated from National Farm School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
in 1904. He received his PhD
from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1913 under the direction of J.W. Harshberger with his dissertation titled, "The Diseases of the Sweet Pea
(1914)." Taubenhaus was hired as Assistant Plant Pathologist at the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station at Delaware College (now the University of Delaware
) in 1909 and was promoted to Associate Plant Pathologist in 1913. He held this position until 1916. He started his position of Chief of the Division of Plant Pathology and Physiology at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in 1916. He became a member of the graduate faculty of Texas A&M College in 1924. In Texas, he worked on diseases of a multitude of crops, including sweet potatoes, corn, onions, melons and tomatoes. With Walter Ezekiel, he published a check list of diseases in Texas. Much of his research focused on the etiology and control of cotton root rot, caused by the fungus, Phymatotrichopsis omnivora. With Walter Ezekiel, he published a study evaluating the susceptibility of more than 2000 plant species to this pathogen. At the time of his death, he had 91 major scientific publications.
Along with his wife Esther, he founded Texas A&M Hillel in 1916, then named the "TAMC Menorah Club." Taubenhaus was a Mason
, a member of the Botanical Society of America
, Sigma Xi
, and a charter member of the American Phytopathological Society
. He maintained his position as head of the plant pathology and physiology division of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station until his death in 1937.
He married Esther Hirschenson in 1910 and they had two children, Leon J. Taubenhaus, M.D., M.P.H. (December 29, 1912 - November 4, 1973) and Ruth T. Gross, M.D. (June 24, 1920 - October 16, 2007). Jacob Taubenhaus is buried in the Bryan (Texas) City Cemetery.
Safed
Safed , is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and of Israel. Due to its high elevation, Safed experiences warm summers and cold, often snowy, winters...
, Palestine on October 20, 1884, was Chief of the Division of Plant Pathology and Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Texas AgriLife Research is the agricultural and life sciences research agency of Texas and a part of the Texas A&M University System. Formerly named Texas Agricultural Research Service, the agency's name was changed January 1, 2008 as part of a rebranding of Texas A&M AgriLife .The agricultural...
at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
) from 1916 until his death on December 13, 1937. During his life, he was also a leader in Jewish affairs at the university and was a founder of Texas A&M Hillel
Texas A&M Hillel
Texas A&M Hillel is the oldest Hillel Foundation organization in the United States. The organization was founded in 1920, three years before the national Hillel Foundation was organized at University of Illinois. Texas A&M Hillel began as the "TAMC Menorah Club" and was organized in 1916 by Dr...
.
He graduated from National Farm School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 8,380. The borough is the county seat of Bucks County.- History :...
in 1904. He received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1913 under the direction of J.W. Harshberger with his dissertation titled, "The Diseases of the Sweet Pea
Sweet pea
Sweet pea is a flowering plant in the genus Lathyrus in the family Fabaceae , native to the eastern Mediterranean region from Sicily east to Crete....
(1914)." Taubenhaus was hired as Assistant Plant Pathologist at the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station at Delaware College (now the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
) in 1909 and was promoted to Associate Plant Pathologist in 1913. He held this position until 1916. He started his position of Chief of the Division of Plant Pathology and Physiology at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in 1916. He became a member of the graduate faculty of Texas A&M College in 1924. In Texas, he worked on diseases of a multitude of crops, including sweet potatoes, corn, onions, melons and tomatoes. With Walter Ezekiel, he published a check list of diseases in Texas. Much of his research focused on the etiology and control of cotton root rot, caused by the fungus, Phymatotrichopsis omnivora. With Walter Ezekiel, he published a study evaluating the susceptibility of more than 2000 plant species to this pathogen. At the time of his death, he had 91 major scientific publications.
Along with his wife Esther, he founded Texas A&M Hillel in 1916, then named the "TAMC Menorah Club." Taubenhaus was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, a member of the Botanical Society of America
Botanical Society of America
The Botanical Society of America represents professional and amateur botanists, researchers, educators and students in over 80 countries of the world...
, Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
, and a charter member of the American Phytopathological Society
American Phytopathological Society
The American Phytopathological Society is an international scientific organization devoted to the study of plant diseases. APS promotes the advancement of modern concepts in the science of plant pathology and in plant health management in agricultural, urban and forest settings...
. He maintained his position as head of the plant pathology and physiology division of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station until his death in 1937.
He married Esther Hirschenson in 1910 and they had two children, Leon J. Taubenhaus, M.D., M.P.H. (December 29, 1912 - November 4, 1973) and Ruth T. Gross, M.D. (June 24, 1920 - October 16, 2007). Jacob Taubenhaus is buried in the Bryan (Texas) City Cemetery.