Thomas Volney Munson
Encyclopedia
Thomas Volney Munson often referred to simply as T.V. Munson, was a horticulturist
and breeder of grapes in Texas
.
. He was a son of William Munson (1808-1890) and Maria (Linley) Munson (1810-1890). Munson was an 1870 graduate of the University of Kentucky
. Munson moved to Denison, Texas
, in April 1876 where two of his brothers had already relocated. While primarily remembered as horticulturist, Munson was interested in a variety of fields, and is credited with several inventions, including a primitive helicopter. Munson died in Denison, Texas
.
development that had the greatest impact on viticulture. This work provided European grape growers with phylloxera
-resistant stocks, allowing them to recover from the devastating epidemic of the late 19th century while still growing the ancient Vitis vinifera
cultivars. In honor of this work, the French government named him Chevalier du Merite Agricole of the French Legion of Honor, and Cognac, France became a sister city to Munson's home of Denison.
His book, Foundations of American Grape Culture, published in 1909, is regarded as one of the seminal texts of grape breeding and is widely referenced even today. Grape breeder Elmer Swenson
credited it with inspiring his early interest in the field.
movement. In July 1890, when James D. Shaw, the controversial editor of the Independent Pulpit was elected president of the newly formed Texas Liberal Association at a meeting held in Waco, Texas
, members chose Munson to serve as treasurer, a post to which he was re-elected the following year in San Antonio, Texas
. Munson also subscribed to infidel newspapers such as the Blue-grass Blade and occasionally lectured at Freethinker meetings. When he died in 1913, his funeral was held in a public hall instead of a church and the services, which were “simple and brief,” consisted largely of a funeral oration composed by the deceased himself “when still in good health.” He was afterward buried in Denison’s Fairview Cemetery.
in Denison, Texas
, preserves much of Munson's work. In 1974, the T.V. Munson Memorial Vineyard was established which preserves many of his cultivars and produces stock for propagation. This was followed in 1988 with the opening of the T.V. Munson Viticulture and Enology Center, which serves as a repository for documents and other historical materials regarding Munson. It also houses research, classroom and conference facilities.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
and breeder of grapes in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Background
Thomas Volney Munson was born in Astoria, IllinoisAstoria, Illinois
Astoria is an incorporated town in Fulton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,193 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Astoria is located at ....
. He was a son of William Munson (1808-1890) and Maria (Linley) Munson (1810-1890). Munson was an 1870 graduate of the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Munson moved to Denison, Texas
Denison, Texas
Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, in April 1876 where two of his brothers had already relocated. While primarily remembered as horticulturist, Munson was interested in a variety of fields, and is credited with several inventions, including a primitive helicopter. Munson died in Denison, Texas
Denison, Texas
Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
Career
Munson made extensive use of native American grape species, and devoted a great deal of his life to collecting and documenting them. He released hundreds of named cultivars, though only a few remain of significance today. Though breeding for wine quality seems to have occupied a great proportion of his effort, it was his work on rootstockRootstock
A rootstock is a plant, and sometimes just the stump, which already has an established, healthy root system, used for grafting a cutting or budding from another plant. The tree part being grafted onto the rootstock is usually called the scion...
development that had the greatest impact on viticulture. This work provided European grape growers with phylloxera
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
-resistant stocks, allowing them to recover from the devastating epidemic of the late 19th century while still growing the ancient Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran....
cultivars. In honor of this work, the French government named him Chevalier du Merite Agricole of the French Legion of Honor, and Cognac, France became a sister city to Munson's home of Denison.
His book, Foundations of American Grape Culture, published in 1909, is regarded as one of the seminal texts of grape breeding and is widely referenced even today. Grape breeder Elmer Swenson
Elmer Swenson
Elmer Swenson was a pioneering grape breeder who introduced a number of new cultivars, effectively revolutionizing grape growing in the Upper Midwest of the United States and other cold and short-seasoned regions....
credited it with inspiring his early interest in the field.
Freethought Activity
Although Munson is best remembered as a horticulturist, he was also active in the FreethoughtFreethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
movement. In July 1890, when James D. Shaw, the controversial editor of the Independent Pulpit was elected president of the newly formed Texas Liberal Association at a meeting held in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, members chose Munson to serve as treasurer, a post to which he was re-elected the following year in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. Munson also subscribed to infidel newspapers such as the Blue-grass Blade and occasionally lectured at Freethinker meetings. When he died in 1913, his funeral was held in a public hall instead of a church and the services, which were “simple and brief,” consisted largely of a funeral oration composed by the deceased himself “when still in good health.” He was afterward buried in Denison’s Fairview Cemetery.
Legacy
The West Campus of Grayson County CollegeGrayson County College
Grayson County College is a community college located in Grayson County, Texas. GCC's main campus is located in Denison, with branch campuses in Sherman, Van Alstyne and Bonham ....
in Denison, Texas
Denison, Texas
Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, preserves much of Munson's work. In 1974, the T.V. Munson Memorial Vineyard was established which preserves many of his cultivars and produces stock for propagation. This was followed in 1988 with the opening of the T.V. Munson Viticulture and Enology Center, which serves as a repository for documents and other historical materials regarding Munson. It also houses research, classroom and conference facilities.