Willis Linn Jepson letters to Abby L. Waterman, 1913-1935 | University and Jepson Herbaria Archives, University of California, Berkeley

Willis Linn Jepson (1867-1946) was a University of California, Berkeley professor of Botany and noted expert on the flora of California. Jepson attended the University of California to study botany and received his undergraduate degree in 1889 and his Ph.D. in 1899. He began working for the Botany department in 1891 as an instructor and retired in 1937 as Professor of Botany.  Jepson's authoritative works on California flora included A manual of the flowering plants of California (1923-1925) and his multi-volume Flora of California (1909-1940, with an additional volume published posthumously by Lauramay Dempster in 1979).  He passed away in Berkeley on November 7, 1946.  His will established the Jepson Herbarium and Library at the University of California at Berkeley.

Abby L. Waterman (1869-1941) was the youngest of seven children of Robert Whitney Waterman and Jane (Gardener) Waterman of Illinois. The Waterman family settled in California in 1873 on a ranch near San Bernardino, which was developed as Waterman’s Hot Springs and later housed a dairy and cattle breeding operation.  Waterman Ranch was one of many businesses started by Robert Whitney Waterman who became a well-known California land and mining developer. He also served as Governor of California from 1887-1891 and was an Ex Officio regent of the University of California during his time in office.