Norton George Miller Explained

Norton G. Miller
Birth Date:4 February 1942
Birth Place:Buffalo, New York, US
Death Place:Syracuse, New York, US[1]
Fields:Bryology

Quaternary paleobotany[2]
Workplaces:Harvard University Herbaria
New York State Museum
Thesis Title:Late- and postglacial vegetation change in southwestern New York State
Thesis Url:http://d.lib.msu.edu/islandora/object/etd:36550
Thesis Year:1969
Alma Mater:University at Buffalo
Michigan State University
Author Abbrev Bot:N.G.Mill.

Norton George Miller (1942–2011) was an American bryologist and paleobotanist. He was the president of the American Bryological and Lichenological Society from 1985 to 1987.

Biography

Norton G. Miller grew up in the towns of Orchard Park and South Wales south of Buffalo, New York. He roamed the woods with the family dog, became an avid birder, and studied natural history, especially botany, under the mentorship of Mabel Hinde James.[3] [4] He served as her assistant and also became an Eagle Scout.[3] He graduated in 1959 from Holland Central High School in Erie County, New York[1] and graduated in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in biology from the University at Buffalo. In 1964 he married Heather Swan. During their marriage of over 47 years, she accompanied him on his bryological collecting trips and collaborated on several scientific projects.[3] In 1969 he graduated with a Ph.D. in botany from Michigan State University.[1] As a postdoc, he was an assistant curator at the Arnold Arboretum from 1969 to 1970.[5] For several years he worked on a research project, the Generic Flora of the Southeastern United States, led by Carroll Emory Wood Jr.

For five and one-half years ending on June 30, 1980, Miller was the supervisor of the Gray and Arnold Arboretum Herbaria and chair of the Herbarium Committee, and then continued on the staff as botanist at the Gray Herbarium and the Arnold Arboretum.[6] In 1983 he joined the staff of the New York State Museum and eventually retired there as emeritus curator of bryology and Quaternary paleobotany[1] He was on the editorial boards of ten journals.[7]

Upon his death he was survived by his widow, a son, and one granddaughter.[1] The Adirondack Mountain Club created the Dr. Norton G. Miller Memorial Fund in his honor.[7]

Selected publications

References

  1. News: Obituary. Norton G. Miller. Albany Times Union. December 30, 2011.
  2. Web site: Norton G. Miller. Plant Biology Tree.
  3. 23321059. Norton G. Miller (1942—2011). Mishler. Brent D.. Miller. Heather S.. Miller. Andrew D.. The Bryologist. 2012. 115. 3. 449–453. 10.1639/0007-2745-115.3.449. 83926237.
  4. James, Mabel H.. Conservation Caravan: A Fresh Approach to Conservation Education. The American Biology Teacher. 11. 8. 1949. 192–194. 10.2307/4438092. 4438092.
  5. Howard, Richard A.. Director's Report: The Arnold Arboretum During the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1970. Arnoldia. 1970. 30. 6. 250 of pp. 201–250.
  6. The Director's Report. Ashton, Peter Shaw. Arnoldia. 1980. 40. 6. 257 of pp. 238–293.
  7. Web site: Protecting High Peak Summits: Announcing the Dr. Norton G. Miller Memorial Fund. Adirondack Mountain Club. 22 June 2020.