MASON BLANCHARD THOMAS. 



On Wednesday evening, March 6, 1912, Mason Blanchard Thomas, 

 I'roi'essor of Botany at Wabash College and Dean of the Facnlty, died at 

 his home in Cl'awfordsville of an aente attack of pleurisy. 



Mason B. Thomas was born at New Woodstock, N. Y., December 16, 

 1866. He prepared for college at Cazenovia Academy and entered the 

 College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University in the fall of 1SS6. 

 He was graduated with the degree of B. S. in 1890 and was awarded a 

 graduate fellowship in biology at Cornell for the following year. In 1891 

 he came to Wabnsli College as Professor of Bidlngy, and after 18'.!.'), whrn 

 the department was di\ided, he gave his whdle rinu' to the study and teach- 

 ing of Botany. 



While at Cornell he was elected to membership in the Sigma Xi So- 

 ciety and at Wabash was elected as an organization member of the Phi 

 Beta Kappa Society. In 1907 an honorary Ph.D. was conferred upon him 

 by the trustees of Wabash. 



In June, 1893, he was joined in marriage to Miss Annie Davidson, only 

 daughter of Judge and Mrs. T. F. Davidson, of Crawfordsville, and his 

 wife survives him. 



Professor Thomas was a great teacher. He brought to his work a 

 thorougli knowledge of his subject, an unbounded energy and enthusiasm, 

 and a personal interest in and love for his students. He was active also 

 in furthering the general interests of llie rollege; was for many years 

 the chairman of the Athletic Committee of tlie Faculty, and since 1907 

 has been the Dean of the Faculty. He was a fellow and past president of 

 the Indiana Academy of Science and has always been active in its serv- 

 ice. At the time of his death he was secretary of the Indiana Forestry 

 Association and <liairiiian of its iMliicatioiial Conuuittce. and secretary of 

 the Board of Tiiistees of the Boys' School at Plaintield. He was also a 

 fellow of tlic American Association for the .\dvancement <d" Science and 

 a memlicr of liic .Vnici-ican .Microscopiial Society, the American Forestry 

 A.ssociatioii, (lie P.otaiiicai Society of America, tiie American T'hyto- 



