38 



Mycologia 



In 1883, a law was passed creating the office of State Botanist ; 

 and Dr. Peck was appointed by the Regents to fill the position. 



At the ii2th Commencement of Union College, June 10, 1908, 

 in presenting Dr. Peck for his degree, Chairman Brownell said: 



" By the direction of the Board of Trustees, I present for the degree of 

 Doctor of Science, Charles Horton Peck of the Class of 1859. A graduate of 

 this College, he has been for many years in public service as Botanist of the 

 Empire State, Author, and Student of Nature and of Science. I reqviest that 

 the degree be conferred upon him." 



President Alexander conferred the degree in the following 

 words : 



" Charles Horton Peck. For faithful labors and high attainments in the 

 realm of Science and for long and fruitful service, by the authority committed 

 to me by the Trustees of Union College I confer upon you the degree of Doc- 

 tor of Science and bid you enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities 

 pertaining thereto." 



Dr. Peck retired from his position of State Botanist early in 

 191 5, after a period of forty-eight years of faithful, conscientious, 

 and honest service. He died at his home in Menands, July ii, 

 1917; and was buried in the family plot in Sand Lake Cemetery 

 near Averill Park. 



Dr. Peck was the author of many botanical articles and reports, 

 preeminent among which is the long series of annual reports of 

 the State Botanist from 1867 to 1912. He was a Fellow of the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science ; a mem- 

 ber of the Botanical Society of America ; of the Albany His- 

 torical and Art Society ; American Forestry Association ; Na- 

 tional Geographic Society ; New England Botanical Club ; and 

 many mycological and scientific societies ; and was a devout mem- 

 ber of the Presbyterian church for over sixty years. 



" Dr. Peck has accomplished a great work. He has built a 

 gigantic monument to himself by his long labor in the herbarium. 

 He has wandered over every section of the State from the Adi- 

 rondack wilds to the Montezuma marshes, and westward to the 

 grape belt along the shores of Lake Erie." 



"Without the advantages of European travel and study, and 

 frequently working without access to the older European litera- 

 ture upon fungi, his work stands out with conspicuous individ- 



