In 1907 a gift of land from Walter and Esther Nichols, Professor George Burns, Detroit Edison, additional land purchased by the University and land owned by the City of Ann Arbor was used to establish the University’s Botanical Garden and Arboretum.
Directors of the Botanical Gardens and Arboretum
George Plumer Burns
1907-1912
Charles H. Otis
1912-1913
Henry A. Gleason
Director of Botanical Garden and Arboretum
1915-1919
The directorship of the Botanical Garden and Arboretum were separated
when the Botanical Gardens moved to the Iroquois site.
Harley H. Bartlett
1919-1955
Frieda Cobb Blanchard
Assistant Director Botanical Garden and Arboretum
1917-1956
Acting Director of Botanical Garden
1926
Arthur Geoffrey Norman
1955-1966
Marion T. Hall
Acting Director
8/15 1963-6/30/1964
Visiting Professor of Botany
In 1957, Frederic C. Matthaei, Sr and Mildred Hague Matthaei donated 200 acres of land and the Botanical Gardens at the Iroquois site was moved to the new location on Dixboro Road. In 1967 it was named the Matthaei Botanical Gardens.
Directors of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Warren Herbert Wagner, Jr
1966-1971
Erich E. Steiner
1971-1977
1989-1991
William S Benninghoff
Acting Director & Curator of Matthaei Botanical Gardens
1975
Director
1977-1983
Catherine Bach
Acting Director
1986-1987
Anton A. Reznicek
1987-1989
Patricia Hopkinson
Acting Director
1991-1994
James A. Teeri
1994-2002
Brian J. Klatt
Interim Director
2002-2004
In 1923 the Arboretum was renamed the Nichols Arboretum.
Director of Arboretum
Aubrey M, Tealdi
1916-1934
Harlow Olin Whittemore
1934-1958
Walter L. Chambers
1958-1968
Charles Cares
1968-1986
Harrison Morton
1986-1999
Robert Grese
1999-2004
In 2004 the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum were once again combined under one directorship.
Directors of the Matthaei Botanical Garden and Nichols Arboretum
Bob Grese
2004-
