Dr. Richard Evans Schultes Historical Ethnographer By: Nathan Beeman Biology 428 Frostburg State University

Background Dr. Richard Evans Schultes Jan. 12, 1915 to April 10, 2001 Dr. Richard Evans Schultes Jan. 12, 1915 to April 10, 2001 Born and died in Boston, Mass. Born and died in Boston, Mass. He was the son of German immigrants He was the son of German immigrants

Background During a lengthy childhood illness he read Notes of a Botanist on the Amazon and the Andes by Richard Spruce During a lengthy childhood illness he read Notes of a Botanist on the Amazon and the Andes by Richard Spruce This book would ultimately influence Dr. Schultes’ career in plant exploration This book would ultimately influence Dr. Schultes’ career in plant exploration He graduated from East Boston High School He graduated from East Boston High School He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Harvard University He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Harvard University

Career He did his undergraduate dissertation research on Peyote with the Kiowa Indians of Oklahoma He did his undergraduate dissertation research on Peyote with the Kiowa Indians of Oklahoma This is where he first took on the role of ethnographer This is where he first took on the role of ethnographer Not only did he see the how the plant was used ceremoniously but the actual role it played in the daily lives of these people Not only did he see the how the plant was used ceremoniously but the actual role it played in the daily lives of these people

Career No longer was it all about understanding the plants, but understanding the cultures in which they were used was equally as important No longer was it all about understanding the plants, but understanding the cultures in which they were used was equally as important For his graduate thesis he continued the study of plants with psychoactive properties For his graduate thesis he continued the study of plants with psychoactive properties Mushrooms that were used by Aztecs in Oaxaca, Mexico Mushrooms that were used by Aztecs in Oaxaca, Mexico

Career To his disdain, his publication Plants of the Gods became the handbook for the 1960’s drug counter- culture lead by figures such as Timothy Leary and William S. Burroughs To his disdain, his publication Plants of the Gods became the handbook for the 1960’s drug counter- culture lead by figures such as Timothy Leary and William S. Burroughs Their recreational drug use would stigmatize and cause the rest of western society to look unfavorably at the native cultures who used these sacred plants Their recreational drug use would stigmatize and cause the rest of western society to look unfavorably at the native cultures who used these sacred plants

Career In 1941 he began his 12 year stay in the Columbian Amazon doing research on curare, a mixture of plants used for poison arrows In 1941 he began his 12 year stay in the Columbian Amazon doing research on curare, a mixture of plants used for poison arrows While there he traveled alone most often While there he traveled alone most often He learned several native tongues and dialects He learned several native tongues and dialects He relied on the hospitality of local indians and rarely encountered any hostility He relied on the hospitality of local indians and rarely encountered any hostility

Career In the advent of WWII he was given an assignment by the USDA to find seed sources for Hevea, rubber trees In the advent of WWII he was given an assignment by the USDA to find seed sources for Hevea, rubber trees This helped him establish conservation programs that are used today by large drug companies This helped him establish conservation programs that are used today by large drug companies They are able to research and extract plants for their medicinal purposes without adversely affecting the quality of life of the native peoples They are able to research and extract plants for their medicinal purposes without adversely affecting the quality of life of the native peoples One his greatest fears was that “the native people and their knowledge was disappearing faster than plants themselves” One his greatest fears was that “the native people and their knowledge was disappearing faster than plants themselves”

Accomplishments Director of the Botanical Museum and Professor of Biology at Harvard University Director of the Botanical Museum and Professor of Biology at Harvard University Collection of over 20,000 specimens and discovery of 120 previously unknown species Collection of over 20,000 specimens and discovery of 120 previously unknown species Cross of Boyaca Award; Columbia’s highest honor Cross of Boyaca Award; Columbia’s highest honor The naming of the Schultes Preserve, a large tract of land in the Columbian Amazon The naming of the Schultes Preserve, a large tract of land in the Columbian Amazon

Sources "The Vaults of Erowid." Web. 18 Feb "The Vaults of Erowid." Web. 18 Feb

Sources Cont. "A Tribute to Richard Evans Schultes." Web. 18 Feb "A Tribute to Richard Evans Schultes." Web. 18 Feb Sequeira, Luis. "Richard Evans Schultes " biographical Memoir 2006: n. pag. Web. 18 Feb Sequeira, Luis. "Richard Evans Schultes " biographical Memoir 2006: n. pag. Web. 18 Feb