Hazel Branch
{{Short description|American entomologist (1886–1973)}}
{{Infobox academic
| name = Hazel E. Branch
| image = Hazel_E._Branch_(1886-1973).gif
| image_size =
| alt = Hazel Branch
| caption =
| birth_date = October 1, 1886
| birth_place = Concordia, Kansas, US
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1973|08|24|1886|10|01}}
| death_place = Wichita, Kansas, US
| residence =
| workplaces = Wichita State University
| known_for =
| education = University of Kansas, BA English, 1908
University of Kansas, MA English, 1912
Cornell University, PhD. Entomology, 1921
| discipline = Biology
| occupation = College professor and administrator
| sub_discipline = Zoology and Entomologist
| era = 1921–1956
}}
Hazel Elisabeth Branch (October 1, 1886 – August 24, 1973) was an American entomologist and academic. She was a professor and head of the Department of Zoology at Wichita State University. Branch was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the president of the Kansas Academy of Science.
Early life
Branch was born on October 1, 1886, in Concordia, Kansas.{{Cite web |title=Hazel Branch {{!}} Plaza of Heroines |url=http://www.plazaofheroines.com/Tribute/276 |access-date=9 May 2016 |website=Wichita State University}} She attended the public schools in Cawker City, Kansas and Beloit, Kansas.{{Cite news |date=1956-04-15 |title=Former Concordia Woman Retiring |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal-former-concordia-woma/155408243/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Salina Journal |pages=25 |via=Newspapers.com}} She attended the University of Kansas, where she received a Bachelor's degree in 1908 and a Master's degree in English in 1912.{{Cite news |date=1947-06-29 |title=Dr. Hazel E. Branch Starts Her 26th Year at Wichita U. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-dr-hazel-e-branch-st/155409902/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Wichita Eagle |pages=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1973-08-21 |title=Dr. Branch Dies at 86, Services Set |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-beacon-dr-branch-dies-at-86/155410409/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Wichita Beacon |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
She received a Ph.D. in entomology from Cornell University in 1921.{{Cite book |last=O'Leary |first=Margaret R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LlIoCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT326 |title=R. D. O'Leary (1866–1936): Notes from Mount Oread, 1914–1915 |last2=O'Leary |first2=D. S. |date=2015-04-15 |publisher=iUniverse |isbn=9781491758731 |language=en |access-date=8 November 2016}} While at Cornell, she was a founding member and treasurer of Sigma Delta Epsilon (now Graduate Women in Science).{{Cite journal |date=July 29, 1921 |title=Announcement of the founding of Sigma Delta Epsilon |url=https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:575234 |journal=Science |volume=54 |via=Cornel University Library Digital Collections}}
Career
After graduating from the University of Kansas, Branch was a teacher and preceptress at the College of the Sisters of Bethany in Topeka, Kansas.{{Cite news |date=1959-06-10 |title=Retired Zoology Professor to Publish Scientific Book |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-beacon-retired-zoology-profe/155408797/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Wichita Beacon |pages=10 |via=Newspapers.com}} She taught at Cornell University from 1921 to 1922, after receiving her Ph.D.{{Cite news |date=1973-08-22 |title=Former Professor of Zoology at Wichita U. Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-former-professorr-of-z/155410888/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Wichita Eagle |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In 1922, Branch joined Fairmount College (later renamed Wichita State University), as a professor and head of the Department of Biology. In 1927, she became a professor and head of the Department of Zoology. Her research focused on preventative medicine, show the need for a balanced diet and the negative effects of alcohol and nicotine. She also studied pollution caused by dumping raw milk in streams and the negative impact of nicotine on rat reproduction.
Many of her students majored in pre-medicine. 197 of her students became physicians, 56 became dentists, 22 became nurses, and one became a phytopathologist. She sponsored the Pi Kappa Psi sorority at Fairmount College in 1938. She also organized Phi Beta Kappa at Wichita State.
She retired as a professor emeritus of zoology in 1956. After retiring, she turned to writing and published a scientific book about salamanders in 1959.
Branch was included in the 1938 edition of Men of Science. Branch was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was a member of the American Society of Zoologists, the Academy for the Advancement of Science, and the Entomological Society of America. Branch was also the president of the Kansas Academy of Science and president of the Wichita chapter of the American Association of University Professors.{{Cite web |last=Venters |first=Belinda |title=Hazel Branch Endowed Scholarship |url=http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=foundation&p=/spiritofthegiftbiographyproject/biographies/hazelbranchendowedscholarship/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722003156/http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=foundation&p=%2Fspiritofthegiftbiographyproject%2Fbiographies%2Fhazelbranchendowedscholarship%2F |archivedate=2016-07-22 |access-date=9 May 2016 |website=WSU Foundation |publisher=Wichita State University}}
Personal life
Branch lived at 3756 E. Douglas in Wichita, Kansas. She was active in the Wichita Science Club for local science teachers and the Junior Committee of the Kansas Academy of Science. She received the Alumni Recognition Award in 1957. She was a member of the St. James Episcopal Church in Wichita.
Branch died on August 24, 1973, in Wichita. In 1975, the Hazel Branch Endowed Scholarship at Wichita State University was established from her estate, and awarded to students majoring in biology with the intent to attend a medical school.
Publications
= Books =
- Branch, Hazel E. {{Cite book|date=1959|title=A laboratory manual of Cryptobranchus aleganiensis Daudin|publisher=Vantage Press}}
= Journals =
- {{Cite book|date=1913|title=Morphology and biology of the Membracidae of Kansas|publisher=University of Kansas|volume=8, Series No. 3|last=Branch|first=Hazel Elizabeth}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1922|title=A contribution to the knowledge of the internal anatomy of Trichoptera|journal=Annals of the Entomological Society of America|volume=15|issue=3|pages=256–275|doi=10.1093/aesa/15.3.256|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel Elizabeth}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1923|title=Description of the early stages of Tanytarsus fatigans JOH|journal=Entomologists News|volume=34|pages=1–4|last=Branch|first=Hazel Elizabeth}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1922|jstor=3624128|title=A new record relative to the parasites of Pholus achemon Drury|journal=Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science|volume=31|doi=10.2307/3624128|pages=100|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel E.}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1922|jstor=3624108|title=Notes on the Chironomidae of Kansas|journal=Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science|volume=31|doi=10.2307/3624108|pages=48|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel E.}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1923|jstor=25003980|title=The life history of Chironomus cristatus Fabr. with descriptions of the species|journal=Journal of the New York Entomological Society|volume=31|issue=1|pages=15–30|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel Elisabeth}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1928|title=Description and identification of some Chironomid egg masses.|journal=Annals of the Entomological Society of America|volume=21|issue=4|pages=566–570|doi=10.1093/aesa/21.4.566|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel Elisabeth}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1931|jstor=3624463|title=The aims and opportunities of the Junior Academy in Kansas|journal=Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science|volume=34|doi=10.2307/3624463|pages=27–32|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel Elisabeth}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1931|jstor=3624485|title=Identification of Chironomid egg masses II|journal=Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science|volume=34|doi=10.2307/3624485|pages=151–157|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel Elisabeth}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1931|jstor=3624508|title=Effects of alcohol on the reproductive powers of rats (albino)|journal=Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science|volume=34|doi=10.2307/3624508|pages=311–313|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel Elisabeth}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1938|jstor=3625263|title=Effects of nicotine on rats (albino)|journal=Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science|volume=41|pages=317–329|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel Elisabeth|last2=Moss|first2=W. Glen}}
- {{Cite journal|date=1942|jstor=4437328|title=That the blind may see|journal=The American Biology Teacher|volume=5|issue=2|doi=10.2307/4437328|pages=34–36|last1=Branch|first1=Hazel E.}}
References
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Category:People from Concordia, Kansas
Category:University of Kansas alumni
Category:Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni
Category:Wichita State University faculty
Category:American women entomologists
Category:20th-century American women scientists
Category:20th-century American zoologists
Category:20th-century American Episcopalians