Oral History Interview: Folke Skoog (0432)

Abstract

Throughout his two interview sessions with Barry Teicher, and one session with Bill Jordan, botanist Folke Skoog recounts his career as a researcher and professor at UW-Madison. Skoog shares that he was hired by C. Leonard Huskins, who had hopes he would help modernize the department. Skoog characterizes the department as incredibly resistant to change despite it being top-ranked in the nation. He details contention between “traditional” and “progressive” members of the botany department among whom differences arose concerning research-teaching balances, curriculum, and even use of building space. He describes working with E.B. Fred and Conrad Elvehjem, details his disagreements with Letters & Science administration, and shares his memories of notable members of the department and various deans. Within the department, Skoog was a founding member of the research-oriented Institute of Plant Development, was instrumental in the centralization of courses through the Biocore program, and was chairman of the Biotron planning committee. Skoog describes his frustration with department politics, which eventually led to him receiving funding through WARF and the Graduate School instead. He also discusses the courses and students he taught, his extensive involvement in professional societies, his philosophy of botany, and his contributions to plant growth and cytokinin research which led to his receiving the National Medal of Science. This interview was conducted for inclusion into the UW-Madison Archives and Records Management Oral History Program.