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Gilbert M. Smith
Gilbert M. Smith first started to gain interest in biology in his undergraduate career in Beloit College, and it is here that he decided to follow a career in botany. In order to continue a graduate career in botany, Smith had to teach at the Wisconsin high school. However, after realising that he could not finance his work by teaching he received an Assistantship in Botany at the University of Wisconsin. Here Smith gained a significant interest in algae and this would be the main focus of his career. Smith also refined his botanical illustration and his laboratory skills. In 1911 Smith published his paper about a new genus of algae he had identified. Later Smith received a Ph.D and was awarded an instructorship in botany at the University of Wisconsin, where continued his research into algae and plankton. Smith completed “Phytoplankton of the Inland Water of Wisconsin” part 1 (1919) and part 2 (1924), which have become books of great value.

During his time at the University of Wisconsin Smith had teaching responsibilities. He thought that the books used to teach were of poor value (?) and so he along with five other members of staff started to create the new textbook. While writing the new textbook each member would write a section devoted to their field of expertise. Smith took on the responsibility of creating more and better botanical illustrations than were found in other textbooks of that time. The textbook went through four more editions, as the textbook was refined at the end of each school year. Smith also had the responsibility of editing the textbooks, which included the addition of new images or editing chapters.

Edward M. Gilbert
Edward M. Gilbert was a prominent name in mycology, phytopathology and botany since the 1920s. Gilbert completed his graduate work at the University of Wisconsin where his main interest was in mycological research. In 1922 he became the Professor of Botany and Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin. His greatest interest became fungal cytology and he would go on to study fungal diseases of a citrus aphid and plant pathogenic fungi.

James B. Overton
James B. Overton began to work as a botany instructor in the University of Wisconsin in 1904. Later he became the professor of plant physiology. Overton was one of the first people to study the parthenogenesis in plants and gave an explanation to this phenomenon. He continued with studies about meiosis, the formation of spores and nuclear organisation. Overton successfully induced the pathogenesis under controlled conditions of the Fucus genus. During and after the publishing to A textbook of General Botany, Overton published a series of studies with Gilbert Smith.

Rollin H. Denniston
Rollin H. Denniston graduated in pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin and then completed his doctorate in botany in 1904. He began teaching as an assistant in pharmacy, which included the responsibility of the drug museum, comprising many botanical pharmaceuticals. Denniston's main interest was in pharmacy, including drugs of botanical origin. He became the assistant professor of botany in 1907. Denniston also published about anatomy and taxonomy.

Charles E. Allen
Charles E. Allen was studying at the University of Wisconsin and became especially interested in the taxonomy of bryophytes, however his only published work was on liverworts. Later his interest became in cytology and for many years that was the center of his research. Allen’s role during the writing of A Textbook of General Botany was editing and also as a writer. As a writer Allen would point out grammatical errors, statements that could lead to misinterpretation and broad generalisations in the texts and also bring everyone’s point of view into a single statement that would satisfy all the members.

George S. Bryan
George S. Bryan was a professor of Botany at the University of Wisconsin. He published papers about the reproduction and cellular development of plants.