William Ralph Maxon

American botanist (1877-1948).

William Ralph Maxon, (February 27, 1877 – February 25, 1948) was an American botanist and pteridologist. He graduated from Syracuse University with a B.Ph. in biology, in 1898, and spent about one year at Columbia University doing post-graduate work on ferns with Lucien Marcus Underwood. In 1899 he accepted a position with the United States National Museum, which was a part of the Smithsonian Institution; he remained at the museum for his entire career. In 1899 he became an aide with the Division of Plants. He was named assistant curator in 1905, associate curator in 1914, and curator of that