Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- James Vlamis Papers
- Dates:
- 1944-1999
- Creators:
- Vlamis, James.
- Abstract:
- The James Vlamis Papers document Vlamis' activities as a Soil Chemist in the Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition, University of California, Berkeley. He conducted much of his research at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Davis, CA.
- Extent:
- 1 linear foot
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], James Vlamis Papers, D-506, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection includes data books related to soil and plant nutrition experiments conducted at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Davis, CA by the UC Berkeley Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition. Also included is one folder of correspondence.
- Biographical / historical:
-
James Vlamis was born in New York, New York on June 5, 1914. His parents, Emanuel and Pauline Vlamis, were both immigrants from Greece. Vlamis earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, the latter in botany focusing on plant physiology. During his time at Berkeley, Vlamis worked as a teaching assistant. Vlamis was hired by the Harvard Forestry School in 1941 but was soon drafted to serve in the United States Army Air Corps with the First Air Commando Group in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II. After his military service, Vlamis began what would be a career of more than 20 years at the Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition at UC, Berkeley. His work primarily focused on soil chemistry related to processes such as rice production, nitrogen fixation in wildland plants, calcium-magnesium ratios in serpentine soils, manganese and silicon interaction in grasses, and growth and phosphate uptake by pine seedlings grown on phosphate-deficient soils. He conducted much of his research at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Davis, CA. Vlamis’ work extended beyond the U.S. when, in 1962, he traveled to Portugal supported by a Fulbright scholarship to assist with rice agriculture. Throughout his career, Vlamis worked closely with Professor Hans Jenny and Dr. D. E. Williams on various long-term soil studies. For example, in one of his studies with Professor Jenny, their research proved that calcium deficiency is one of the reasons magnesium-rich serpentine soils are infertile. Vlamis retired from UC Berkeley in 1981 and continued to assist students and farmers with agricultural issues and plant nutrition. Daily work in his greenhouse continued into his 90s. Vlamis passed away in 2012.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Michael Singer, 2009.
- Processing information:
-
The biography was written by Sacramento State Public History graduate student Michelle Laguna. Michelle Trujillo updated this finding aid in 2026.
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
All applicable copyrights for the collection are protected under chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code. Requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California as the owner of the physical items. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], James Vlamis Papers, D-506, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library100 NW QuadDavis, CA 95616-5292, US
- Contact:
- (530) 752-1621