Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus

Who was Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus?

Dr. Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus, born in Safed, Palestine on October 20, 1884, was Chief of the Division of Plant Pathology and Physiology of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas from 1916 until his death on December 13, 1937. During his life, he was also a leader in Jewish affairs at the university and was a founder of Texas A&M Hillel.

He graduated from National Farm School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania in 1904. He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1913 under the direction of J.W. Harshberger with his dissertation titled, "The Diseases of the Sweet Pea." Taubenhaus was hired as Assistant Plant Pathologist at the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station at Delaware College in 1909 and was promoted to Associate Plant Pathologist in 1913. He held this position until 1916. He started his position of Chief of the Division of Plant Pathology and Physiology at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in 1916. He became a member of the graduate faculty of Texas A&M College in 1924. In Texas, he worked on diseases of a multitude of crops, including sweet potatoes, corn, onions, melons and tomatoes.