He was born at Lafayette, Wisconsin, March 19, 1856. At an early age he showed great interest in plants and animals and later a strong desire for a better education. Young Osborn grew to manhood at Fairfax, Iowa, where he acquired a lasting interest in agriculture. He attended Iowa College, Grinnell, Iowa, for a few months but in 1876 entered Iowa State College. He graduated in 1879 with the B.S. degree, being the first student majoring in Zoology. He received the first M.S. degree given at Iowa State College in 1880, an then first honorary degree of Sc.D. in 1916. The L.LD. was conferred upon Professor Osborn by the University of Pittsburgh in 1930, also the same degree from Ohio State University in 1936. At Iowa State College, Osborn was an assistant in Zoology and Entomology 1879-1883; Assistant Professor 1883-1885; Professor 1885-1898; also Entomologist in Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station 1890-1898. He was appointed State Entomologist of Iowa, 1898. To fill in summer vacations he became a field agent for the Division of Entomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture 1885-894. This work culminated in a notable publication, "Insects affecting domestic animals", Bull. 5, (1896). Another activity was having charge of the Entomological exhibit of the Agricultural Expt. Stations at the World Columbian Exposition in 1893. Two years were spent in graduate study 1881-1882 at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard, and 1884-1885 at the Zoological Station at Naples, Italy.

The Iowa Academy of Science owes much to Herbert Osborn. He played a leading part in the reorganization of the Academy in 1887, reviving interest in and fostering scientific research. At this meeting in the old Kirkwood House of Des Moines, he was elected President. From the record we find there were difficulties in financing publication of the Proceedings. "Indeed, the printing of the first proceedings was financed by Herbert Osborn, who was late reimbursed for the money expended". Later, he served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Academy from 1892-1898.

Professor Osborn was on hand at the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Academy of 1912, when he gave the principal address. By 1920, honorary fellowships were established by the Academy, and Herbert Osborn was one of the six members so designated. As late as May 2, 1952, Dr. Osborn sent $50.00 to the Iowa Academy to use as "seemed desirable". This contribution was placed in a "revolving publication fun", not known as the "Herbert Osborn revolving publication fund".

Herbert Osborn left Iowa in 1898 to become Professor of Zoology and Entomology, Ohio State University 1898-1916; Research Professor, 1916-1933; Director Lake Laboratory, Ohio State University 1898-1919; Diogist, Maine Agr. Expt. Station in 1913. In later years, Dr. Osborn had short period connections with several institutions, like the New York Forestry School, 1920; North Carolina Agr. Expt. Station, 1919; Florida Agr. Expt. Sta., 1921, an the Mississippi State Plant Board in 1922.

Professor Osborn will always be remembered as one of the great and inspiring teachers in the field of Entomology, particularly while head of the Department of Zoology and Entomology, Ohio State University. He had unusual ability in turning young men to fields of research and preparing them for the profession of Entomology.

Systematic studies provided a favorite field of research for Dr. Osborn, particularly the order Homoptera, and the large family Cicadellidae where he described many new species. The culmination of these studies may be fund in "The Leafhoppers of Ohio", Ohio State Univ. Bul., Vol. 32, and Ohio Biol. Surv. Bul. 14 (1928). Other important contributions were "Fragmentts of Entomological History", Par I (1937) and II (1946); Economic Zoology (1908); Agricultural Entomology (1916); Meadow and Pasture Insects (1939); and "A Brief History of Entomology" (1952).

Osborn held many high positions in scientific organizations, having been President of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, 1887; American Association of Economic Entomologists, 1898; Ohio Academy of Sciences, 1904; American Microscopical Society 1907-1909; Entomological Society of America, 1911; and the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Sciences, 1917-1919; Vice-President (Chairman, Section F) of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1917; Editor of the Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Sciences, 1890-1898; and of the Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 1908-1929.

Dr. Osborn will always be remembered at Iowa State College by the Osborn Research Club, founded in 1921 and named in his honor. The Club includes as members the men most active in research at Iowa State and holds monthly meeting for presentation of reports. Osborn Drive is an important street on the Campus, and Osborn Cottage where he lived on the campus still carries his name.

Professor Osborn married Alice Isador Sayles, of Manchester, Iowa, January 19, 1883. They had five children, two boys and three girls. One son, Herbert T., is a well known professional Entomologist.

-Memorial of Herbert Osborn (1856-1954), published in the Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science, 62:79-80. All rights reserved.

Some of Dr. Osborn's papers are in the Special Collections Department of Iowa State University. A listing of available papers and a short biography of Dr. Osborn is available from the Iowa State e-library.