Jean-Henri Nicolas (August 13, 1875 Roubaix - September 25, 1937)
[From All about the new Roses, Jackson & Perkins, 1938, p. 2:] Publisher’s Note. —This booklet by J. H. Nicolas was written and ready for the printer when he died, September 25, 1937. Recognized as America’s ranking rosarian, he was, for the last eight years, in charge of Jackson & Perkins' research work with Roses. The author of many books, he was recognized and honored abroad as well as at home. The Jackson & Perkins Company considers it a privilege to present this book just as Dr. Nicolas would like to have it.
[From Les Amis des Roses, May-June 1938, p. 10:] ....notre regretté Vice-Président, M. J.-H. NICOLAS, malheureusement disparu l'année dernière et qui était un des propagateurs de la Rose française aux Etats-Unis. Il avait commencé à mettre ses obtentions au Concours de Bagatelle...
[From The Makers of Heavenly Roses, by Jack Harkness, 1985, pp. 72-74: before working for Jackson & Perkins [from ca. 1932/33], Nicolas was employed by a rival firm, the Conard-Pyle Co. Jean Henri Nicolas, born in Roubaix, near the Belgian border, in 1875. In appearance, he was unlike one's mental picture of a Frenchman, being blond, tall and heavy; in fact six feet two inches and two hundred and ten pounds in weight. His career had been varied. After gaining degrees in both Arts and Science, he became a soldier in the peace-time French army. He was a Captain in the Artillery at the age of twenty-seven, but had to resign his commission because his eyesight became impaired. He then worked in the textile industry, and was appointed to a post that brought him from France to the United States as buying agent for raw cotton in New Orleans... From his youth he had been interested in roses... He was known as 'The Doctor', a title he rightfully held from his qualifications; he was respected by rosarians in many countries. He died in 1937, shortly after a large, fragrant, pink Hybrid Tea had been named 'The Doctor' in his honour by a Californian rose breeder, Fred Howard.
[From The Ultimate Rose Book, by Stirling Macoboy, 1993, 157:] the hybridist for Jackson & Perkins.
[From the website of Jackson & Perkins] In 1928, Charles’ nephew, C. H. Perkins, took over the role as President of the company, and he increased their rose hybridization program by bringing in Dr. Jean Henri Nicholas, an internationally known French hybridizer. Dr. Nicolas died in 1937, but he was succeeded by his understudy, Eugene Boerner, who made great strides in developing the floribunda class of roses.
[From the website werelate.org(wiki/ January 2, 2000 ] Jean Henri Nicolas b. 1875. Dr. Nicolas, who came to America from France during World War I, with a war purchasing commission, was well known in French circles. He was born in Roubaix, near Lille, August 13, 1875. He was graduated from the Univ. of France with degrees of Bachelor of Letters and Bachelor of Science and received his Master of arts degree from the same University and later was awarded a Doctor of Natural Science degree in recognition of his great work as a rosarian. The famous rose expert served France as Captain of Artillery in the French Army and was a member of the Legion of Honor. He was given the "Palmes Academiques" for his vast literary production on the subject of Horticulture. The French government also bestowed upon him the decoration of "Merite Agricole." Dr. Nicolas, whose work with roses in particular was world renowned, was a member of numerous societies linked with rose and other horticulture. He was a trustee of the American Rose Society, vice-president of the French Rose Society, "Les Amis Des Roses," honorary life member of the National Horticultural Society of France and Honorary life member of the German Rose Society.
The above is copied from a newspaper clipping given to George Dick Pierce by Lucy Tappan Nicolas.
"Father always had a Rose Garden and in 1924 was able to commercialize his hobby. Before then he was importing roses but they were kept in quarantine and he had difficulty getting them out. He turned to raising them from seed. Mr. Robert Pyle, head of a Nursery bearing his name in West Grove, PA, heard of his hobby and wanted to meet the man who could grow roses from seed. He came to Indianapolis and to his amazement found Dr. Nicolas' basement divided into four corners. In one corner he made wine from grapes he grew; in a second corner, he grew mushrooms; in the third he made beer; and in the fourth corner were the roses. Mr. Pyle was intrigued and offered him a position with his Company. Dr. Nicolas remained in West Grove for six years. During the summers, he and Mr. Pyle traveled in Europe buying roses. In 1930 he joined the Jackson & Perkins Nursery in Newark, N.Y. where he headed the Research Dept. He originated many roses, including the Eclipse and the Dr. J. H. Nicolas Climber. For the Eclipse he was awarded a Bronze Medal from France and one from Italy and Spain. A Gold Medal from the American Rose Society was awarded posthumously to her Mother. Up to that time only 17 Gold medals had been issued. In 1931 the French Government made him a member of the Legion of Honor and awarded him the Honorary Degree of Doctor in the Sorbonne, from which University he was a graduate. Dr. Nicolas wrote many books and periodicals, amoung them the "Rose Manual", the "Rose Odyssey: and "A Year in the Rose Garden". He frequently lectured throughout the United States, and contributed many articles to Horticultural magazines."
The above was written by Lucy Tappan Nicolas, daughter of Dr. Nicolas.
