| William Louis Culberson | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
April 5, 1929 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |
| Died | February 8, 2003 (aged 73) Durham, North Carolina, United States |
| Residence | United States |
| Nationality | United States |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | University of Cincinnati, University of Paris, University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| Spouse(s) | Chicita F. Forman (m. 1953) |
| Awards | Acharius Medal (1992) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Lichenology |
| Institutions | Duke University |
| Influences | E. Lucy Braun |
William Louis "Bill" Culberson (April 5, 1929 in Indianapolis, Indiana—February 8, 2003 in Durham, North Carolina) was a lichenologist.
Culberson earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Cincinnati, where he was influenced by E. Lucy Braun; he subsequently attended the University of Paris and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1955, Culberson joined the botany department at Duke University; he subsequently managed Duke's acquisition of the lichen-centric herbaria of Julien Harmand and Johan Havaas. He served as the Hugo L. Blomquist Professor. In 2010, the lichen collection was officially named the William Louis & Chicita F. Culberson Lichen Herbarium & Library.
He served as president of the Botanical Society of America and the American Bryological and Lichenological Society and as director of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. He was the first editor-in-chief of the journal Systematic Botany. In 1992, he became one of the first modern recipients of the Acharius Medal.
In 1953, Dr. Culberson married fellow lichenologist Chicita F. Forman.