These papers document Morton's professional career and include correspondence regarding curatorial duties at the USNM, research on ferns, and editorial work for the
American Fern Journal; records concerning field trips to Cuba, the West Indies, Honduras, and Europe; photographs of and biographical information on Morton; and manuscripts
and research notes, especially documenting his work on the flora of Cuba.
Historical Note:
Conrad Vernon Morton (1905-1972), a botanist and authority on ferns, came to the Smithsonian in 1928 as an aide in the Division of Plants, United States National Museum
(USNM). He was promoted to Assistant Curator in 1938 and Associate Curator in 1946. In 1948 he was appointed Curator of the newly established Division of Ferns, Department
of Botany. Morton was made Senior Botanist in 1970, a position he retained until his death. He also served in several editorial positions for the American Fern Journal.
Prado, Jefferson, Schuettpelz, Eric, Hirai, Regina Y., and Smith, Alan R. 2013. "Pellaea flavescens, a Brazilian endemic, is a synonym of Old World Pellaea viridis." American Fern Journal, 103, (1) 21–26. https://doi.org/10.1640/0002-8444-103.1.21.