Jack Rodney Harlan, Agronomy professor at Illinois from 1966 to 1984, achieved global recognition for his study of the wild ancestors of modern crops. Harlan focused his attention on the interdependence of agriculture and civilization. On research trips to the Middle East, Harlan performed archaeological excavations of ancient villages, collecting over 12,000 plant specimens. Harlan was also a gifted educator and speaker. His broad, interdisciplinary knowledge and dry sense of humor attracted massive crowds to his many public talks. 

Crop Evolution Laboratory

According to a colleague, Jack Harlan chose to leave his first teaching position at Oklahoma State University due to a “fierce desire for independence” (Hymowitz, 2003, p.161). Harlan discovered this independence at Illinois when he created the Crop Evolution Laboratory in 1967. Located in Turner Hall, the CEL is currently home to over 55,000 plant specimens. Since 2014, Director Chance Riggins has worked to digitize the laboratory and make its collections available to scholars across the world.