Grau materials donated to Michigan State

The Turfgrass Information Center at Michigan State University Libraries has received a donation of turfgrass industry materials from the family of the late Fred V. Grau.

The donation includes a wide range of extension materials, reprints and other publications, as well as unique content such as correspondence, manuscripts, images and records dealing with the turfgrass industry beginning in the mid-20th century.

Grau was a research, education and advocacy pioneer who affected the turfgrass industry from many perspectives. He became the first turfgrass extension specialist working in the United States. Between 1945 and 1953, he served as director of the United States Golf Association Green Section, promoting several varieties of turfgrass including ‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass, ‘Merion’ Kentucky bluegrass and ‘U-3’ bermudagrass. Grau is best known for his involvement in the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation.

“Building on the donations of the O. J. Noer Research Foundation, Dr. James B. Beard, and countless others, the acquisition and availability of documentation associated with one of the most distinguished turfgrass researchers, Fred Grau, substantially enriches and broadens the historical component of the turfgrass collections held at the MSU Libraries,” said Clifford H. Haka, MSU’s director of libraries. “We sincerely thank Ellen Mentzer and Fred Grau, Jr., the daughter and son of Dr. Grau, for their assistance is facilitating the transfer of these unique and priceless resources.”