Accession UAA-2012-013 - UAA-2012-013

Paul Raymond Gorham was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. He received his M.S. in botany. He obtained a Ph.D. from the California Institute for Technology in Pasadena, California. He started his career in 1943 and worked for the Department of Agriculture in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for two years. Between 1945 and 1969 he was a research scientist with the National Research Council. He was involved in pioneering studies of photosynthesis. In 1969 he moved to Edmonton, Alberta, and was a professor of botany at the University of Alberta (U of A). He served as chair from 1971 until 1979, before retiring professor emeritus in 1983. He helped found the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologist, the Canadian Botanical Association, and the International Association for Plant Physiology.

Gorham was also part of various orgnaizations including as a board member of the Board of Trustees of the Fridends of the Devoniam Botanic Garden (1971-2006) and served on the Board of Governors of the Edmonton Art Gallery (1980-1992). Gorham was known for being behind the creation of the 5-acre Kurimoto Japanese Garden. He was also awarded the Centennial Medal in 1967 and the Silver Jubilee Medal in 1978.

Gorham was married to his wife Evelyn and had three children John, Arthur, and Harriet. Gorham passed away on 9 November, 2006 at the age of 88.