Bee History

Beekeepers old and new are always seeking out how best to be successful raising bees in the 21st century. But there is a good deal of value to learning about how beekeeping developed over the years and who may have played a role in the development of beekeeping as we know it today. Below is a bit of history of beekeeping and some of the men and woman who may have helped the beekeeper.

• George Whitfield Demaree: The "Demaree method" for swarming prevention by Ron Miksha at Sassafras Bee Farm.

• Major Franz Hruschka: Best known as the inventor of the honey extractor.

• Dr. Elton James Dyce: best known for his process for controlling the crystallization and fermentation of honey.

• Anton Janša:The Father of European Beekeeping and the first teacher of modern beekeeping by Ron Miksha at Sassafras Bee Farm: Click here to learn more about Janša and World Bee Day (May 20th)

• Karl von Frisch by Sassafras Bee and Honey Farm: von Frisch's work centered on investigations of the sensory perceptions of the honey bee and he was one of the first to translate the meaning of the waggle dance.

• Telling the Bees (Additional links:

• Source and to read more)

• A Metaphysical Life by Ron Miksha

• The Fascinating History of Polish Honey by Donna Gawell

• William Longgood - The Queen Must Die: and Other Affairs of Bees and Men -

• Albert J. Cook - offered one of the first collegiate courses in beekeeping culture and published the first textbook on American beekeeping, The Manual of the Apiary.

• Maurice Maeterlinck by Ron Miksha at Sassafras Bee Farm - Won Nobel Prize in Literature and wrote The Life of the Bee in . His poetic work is less about bees and more about life, expressed his philosophy of the human condition.

• Roger A. Morse - Wrote ”The Complete Guide to Beekeeping”

• Frank Benton -

• Johannes Mehring by Ron Miksha -Made first comb foundation in 1857.

• Charles Dadant by Ron Miksha -The first to lay down rules for the safe transportation of queen bees across the sea. Partnered with his son C. P. Dadant, he undertook the manufacture of comb foundation.

• Moses Quinby by Ron Miksha -Known as the “father of commercial beekeeping in the United States,” and credited with the invention of the modern bee smoker with bellows.

• Harry Hyde Laidlaw Jr. by Ron Miksha -Known as “the father of honey bee genetics.”

• Ormond Aebi by Ron Miksha - Reported to have set the world’s record for honey obtained from a single hive in one year

• Lorenzo L. Langstroth "The Father of American Beekeeping" by Ron Miksha

• John S. Harbison: Inventor & Author by Ron Miksha