**1935:** ["Seeds from Space"](http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?87544), a novelette by [Laurence Manning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Manning); first published in [*Wonder Stories*, June 1935](http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?62242+c), available at the [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/stream/Wonder_Stories_v07n01_1935-06#page/n9/mode/1up); reprinted in [*Famous Science Fiction*, Spring 1967](http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?258770), also available at the [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/stream/FamousScienceFiction02V01n021967Spring#page/n82/mode/1up); perhaps the earliest story of an alien race (of intelligent trees in this case) in which each individual starts life with all of its ancestors' memories. From p. 16, a conversation between an earthman and a tree creature:

> "The tree creatures looked at him a moment in sober silence. 'You did not even 
know what food trees live upon,' suggested the Babbler. You seem intelligent, but strangely uniformed.'  
<br>"'Ah, but I am not a botanist,' answered Blenkins. 'This is the age of 
specialization. One man knows only one subject.'  
<br>"'But your ancestors — some of them at least — must have known botany.'  
<br>"'What has that to do with me?'  
<br>"'You have, of course, all the knowledge and experience of your ancestors 
stored in your mind.'  
<br>"'Nonsense! Who ever heard of such a thing!' exclaimed Blenkins.  
<br>"'I do not understand. Did you not hear my words?'  
<br>"'I mean, what our ancestors knew has died with them.'  
<br>"'This is extraordinary! Do you have to learn all your facts over again each 
time a child is born?'  
<br>"'Why, of course! How else can anyone learn?'  
<br>"'Among us,' remarked Shorty quietly, 'we emerge from the seed with a precise 
memory of every thought that ever passed through the minds of our ancestors. I understand now, however, why you have so many books. It is to preserve the thoughts of one generation so that the next may learn them quickly.'