Women in the Field: The Naturalists

1. Women in the Field: The Naturalists Name: Jane Colden (early 1700) Background (historical, parents, etc) father thought women should be educated wealthy, landowner, father became lt. Governor of New York taught her Linnean system (naming plants) father chose her to learn plants, other 5 kids led normal lives married age 35 to older man, died in childbirth at 41 What did she do? discovered and named St. John�s Wort - now medicinal - depression and new species of clematis collected and ID plants for other male scientists What barriers to overcome? During her lifetime, was not recognized as an expert What do you think about her choices?

2. Women in the Field: The Naturalists Name: Graceanna Lewis (early 1800) Background (historical, parents, etc) Quaker, single mother raised 4 daughters, believed in women�s education, Sacrifice to send to Quaker school for girls Mother naturalist also, discovered iron ore on property, kept books on nature and the stars G also influenced by female teachers at Quaker school Never married, did raise a niece with one of her sisters What did she do? Wrote books on the Natural History of birds which were published Became a school teacher but lectured publically on zoology What barriers to overcome? Could not get university teaching job What do you think about her choices?

3. Women in the Field: The Naturalists Name: Martha Maxwell (late 1800) Background (historical, parents, etc) Moved west as a pioneer, lost mother, Lived in cabin in woods Part of gold rush Learned to hunt Married but it didn�t work out, put her daughter in a school and went back out hunting Died poor, barely enough food Man named Haskins stole her collection & showed it himself for money What did she do? Set up taxidermy exhibits, studied nature Now small remnant of her work in Smithsonian What barriers to overcome? Most people were astonished to find a female hunter, taxidermist http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/IndustryArticles/03/j/03FAB88C5B.html

4. Women in the Field: The Naturalists Name: Annie Alexander (late 1800�s) Background (historical, parents, etc) Father encouraged Educated Farm girl Never married, female companion she described in letters as �a dandy girl� What did she do? Discovered fossils, had natural history collection Collected 4600 botanical specimens � donated to universities out west What barriers to overcome? Gender issues Never published, never recognized What do you think about her choices?

5. Women in the Field: The Naturalists Name: Ellen Quillin (late 1800�s) Background (historical, parents, etc) Father encouraged, educated all 6 daughters Poor but spoke 5 languages Married Roy Quillin, fellow collector, older scientist No kids What did she do? Flowerlady of Texas Attended U of Michigan, only female student in 300 to take Geology Became a teacher Started a museum of natural history What barriers to overcome? Poverty in youth U of Michigan in 1900�s not exactly female friendly What do you think about her choices?

6. Women in the field � Botanists Emanuel Rudolph � 1, 185 published female botanists in 19th century 28% married 23 % made plant collections 50% teachers Mostly from California, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Some from midwest Few from south

7. Women in the Field: Botanists Name: Kate Brandegee Background (historical, parents, etc) Parents pioneers in Utah, Nevada, finally California 4 brothers & sisters, only scientist Not know if parents supported but went to U of California & got MD Couldn�t support herself as MD, people skeptical of young female MDs Turned to Botany What did she do? Became curator of California Academy of sciences Got involved in taxonomy dispute � lumpers vs splitters What barriers to overcome? Married twice Couldn�t make it as an MD Most of her work given to others with little recognition in her lifetime, esp. Edward Greene, her mentor and her 2nd husband Brandegee who took all the credit for botanical books she wrote & illustrated. What do you think about her choices?

8. Women in the Field: Botanists Name: Alice Eastwood Background (historical, parents, etc) Orphaned at age 6, lived with various relatives and finally a convent Uncle trained as a naturalist/botanist Became a high school teacher but lived for summers when she explored the west Invested in real estate in Denver, made enough to quit teaching and go back to school to study botany Engaged once but he died, had 1 other love affair when older, he also died, never married, botanized until her 90�s What did she do? Became an assistant curator of a herbarium, Taught botany courses Donated money to U of California for books on botany Friends with Kate Bandegee What barriers to overcome? Personal life What do you think about her choices?

9. Women in the Field: botanists Name: Ynes Mexia Background (historical, parents, etc) Family of 6 Texas Messy homelife (father�s affairs, step-kids, fight over his money when he died, etc). Married young but he died, married again age 38 but was a disaster, Independently wealthy but was also supported by universities and USDA on her collecting trips Rude, outspoken, most people did not like her but she didn�t care What did she do? Traveled throughout south America, South west US and Mexico collecting & donating specimens to various institutions What barriers to overcome? Personal Died young due to unkown sease contracted in South American What do you think about her choices?

10. Women in the Field: botanists Name: Mary Young Background (historical, parents, etc) Father & mother educated, father minister Several siblings Encouraged by parents Went to Wellesley College in Mass Became a teacher (once taught at Dundee High � Illinois) PhD U of Chicago, became college instructor Died young � age 47 of cancer, no kids What did she do? Botanical taxonomist Traveled summers collecting Famous for primitive camping and using mules to carry goods & specimens What barriers to overcome? Why not professor? Never married (but had young male grad students traveling with her in the summer). What do you think about her choices?

11. Women in the Field: botanists Name: Agnes Chase Background (historical, parents, etc) Father died age 2, mother raised 5 kids alone Poor, rural illinois, then moved to Chicago At 19 married 34 year old already diagnosed with TB, he died a few years after the marriage, no kids Newspaper proof reader, botanized in her spare time Mentors Rev. Ellsworth Hill and Charles Millspaugh, curator of Botany at Chicago field museum Minimal education, self taught What did she do? Became botanical illustrator for USDA What barriers to overcome? Often only women at scientific botanical meetings (midwest not as enlightened as east or west coast) Designated �Uncle Sam�s chief women explorer of the USDA� Best known for her work in Agronomy (study of grasses) What do you think about her choices?

12. Women in the Field:Ecologists Name: Carrie Dormon Background (historical, parents, etc) Parents supported, educated, well off Inherited 600 acre farm Father sent to school to keep from being �too tomboyish� Taught school for years What did she do? Known for saving natural lands in the south, LA Kisatachie Wrote books on nature and plants Indentified several new species of flowers What barriers to overcome? Never married, one romance but �chose the woods over the man� Parents died young What do you think about her choices?

13. Women in the Field:Ecologist Name: Rachel Carson Background (historical, parents, etc) Mother supported and encouraged No mention of her father Mother supported college What did she do? Persuaded JFK to start the EPA Book Silent spring alerted US public to dangers of chemicals Book � The Sea Around Us� nature best seller What barriers to overcome? Never married, raised sister�s child after she died Scientists banded against her initially Worked as a scientist in a male dominated field What do you think about her choices?