1024px-Flora’s_interpreter,_and_fortuna_flora_BHL17802520 (1)
Illustration by Sarah Josepha Hale, public domain
Saluting the Women Who Drew Plants
Written By: Shawndra Miller
Date Published: March 17, 2021
Shawndra Miller
Did you know that women historically played a key role in advancing the botany field? In fact, in 19th century US, botany was considered a feminine affair. Many upper-class women collected, drew, and wrote about plants. They pursued this course of study both out of interest and because it was a socially acceptable ladies’ pastime.
The study and illustration of plants was considered a “moralizing” pursuit and a way to celebrate Divine handiwork. Textbooks on the subject were readily available, and many of these had been written by women for a female audience. One of the early botany writers, Connecticut-born Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps, considered women especially suited to study botany’s “beautiful and delicate” subjects.
Women’s serious interest in plants led many to contribute to herbaria, and a relative few broke barriers to get their PhDs. While only 17 women botanists received PhDs by 1899, a recent survey identified nearly 1500 women botanists in 19th century America—and these are presumably just the ones that left some kind of paper trail. Many more were lost to history.
In the second half the 19th century, botany began to be considered more of a professional science. This hurt women’s participation, since most were barred from higher education. But some still found a way to break into the field through their illustration skills.
Mary Agnes Chase was one such pioneer. The Illinois native only received an elementary school education, but after her husband died in 1889, she began working toward a botany career.
By 1901 she was volunteering as a botanical assistant at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. She passed the USDA’s exam to become a botanical illustrator in 1903.
Working for Albert Spear Hitchcock at the National Herbarium in Washington D.C., she rose in the ranks, specializing in grasses. Eventually she headed the USDA’s Systematic Agrostology (botanical study of grasses) department.
Shown here is one of her illustrations, of Agrostis hyemalis (Winter Bentgrass).
In the spirit of Women’s History Month, we celebrate the scientific contributions of women like Phelps and Chase.
Sources: Art is a Science, from LadyScience.com, When Botany Was for Ladies, from JStor Daily
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
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Stacy Cachules
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Ryan Fuhrmann
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Joanna Nixon
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Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
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David Barickman
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Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
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Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
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Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
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Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
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