Maria Tallant Owen (February 13, 1825 – June 8, 1913) was an American botanist who compiled a detailed record of 19th century flora and algae on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts.[1]
Born Maria Tallant in Nantucket, she grew up in a wealthy family and was descended from some of the earliest white settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She studied at private institutions on the island and studied botany at home with her mother and sisters, who were also avid collectors.[2] She taught at the Perkins School for the Blind and Nantucket High School in the 1840s, and also taught at her own private school.[1][3]
Researchedit
Owen moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1853, shortly after her marriage to Dr. Varillas L. Owen who was a Harvard-trained physician. The couple had two children, Walter and Amelia.[4]
In Springfield, she contributed to scientific societies and taught science and French. Owen's most significant work, published in 1888, was a record of flora in pre-1853 Nantucket County that included 787 species and is a useful record for modern scientists studying the effects of climate change on plants.[1] On her European excursions, Owen expanded her botanical collections to include specimens she found there.[2]
According to Smith, Owen is quoted as saying, "I owe half the happiness of my life directly, and most of the other half indirectly, to the study of botany..."[2]
Owen was instrumental in the founding of two botanical societies, the Connecticut Valley Botanical Society and the Springfield Botanical Society. She helped organize the first in 1873 and served as its secretary. The group remained viable for about 25 years, and held its first annual meeting in Amherst, Massachusetts on October 1, 1873. The Springfield Botanical Society was established in 1877 and consisted of weekly meetings with members contributing specimens from near and far for their own herbarium. Owen was president of this group for many years and known as its honorary president until she died.[2]
Owen continued her botanical research until 1912, a year before her death.[1] She died at her daughter's home in Plandome, on Long Island in New York.[2]
Worksedit
Nantucket plants. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club (1872) 6:330.
Catalogue of plants growing without cultivation on the Island of Nantucket, 38–47. In: Edward K. Godfrey, the Island of Nantucket, What it was and what it is. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1882.
Notes on Corma Conradii, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club (1884) 11:117.
A catalogue of plants growing without cultivation in the county of Nantucket, Mass. Gazette Printing Company, 1888.
Tillaea Simplex. Bot. Gazette (1895) 20: 80–81.
The Connecticut Valley Botanical Society. Rhodora (1899)1:95-96
Ferns of Mt. Toby, Massachusetts. Rhodora (1901) 3:41-43
The early work of the Springfield Botanical Society. (1907) 4 p. unnumbered. In: The Thirtieth Annual Report of the Springfield Botanical Society, Springfield, Mass.
The three adventive heaths of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Rhodora (1908) 10:173-179.
Frederick William Batchelder.Rhodora (1912) 14: 41–45.
^ abcdCreese, Mary R. S. (2000-01-01). Ladies in the Laboratory? American and British Women in Science, 1800-1900: A Survey of Their Contributions to Research. Scarecrow Press. ISBN9780585276847.
^ abcdeSmith, Beatrice Scheer. “Maria L. Owen, Nineteenth-Century Nantucket Botanist.” Rhodora, vol. 89, no. 858, 1987, pp. 227–239. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23312425. Accessed 25 June 2020.
^www.bibliopolis.com. "Photo Portrait of Maria Louisa Owen. by Jas? Homan?, photog on James E. Arsenault & Company". James E. Arsenault & Company. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
^"Varillas L. Owen House, Springfield, Mass - Lost New England". Lost New England. 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
Maria L. Owen letters to Walter Deane are held at the Biodiversity Heritage Library
April 15, 2024
maria, tallant, owen, february, 1825, june, 1913, american, botanist, compiled, detailed, record, 19th, century, flora, algae, nantucket, island, massachusetts, bornmaria, tallantfebruary, 1825nantucket, massachusettsdiedjune, 1913plandome, yorknationalityamer. Maria Tallant Owen February 13 1825 June 8 1913 was an American botanist who compiled a detailed record of 19th century flora and algae on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts 1 Maria Tallant OwenBornMaria TallantFebruary 13 1825Nantucket MassachusettsDiedJune 8 1913Plandome New YorkNationalityAmericanOccupationBotanistSpouseVarillas L OwenChildrenWalter son Amelia daughter Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Research 3 Works 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editBorn Maria Tallant in Nantucket she grew up in a wealthy family and was descended from some of the earliest white settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony She studied at private institutions on the island and studied botany at home with her mother and sisters who were also avid collectors 2 She taught at the Perkins School for the Blind and Nantucket High School in the 1840s and also taught at her own private school 1 3 Research editOwen moved to Springfield Massachusetts in 1853 shortly after her marriage to Dr Varillas L Owen who was a Harvard trained physician The couple had two children Walter and Amelia 4 In Springfield she contributed to scientific societies and taught science and French Owen s most significant work published in 1888 was a record of flora in pre 1853 Nantucket County that included 787 species and is a useful record for modern scientists studying the effects of climate change on plants 1 On her European excursions Owen expanded her botanical collections to include specimens she found there 2 According to Smith Owen is quoted as saying I owe half the happiness of my life directly and most of the other half indirectly to the study of botany 2 Owen was instrumental in the founding of two botanical societies the Connecticut Valley Botanical Society and the Springfield Botanical Society She helped organize the first in 1873 and served as its secretary The group remained viable for about 25 years and held its first annual meeting in Amherst Massachusetts on October 1 1873 The Springfield Botanical Society was established in 1877 and consisted of weekly meetings with members contributing specimens from near and far for their own herbarium Owen was president of this group for many years and known as its honorary president until she died 2 Owen continued her botanical research until 1912 a year before her death 1 She died at her daughter s home in Plandome on Long Island in New York 2 Works editNantucket plants Bull Torrey Bot Club 1872 6 330 Catalogue of plants growing without cultivation on the Island of Nantucket 38 47 In Edward K Godfrey the Island of Nantucket What it was and what it is Boston Lee and Shepard 1882 Notes on Corma Conradii Bull Torrey Bot Club 1884 11 117 A catalogue of plants growing without cultivation in the county of Nantucket Mass Gazette Printing Company 1888 Tillaea Simplex Bot Gazette 1895 20 80 81 The Connecticut Valley Botanical Society Rhodora 1899 1 95 96 Ferns of Mt Toby Massachusetts Rhodora 1901 3 41 43 The early work of the Springfield Botanical Society 1907 4 p unnumbered In The Thirtieth Annual Report of the Springfield Botanical Society Springfield Mass The three adventive heaths of Nantucket Massachusetts Rhodora 1908 10 173 179 Frederick William Batchelder Rhodora 1912 14 41 45 Tillaea in Nantucket Rhodora 1912 14 201 2014Notes editThe standard author abbreviation Owen is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name 5 References edit a b c d Creese Mary R S 2000 01 01 Ladies in the Laboratory American and British Women in Science 1800 1900 A Survey of Their Contributions to Research Scarecrow Press ISBN 9780585276847 a b c d e Smith Beatrice Scheer Maria L Owen Nineteenth Century Nantucket Botanist Rhodora vol 89 no 858 1987 pp 227 239 JSTOR www jstor org stable 23312425 Accessed 25 June 2020 www bibliopolis com Photo Portrait of Maria Louisa Owen by Jas Homan photog on James E Arsenault amp Company James E Arsenault amp Company Retrieved 2020 06 25 Varillas L Owen House Springfield Mass Lost New England Lost New England 2017 12 26 Retrieved 2020 06 25 International Plant Names Index Owen External links editMaria L Owen letters to Walter Deane are held at the Biodiversity Heritage Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maria Tallant Owen amp oldid 1211275883, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
