The Life and Legacy of Botanist Mary E. Pulsifer Ames
Details
Presented by Vanessa C. Stevens
Vanessa C. Stevens
UC Jepson Herbarium volunteer and researcher Vanessa
C. Stevens has been working to organize and curate
the collection of Mary E. Pulsifer Ames (1843-1902), a
California botanist who was active in the late 1800s.
Specimens in the Ames collection range from 120 to 150
years old, and include vascular plants, marine algae, and
cryptograms collected in counties in the Mount Lassen
Chapter area and elsewhere in the continental United States
and around the world.
Currently, Vanessa is working to integrate this collection
into the University and Jepson Herbaria, a center for
botanical research, training, and outreach housed at UC
Berkeley. Vanessa is processing Ames collection specimens
and researching with numerous partnering museums,
individuals, and libraries the outlines of Ms. Ames’ life
and research. In so doing, Vanessa has resurrected details
of Ms. Ames’ collections and associates, and, in Vanessa’s
words, “begun to breathe life into this botanist’s work and
her lost legacy.” The work has involved letter transcription,
expanded family searches, and the chronological ordering
of specimens from Ames’ own California collections,
specimens from across the globe, and those from notable
North American and California collectors
Thursday, February 12, 7 p.m.
Chico Branch of the Butte County Library, 1108 Sherman Ave, Chico, CA 95926