Remembering California Botany’s Power Couple Townsend & Kate Brandegee on their Wedding Anniversary

"Their honeymoon was a 500-mile nature walk from San Diego to San Francisco.

During their walk, they collected plant specimens."

May 29, 1889

On this day, the botany power couple Townsend Brandegee and Kate Curran were married.

 

The two met during Townsend's first trip to California.

Townsend was introduced to Kate Curran, curator at the San Fransico California Academy of Sciences. 

 

Townie and Kate were very compatible. They were both exceptionally bright and enthusiastic about botany and the natural world and quite accomplished.

 

The two were in their early 40s when they wed, and their friends attended their surprise wedding in San Diego.

 

The Brandegee honeymoon was a 500-mile nature walk from San Diego to San Francisco.

During their walk, they collected plant specimens.


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Townshend Stith Brandegee
Townshend Stith Brandegee
Katharine Brandegee Portrait
Katharine Brandegee Portrait
Townie and Kate Brandegee
Townie and Kate Brandegee
Brandegee home and herbarium with lattice
Brandegee home and herbarium with lattice
Brandegee herbarium ca. 1894.
Inside the Brandegee Herbarium - Colorized
Kate Brandegee on her mule
Kate Brandegee on her mule
The Brandegees in The San Francisco Examiner 29 Oct 1893
The Brandegees in The San Francisco Examiner 29 Oct 1893
Katharine Brandegee in her San Diego garden
Katharine Brandegee in her San Diego garden

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