Posts Tagged ‘California Academy of Sciences’
Townshend Stith Brandegee: A Life of Botany, Love, and the Great Western Forests
Mulberry Trees February 16, 1843 Today is the birthday of the American botanist Townshend Stith Brandegee. Townshend was born into one of America’s oldest and prominent families, and he was the oldest of twelve children. Townshend’s middle name, Stith, was his mother’s maiden name. Townshend was descended from three generations of men named Elishama. Townshend’s…
Read MoreA Sunflower Among the Ruins: The Indomitable Alice Eastwood
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. January 19, 1859 On this day, dear readers, we celebrate the birth of a true botanical heroine, the indomitable Alice Eastwood. A self-taught botanist of remarkable tenacity, Alice’s life reads like a thrilling…
Read MoreAlice Eastwood: The Self-Taught Botanist Who Saved Plants From the Flames
A Curator of Botany Today is the anniversary of the death of the Canadian American self-taught botanist Alice Eastwood who died on this day in 1953. Eastwood is remembered for saving almost 1500 specimens from a burning building following the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. Afterward, she wrote about the specimens that didn’t make it:…
Read MoreRemembering 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…
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