Jessie G. Beach (1887 – 1954)[1] was an American paleontologist and museum aide.[2] She worked for the Smithsonian Institution's department of paleobiology at the United States National Museum (now the National Museum of Natural History).[3][4] Beach is one of the notable "Smithsonian women in science", working at a time when very few women had these roles.[3]
Jessie G. Beach | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 5, 1887 |
| Died | August 16, 1954 Fort Worth, Texas, US |
| Alma mater | George Washington University |
| Occupation | museum aide |
| Known for | one of the "Smithsonian women in science" |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | paleontology |
| Institutions | Smithsonian Institution |
Biography
editJessie G. Beach was born on October 5, 1887, in Stephenville, Erath County, Texas, to parents Luella (née Wood) and Benjamin F. Beach.[5][6] She was a Baptist.[5] Beach attended Baylor University, and George Washington University.[5] She received a B.S. and M.S. degree from George Washington University, where her graduate studies was focused on archaeology.[5]
From 1918 until 1920, Beach worked at the Smithsonian Institution as a typist, followed by a promotion to a museum aide which she remained at until her death in 1954.[3] In 1922, Beach traveled to France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, England, and Scotland in order to consult museums on their best cataloguing practices.[3] In 1945, Beach aided the head curator in preparing exhibitions which often meant proper labeling, describing scientific terms, cleaning, and rearranging displays.[3] She served as an aid to several departments and for several people including Charles E. Resser, Ray S. Bassler, and William F. Foshag.[3] Her work at the museum influenced the publishing of "Bryozoa of the Philippine Region" (1929), authored by Ferdinand Canu and Ray S. Bassler.[3]
Jessie G. Beach died in the hospital on August 16, 1954, in Fort Worth, Texas, after struggling with her health since April of the same year.[7] She was cremated in Dallas,[7] and has a gravestone at the Beach Cemetery in Johnsville, Texas.
Publications
editBetween 1929 and 1931, Beach wrote articles for the Evening Star newspaper in Washington, D.C. about new museum developments.
- Beach, Jessie G. (August 14, 1929). "Rare Work of Art On View In Capital". Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia). p. 4. OCLC 974435782.
- Beach, Jessie G. (August 25, 1929). "Scientists Study Borax Deposits". Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia). p. 13.
- Beach, Jessie G. (October 27, 1929). "Persian Tapestry Shows Many Faces". Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia). p. 11.
- Beach, Jessie G. (December 7, 1930). "Native Silver Ore Shown At Museum". Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia). p. 25.
- Beach, Jessie G. (December 26, 1931). "Horse's Ancestor Found, Missing Link in Evolution Chain Discovered". Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia). p. 3.
References
edit- ^ Sherwood, John (January 12, 1977). "Notes on Gentle People and Their Honest Love". Smithsonian Institution Archives. The Washington Star. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
- ^ "Paleontologist Dies". Newspapers.com. San Angelo Standard-Times. August 17, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hernandez, Lezlie (September 2, 2021). "Spotlight on Jessie G. Beach, Smithsonian Department of Paleobiology Staff Member". Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.
- ^ "Bulletin of the United States National Museum". Bulletin. United States National Museum. Washington D.C.: G.P.O.: 2 1907–1971. ISSN 0362-9236.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b c d "Death Closes Long Career of Miss Beach". Newspapers.com. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. August 17, 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
- ^ "Jessie G Beach in the Texas, U.S., Death Certificates, 1903-1982". Ancestry.com. Austin, TX: Texas Department of State Health Services.
Birth Date: 5 Oct 1887
- ^ a b "Miss Jessie G. Beach". Newspapers.com. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. August 18, 1954. p. 12. Retrieved 2022-04-30.