Matilda Cullen Knowles | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 January 1864 |
| Died | 23 April 1933 (aged 69) |
| Alma mater | Royal College of Science for Ireland |
| Known for | Formative Study of Irish Lichens |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany |
| Institutions | National Museum of Ireland |
Matilda Knowles is considered the founder of modern studies of Irish lichens[1] following her work in the early twentieth century on the multi-disiciplinary Clare Island Survey. From 1923 she shared curatorship of the National Museum of Ireland herbarium - a collection of dried and pressed plants now housed at the National Botanic Gardens[2].
Early life and education edit
Matilda was born in Ballymena, Ireland, in 1864. Her early interest in botany was encouraged by her father, himself a naturalist who would take Matilda and her sister to meetings of the Belfast Naturalists field club[1]. This is where she first met Robert_Lloyd_Praeger who continued to be a lifelong influence[1]. In 1894 Irish Topographical Botany was projected in 1894 - with a consequent call for volunteers to send in details of local floras. Matilda undertook to survey her home County of Tyrone, sending in over 500 plants for that area and publishing her first botanical note 'Flowering Plants of Tyrone'[3].
Matilda then attended the Royal College of Science for Ireland for a year where she took natural science classes from 1895[4].
In 1902 Matilda was appointed a temporary assistant in the then Botanical Section of the Science and Art Museum, later to become the National Museum of Ireland. She worked closely with Professor Thomas Johnson to continue the development of the Herbarium collection. She also co-authored with him the Hand List of Irish Flowering Plants and Ferns (1910)[4].
Professional career edit
Clare Island Survey edit
In 1909-10 she participated in the Clare Island Survey as an assistant to Annie Lorrain Smith, the foremost British lichen expert. The Survey was a unique undertaking and one of the first studies of the natural history of a distinct biogeographic area. Many Irish, British and continental European scientists and learned institutions were involved, and it allowed Matilda the opportunity to demonstrate her knowledge. She proved to be a very diligent collector of lichens, a forerunner of what was to become her lifelong specialism and leading to the publication of her first substantive solo publication 'The Maritime and Marine Lichens of Howth', published by the Royal Dublin Society.[4]
Lichens monographs and specialism edit
Matilda published more than thirty scientific papers on a wide range of botanical subjects between 1897 and 1933[4]. It was while studying the lichens of Howth that she discovered how lichens by the shore grow in distinct tidal zones, that can be distinguished by their colour: black, orange and grey[4].
Later life edit
Professor Thomas Johnson retired in 1923, allowing Knowles to take over curatorship, working with Margaret Buchanan.[1] She was essentially responsible for taking over the work of the Curatorship despite 'Assistant Keeper' being her job title[2].
In later years she suffered from deafness and relied on an ear trumpet, reportedly using it to cut discussions short by placing it down firmly on her desk.[5] Knowles cared for and added to the National Museum Herbariaum collection from 1923 to her death from pneumonia in 1933, shortly before she was to retire. [3]
List of publications edit
- Flowering Plants of Tyrone (1897)
- Hand List of Irish Flowering Plants and Ferns (1910)
- The Maritime and Marine Lichens of Howth (1913)
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Womens Museum of Irelan - Matilda Knowles". Womens Museum of Ireland. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b "Irelan Botanic Gardens". Ireland Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b "Matilda Knowles - Obituary". The Irish Naturalists Journal. 4 (10). July 1933. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Ask About Ireland - Irish Scientists - Matilda Knowles". Ask About Ireland - Irish Scientists. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) Cite error: The named reference "Ask About Ireland - Irish Scientists" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ "Irish Times: To Matilda Knowles". Retrieved 2 November 2014.
Category:1864 births
Category:1933 deaths
Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Category:Irish botanists
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