Lilian Clarke
Encyclopedia
Lilian Clarke was a botany teacher at James Allen's Girls' School
in Dulwich
, South London
from 1896 to 1926, where she developed botanical garden
s, which became known as 'The Botany Gardens'.
and completed her BSc. Degree in 1893, after studying botany under Professor F.W. Oliver at University College London
. Clarke become a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
, elected in one of the first groups of women Fellows during the period 1904–1905, following the announcement to admit women and was also active in the British Association for the Advancement of Science
. In 1917 the degree of Doctor of Science, for a thesis on the botanical education she had developed at James Allen's Girls' School, was conferred on Clarke by The University of London.
of plants took precedence over knowledge of 'the natural orders' in examinations, Clarke, supported by the eminent British ecologist Arthur George Tansley
, created a new series of beds in her garden to replicate examples of British habitats, such as salt marsh
and pebble beach. The support of William Hales, curator of Chelsea Physic Garden
from 1899-1937 to Clarke is recorded in her publication, The Botany Gardens Of The James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich: Their History And Organisation, published by the London Board of Education. Clarke describes the plants at the edge of the pond:
Clarke goes on to say that: 'The pond has proved a great success and of the utmost value in our lessons.' Significantly, for contemporary botanical educators, Clarke also stated, in a book published posthumously, that the gardens 'have become, in many cases, out-of-door laboratories, and the work indoors and out of doors is one.'
Clarke communicated with representatives of the professional botanical community and worked hard to be visible in the wider scientific milieu of her time.
James Allen's Girls' School
James Allen's Girls' School, or JAGS, is an independent day school situated in Dulwich, South London, England. It has a senior school for 11–18 year old girls, a prep school for 7–11 year old girls , and a pre-preparatory school — JAPPS — for 4–7 year old girls.-Jags History:The school is part of...
in Dulwich
Dulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
from 1896 to 1926, where she developed botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
s, which became known as 'The Botany Gardens'.
Early life and education
At the age of nineteen she was awarded the Society of Apothecaries gold medal for her botanical studies undertaken at Chelsea Physic GardenChelsea Physic Garden
The Chelsea Physic Garden was established as the Apothecaries’ Garden in London, England in 1673. It is the second oldest botanical garden in Britain, after the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, which was founded in 1621.Its rock garden is the oldest English garden devoted to alpine plants...
and completed her BSc. Degree in 1893, after studying botany under Professor F.W. Oliver at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Clarke become a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
, elected in one of the first groups of women Fellows during the period 1904–1905, following the announcement to admit women and was also active in the British Association for the Advancement of Science
British Association for the Advancement of Science
frame|right|"The BA" logoThe British Association for the Advancement of Science or the British Science Association, formerly known as the BA, is a learned society with the object of promoting science, directing general attention to scientific matters, and facilitating interaction between...
. In 1917 the degree of Doctor of Science, for a thesis on the botanical education she had developed at James Allen's Girls' School, was conferred on Clarke by The University of London.
The Botany Gardens
The Botany Gardens were an outdoor laboratory, the first such at a school in the UK, where subjects such as plant growth and pollination could be observed. Clarke encouraged her pupils to make their own books rather than use textbooks. When the ecologyEcology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
of plants took precedence over knowledge of 'the natural orders' in examinations, Clarke, supported by the eminent British ecologist Arthur George Tansley
Arthur Tansley
Sir Arthur George Tansley FRS was an English botanist who was a pioneer in the science of ecology. He obtained his degree in Biological Science in 1896, with specialization in botany and zoology. From the start, he was much influenced by the Danish plant ecologist Eugenius Warming. He championed...
, created a new series of beds in her garden to replicate examples of British habitats, such as salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
and pebble beach. The support of William Hales, curator of Chelsea Physic Garden
Chelsea Physic Garden
The Chelsea Physic Garden was established as the Apothecaries’ Garden in London, England in 1673. It is the second oldest botanical garden in Britain, after the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, which was founded in 1621.Its rock garden is the oldest English garden devoted to alpine plants...
from 1899-1937 to Clarke is recorded in her publication, The Botany Gardens Of The James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich: Their History And Organisation, published by the London Board of Education. Clarke describes the plants at the edge of the pond:
Clarke goes on to say that: 'The pond has proved a great success and of the utmost value in our lessons.' Significantly, for contemporary botanical educators, Clarke also stated, in a book published posthumously, that the gardens 'have become, in many cases, out-of-door laboratories, and the work indoors and out of doors is one.'
Clarke communicated with representatives of the professional botanical community and worked hard to be visible in the wider scientific milieu of her time.
Sources
- Brenchley, W. (1934) Dr. Lilian Clarke (Obituary), Nature, March 24
- Clarke, L. (1922) The Botany Gardens of James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich: Their History and Organisation. London: London Board of Education
- Clarke, L., 1935. Botany as an Experimental Science in Laboratory and Garden, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Fogg, E. (1934) Lilian J. Clarke obituary, Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London October 1933- May 1934, London: Linnean Society
- Linnean Society. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 1904-1905. London: Linnean Society