Winifred Curtis
Encyclopedia
Winifred Mary Curtis was an Australian botanist, author
and a pioneer researcher in plant embryology
and cytology
. She was born on 15 June 1905 in London
, the only child of Herbert John Curtis and Elizabeth Winifred Curtis (née Baker). She died on 14 October 2005 in Hobart
.
Curtis lived in India for several years as a child after her father was posted there. She was a gifted student, and studied science at University College, London from 1924, winning various awards and scholarships. She graduated in 1927 and completed an honours degree in Botany the following year for research on Spartinia townsendii, and Taraxacum
(dandelions). This was followed by several years of travel through Europe and teaching in Manchester
and Hampstead
.
In 1939 she emigrated to Australia with her family on the TSS Ascania where she initially took a teaching position as Science Mistress at the private girls' school Fahan School in Hobart. She later joined the Department of Biology at the University of Tasmania
and took part in the creation of the Department of Botany there in 1945. In 1943 she started work on her The Students' Flora of Tasmania, a well known work on Tasmanian flora. The first volume was published in 1956; the fifth and final volume was published in 1994, more than 50 years after its commencement. From the early 1960s much of this was a close scientific collaboration with botanical collector Dennis Ivor Morris (1924 - 2005) with whom she also shared a close friendship.
In 1944 Curtis published Variations in Pultenaea juniperina
, the first record of polyploidy
in an Australian native plant. This led to her PhD from London University which was awarded in 1950. Her doctoral thesis was titled Studies in Experimental Taxonomy and Variation in Certain Tasmanian Plants which was a pioneering work in cytology and polyploidy. Following from her doctoral award in London she travelled to the United States visiting various herbaria.
She was appointed University of Tasmania Senior Lecturer in Botany in 1951 and Reader in Botany in 1956, the most senior position held by a woman at the university at that time. Curtis also acted as Head of the Department on several occasions.
She submitted her published works to the University of London for a Doctor of Science
degree in 1967 which was conferred in 1968.
From 1967 to 1978 she wrote the six-volume The Endemic Flora of Tasmania
, with illustrations by Margaret Stones
, a commission sponsored by Lord Milo John Reginald Talbot, the 7th Baron Talbot of Malahide
.
Her mother died in 1962 and she nursed her father at home until his death in 1967. Dr. Curtis retired from the Department of Botany in 1966 and was appointed Honorary Research Fellow; she was made an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Plant Science in 1998.
A number of Tasmanian vascular plants have been named in her honour, including Richea curtisiae - A.M. Gray; Epilobium curtisiae - Raven; Viola hederacea subsp. curtisiae - L. Adams; Epacris curtisiae - Jarman; Winifredia sola - L.A.S.Johnston & B.Briggs.
The 'Winifred Curtis Scamander Reserve', a 75 hectare private nature reserve located 2 km south of Scamander
on Tasmania's North-East coast is named in her honour.
A teaching laboratory at the University of Tasmania's School of Plant Science is named the 'Curtis Laboratory', and the 'Winifred Curtis Prize' has been awarded annually to the student who demonstrated the greatest proficiency in first year Plant Science courses since 1990.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and a pioneer researcher in plant embryology
Embryology
Embryology is a science which is about the development of an embryo from the fertilization of the ovum to the fetus stage...
and cytology
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
. She was born on 15 June 1905 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the only child of Herbert John Curtis and Elizabeth Winifred Curtis (née Baker). She died on 14 October 2005 in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
.
Curtis lived in India for several years as a child after her father was posted there. She was a gifted student, and studied science at University College, London from 1924, winning various awards and scholarships. She graduated in 1927 and completed an honours degree in Botany the following year for research on Spartinia townsendii, and Taraxacum
Taraxacum
Taraxacum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. They are native to Eurasia and North America, and two species, T. officinale and T. erythrospermum, are found as weeds worldwide. Both species are edible in their entirety...
(dandelions). This was followed by several years of travel through Europe and teaching in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
.
In 1939 she emigrated to Australia with her family on the TSS Ascania where she initially took a teaching position as Science Mistress at the private girls' school Fahan School in Hobart. She later joined the Department of Biology at the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
and took part in the creation of the Department of Botany there in 1945. In 1943 she started work on her The Students' Flora of Tasmania, a well known work on Tasmanian flora. The first volume was published in 1956; the fifth and final volume was published in 1994, more than 50 years after its commencement. From the early 1960s much of this was a close scientific collaboration with botanical collector Dennis Ivor Morris (1924 - 2005) with whom she also shared a close friendship.
In 1944 Curtis published Variations in Pultenaea juniperina
Pultenaea juniperina
Pultenaea juniperina, or Prickly Bush-pea, is a plant of the family Fabaceae native to Eastern Australia. It is a shrub to 3 metres sporting showy yellow-orange flowers with red markings. The leaves are 10 - 25 mm long and 1 - 4 mm wide with a pungent leaf apex , hence the use of "Prickly" in the...
, the first record of polyploidy
Polyploidy
Polyploid is a term used to describe cells and organisms containing more than two paired sets of chromosomes. Most eukaryotic species are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes — one set inherited from each parent. However polyploidy is found in some organisms and is especially common...
in an Australian native plant. This led to her PhD from London University which was awarded in 1950. Her doctoral thesis was titled Studies in Experimental Taxonomy and Variation in Certain Tasmanian Plants which was a pioneering work in cytology and polyploidy. Following from her doctoral award in London she travelled to the United States visiting various herbaria.
She was appointed University of Tasmania Senior Lecturer in Botany in 1951 and Reader in Botany in 1956, the most senior position held by a woman at the university at that time. Curtis also acted as Head of the Department on several occasions.
She submitted her published works to the University of London for a Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
degree in 1967 which was conferred in 1968.
From 1967 to 1978 she wrote the six-volume The Endemic Flora of Tasmania
The Endemic Flora of Tasmania
The Endemic Flora of Tasmania is a six-volume botanical book, with text by Winifred Mary Curtis and coloured lithographs by renowned botanical illustrator Margaret Stones....
, with illustrations by Margaret Stones
Margaret Stones
Elsie Margaret Stones AM, MBE is an Australian botanical illustrator. Stones worked as principal contributing artist to Curtis's Botanical Magazine from 1950 to 1951...
, a commission sponsored by Lord Milo John Reginald Talbot, the 7th Baron Talbot of Malahide
Baron Talbot of Malahide
Baron Talbot of Malahide, in the County of Dublin, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1831 for Margaret Talbot, widow of Richard Talbot, heir of the ancient Lords of Malahide. She was succeeded by their eldest son, the second Baron. In 1839 he was created Baron Furnival, of...
.
Her mother died in 1962 and she nursed her father at home until his death in 1967. Dr. Curtis retired from the Department of Botany in 1966 and was appointed Honorary Research Fellow; she was made an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Plant Science in 1998.
Awards and recognition
As well as her academic achievements, other awards include:- Royal Society of Tasmanian Clive Lord Memorial Medal (1966)
- Australian Natural History Medallion (1976)
- Membership of the Order of Australia (1977)
- Honorary DSc from the University of Tasmania (1987)
- Australian Plants Award (1988)
- ANZAAS Meuller Medal (1994)
- Hobart Citizen of the Year (1997)
A number of Tasmanian vascular plants have been named in her honour, including Richea curtisiae - A.M. Gray; Epilobium curtisiae - Raven; Viola hederacea subsp. curtisiae - L. Adams; Epacris curtisiae - Jarman; Winifredia sola - L.A.S.Johnston & B.Briggs.
The 'Winifred Curtis Scamander Reserve', a 75 hectare private nature reserve located 2 km south of Scamander
Scamander, Tasmania
Scamander is a small town situated at the mouth of the Scamander River between St Helens and St Marys on the northeast coast of Tasmania in Australia. The town is a popular holiday destination because of its wide, sandy beaches and views of the ocean...
on Tasmania's North-East coast is named in her honour.
A teaching laboratory at the University of Tasmania's School of Plant Science is named the 'Curtis Laboratory', and the 'Winifred Curtis Prize' has been awarded annually to the student who demonstrated the greatest proficiency in first year Plant Science courses since 1990.