Flora's Fieldworkers: Women and Botany in Nineteenth-Century Canada

Catharine Parr Traill brought British botanical culture to Upper Canada in 1832, but she encountered a new natural landscape and set out to advance the botanical knowledge of the time. Floras Fieldworkers reconstructs the ways in which women studied and understood plants in the nineteenth century, featuring figures ranging from elite women to settler-colonial women who were active in "plant work" as collectors, writers, artists, craft workers, teachers, and organizers.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 09 August 2022
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

When Catharine Parr Traill arrived in Upper Canada in 1832, she brought with her a deep connection to British botanical culture. However, upon her arrival, she encountered a completely new natural landscape, just like many other women featured in this book. Determined to advance the botanical knowledge of her time, she set out to explore and document the flora of the Canadian region.

Floras Fieldworkers is a captivating exploration of the ways in which women studied and understood plants in the nineteenth century. Through a blend of biography, botanical data, herbaria specimens, archival sources, letters, institutional records, book history, and numerous artworks, the book reconstructs the diverse experiences of women in botanical pursuits. It showcases figures ranging from elite women involved in imperial botanical projects in British North America to settler-colonial women in Ontario and Australia, many of whom were previously overlooked in historical records. These women, who engaged in various roles such as collectors, writers, artists, craft workers, teachers, and organizers, were considered appropriate hobbies for genteel ladies. However, botany offered them much more than just a pastime; it provided them with opportunities for scientific education, financial independence, and self-expression.

In today's context, where there is a growing call for more diverse voices in the field of history, it is essential to look back to the past. Floras Fieldworkers brings together a wealth of compelling material about women in colonial and imperial Canada and Australia, offering a fresh perspective on how we came to know the botanical knowledge we possess today. By bridging the gap between historians and botanists, the book encourages us to reevaluate our understanding of the contributions of women to the field of botany and to recognize their invaluable role in shaping our scientific and cultural heritage.

Weight: 1160g
Dimension: 170 x 256 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228011125