Lena Artz (1891-1976), a pioneering botanist of the Massanuttens
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About the Event
Speaker: Andrea Weeks, Ph.D. | Associate Professor and Director of the Ted R. Bradley Herbarium (Lord Fairfax Community College/George Madison University)
The Shenandoah Valley was once home to a pioneering botanist of the Massanutten Mountains, Lena Clemmons Artz (1891-1976).
A high school biology educator, Lena dedicated her life outside of the classroom to documenting the unique plant communities of Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties and advocating for their preservation. Until an archive of her field notebooks and personal papers was discovered, little was known about her life or her contributions to our knowledge of the flora of Virginia.
This presentation summarizes findings from this archive and her herbarium specimens to illuminate her life’s work and how it unexpectedly intersected with that of another unsung, resident botanist of the Shenandoah Valley, Francis W. Hunnewell, II. A Massachusetts attorney and prolific botanical collector with lifelong ties to Harvard, Hunnewell became a Virginian by choice as the last private owner of Belle Grove Plantation. Despite their very different backgrounds, he and Lena had much in common and conducted fieldwork together. Come to the presentation to learn about these fascinating individuals and their contributions to our knowledge of the flora of the southeastern US.
What to expect: A lecture-style talk.
Who can come: This program is designed for adult audiences.
Where to meet: The Blandy library (located in the Quarters building)