Joyce Allan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joyce Allan
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Allan in the 1930s
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| Born | 8 April 1896 Balmain, Sydney, Australia
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| Died | 31 August 1966 (aged 70) Mosman, Australia
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| Occupation | Conchologist, Museum Curator and Scientific Illustrator |
| Spouse(s) | Hector Walker Kirkpatrick |
| Parent(s) | Joseph Stuart Allan and Florence Fountain Allan, née Hesketh |
Joyce Allan (born April 8, 1896 – died August 31, 1966) was an amazing Australian scientist. She was a conchologist, which means she studied molluscs like shells and snails. Joyce also worked as a museum curator at the Australian Museum. This meant she looked after the museum's collections. On top of that, she was a talented scientific illustrator, drawing plants and animals for science books.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joyce Allan was born Catherine Mabel Joyce Allan on April 8, 1896. Her birthplace was Balmain, a part of Sydney, Australia. She was the eighth child in her family.
Joyce first learned at home with private teachers. Later, she went to Fort Street Girls' High School. While she was in high school, she often visited the Australian Museum. She even helped a scientist named Charles Hedley sort shells there.
Career at the Museum
In February 1917, Joyce Allan started working at the Australian Museum. She was a temporary assistant to Charles Hedley. Her first jobs included helping to organize the shell collection. She also drew pictures for scientific papers written by other museum staff.
Joyce was a very skilled artist. She even showed her artwork at the Royal Art Society of New South Wales. Over time, she learned a lot about molluscs. She then started writing her own science articles. She signed all her artwork and papers "Joyce K. Allan." Most of her published work was about a group of sea slugs called Opisthobranchia.
In 1920, Joyce got a permanent job at the museum. When Charles Hedley left in 1924, Joyce became in charge of the museum's shell section. She even had Tom Iredale as her assistant for a short time! Their roles were swapped in 1925.
Joyce didn't just write scientific papers. She also wrote articles for the Australian Museum Magazine. She helped write parts of the Australian Encyclopaedia too. She often gave talks to groups of people. Many newspapers and magazines wrote about her. People were interested because she was a woman scientist. They also liked her ability to explain science clearly.
In 1931, Joyce was promoted to a scientific assistant. During World War II, she helped with emergency services. She even became an assistant for air-raid safety. In 1943, Joyce made history. She was chosen as a fellow of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. She was the first woman ever to receive this honor!
In 1944, she returned to the Australian Museum. When Tom Iredale retired, Joyce was chosen to take his place.
In 1949, Joyce became the curator of shells for the museum. In this role, she went to important science meetings. She attended the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science. She also went to the Pacific Science Congress in New Zealand in 1949. In 1953, she traveled all the way to Copenhagen for the International Congress of Zoology.
In 1950, Joyce wrote a very important book called Australian Shells. It was the first book to try and describe most of Australia's molluscs. Both scientists and shell collectors loved her book.
Joyce retired from the Museum of Australia in June 1956. She was not feeling well at the time. However, she was made an honorary zoologist. This meant she could keep working at the museum as a volunteer. She also wrote more science books. She finally stopped all her work at the museum in 1962.
Personal Life
On May 18, 1949, Joyce Allan married Hector Walker Kirkpatrick. Their wedding was at St Clement's Anglican Church in Mosman. Joyce's father, Joseph Stuart Allan, was a well-known artist. He drew cartoons for the Australian magazine, The Bulletin. Her grandfather was also a famous artist.
Death
Joyce Allan passed away on August 31, 1966, when she was 70 years old. She died in Mosman from a brain disease. Her husband survived her. She was cremated after her death.
Books She Wrote
Joyce Allan wrote or helped write several important books, including:
- 1936. Victorian sea shells (with Charles J. Gabriel).
- 1950. Australian shells. This book described many sea, freshwater, and land animals.
- 1956. Cowry Shells of World Seas.
- 1958. The sea-horse and its relatives (with Gilbert Whitley).
Species Named in Her Honour
Scientists named at least three shells, a fish, and an insect after Joyce Allan. This was to honor her amazing work. Some of these include:
- Coralastele allanea Iredale, 1930
- Microcanthus joycei Whitley, 1931
- Phosinella allanae Laseron, 1950
