Lucia McCulloch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucia McCulloch
|
|
|---|---|
McCulloch in 1915
|
|
| Born | February 26, 1873 |
| Died | February 10, 1955 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Botany, Plant pathology |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | United States Department of Agriculture |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | L.McCulloch |
Lucia Alma McCulloch (born February 26, 1873 – died February 10, 1955) was an American scientist who studied plants. She was a botanist, which means she studied plants, and a plant pathologist, meaning she studied plant diseases. She worked for the United States Department of Agriculture. Her main work was looking into diseases and pests that affected plants like crown gall and gladiolus. She also worked with other scientists, including Nellie A. Brown.
Who Was Lucia McCulloch?
Lucia Alma McCulloch was an important American scientist. She spent her career studying plants and the diseases that made them sick. She worked for the United States government, helping farmers protect their crops.
Early Life and Education
Lucia McCulloch was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 26, 1873. Her parents were Robert S. and Alma Taggart McCulloch.
In 1898, Lucia began studying biology at the Florida Agricultural College. While she was a student, she also became the head of the college library. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1902.
However, in 1903, she had to leave her job. This was because the college, which was renamed the University of Florida, became a school only for male students.
A Career in Plant Science
In 1907, Lucia McCulloch started working in Washington, D.C. She joined the Bureau of Plant Industry, which was part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Here, she worked as a scientific assistant and a laboratory plant pathologist. This means she helped study plant diseases in a lab.
Her research mainly focused on two plant problems:
- Crown gall: This is a disease that causes strange, tumor-like growths on plants.
- Gladiolus diseases: She studied different illnesses that affected gladiolus flowers.
Lucia also worked with other scientists in her department, including Erwin Frink Smith and Nellie A. Brown.
Lucia McCulloch passed away in Orlando, Florida on February 10, 1955.
