Margaretta Morris facts for kids
Margaretta Hare Morris (born December 3, 1797 – died May 29, 1867) was an American scientist. She was an entomologist, meaning she studied insects. Margaretta Morris made history in 1850. She and astronomer Maria Mitchell were the first women chosen to join the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Later, in 1859, she became the second woman to join the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Her Life Story
Margaretta Morris was born in Philadelphia on December 3, 1797. She was one of six children. Her father, Luke Morris, was a lawyer. Margaretta and her sisters were taught by private teachers. Some of these teachers were famous scientists like Thomas Nuttall and Thomas Say.
Margaretta and her sister, Elizabeth Carrington Morris, were very interested in science. Elizabeth was a botanist, studying plants. The sisters lived together in Germantown. They did many of their science experiments right at home. They also went to lectures at the Germantown Academy.
The Morris sisters were part of a large group of scientists. They shared their findings and specimens with people like Asa Gray and Louis Agassiz. This helped them learn and grow in their scientific work.
Her Scientific Discoveries
Margaretta Morris spent a lot of time studying tiny insects. She focused on wheat flies, which looked like the Hessian fly. People used to think these flies laid their eggs on the wheat stalk. But Margaretta found out they actually laid their eggs inside the grain itself. This was a very important discovery for farmers.
She also studied cicadas, sometimes called "seventeen-year locusts." These insects appear only every 17 years. Margaretta described a new type of cicada, which was later named Magicicada cassinii. She also looked into fungi that harmed plants. Her research was very helpful for agriculture and fruit farms.
At that time, women could not be members of many scientific groups. So, Margaretta sent her research papers to places like the American Philosophical Society. Men had to read her papers for her at their meetings. She also wrote articles for farming magazines like the American Agriculturist. Sometimes, she used a different name to publish her work.
Her Published Works
Margaretta Morris also helped other scientists with their work. She drew detailed pictures of plants for a paper by William Gambel. This paper was published in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences in 1848.
