Mary Sophie Young facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Sophie Young
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| Born |
Mary Sophie Young
September 20, 1872 |
| Died | March 5, 1919 (aged 46) |
| Known for | Pioneer of plant taxonomy in Texas |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany |
| Institutions | University of Texas |
Mary Sophie Young (born around 1872, died 1919) was a very important botanist. She worked at the University of Texas. Mary was known for her many trips to collect plants. She gathered huge amounts of plant samples. This made her a key person in understanding and naming plants in Texas.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mary Sophie Young was born on September 20, 1872, in Glendale, Ohio. Her father, Charles Huntington, was a minister. Her mother was Emma Adams Young. Mary was the youngest of eight children. She had seven older brothers.
Mary went to school in Ohio. She then attended Wellesley College. She earned her Bachelor's degree there in 1895. After college, Mary taught at several schools. These schools were in Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
In 1900, Mary went to the University of Chicago. She continued her studies there. She earned her Master's of Science degree in 1907. Then, in 1910, she received her PhD.
Career as a Botanist
Teaching Plants at University
In 1910, Mary Young started teaching at the University of Texas. She began as a botany tutor. Botany is the study of plants. The next year, she became an instructor.
Later, she became a permanent teacher at the university. In 1912, she also became the curator of the university's herbarium. A herbarium is like a library for dried plant samples.
Mary was known for her clear writing. She wrote helpful guides for students. She also had a teaching style that encouraged students. She wanted them to find answers to their own questions.
Exploring and Researching Plants
Mary often traveled around the Austin area. She collected many plant samples. She kept detailed notes during her trips. These notes described her journeys and the plants she found.
Her collections greatly increased the university's herbarium. It grew from 2,500 to 16,000 plant samples! Her research led to two published papers. Mary also traveled to other parts of Texas. She mainly explored West Texas. She went there during the summers of 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1918.
Many of her plant samples are still kept today. You can find them at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. They are also at the United States National Herbarium.
Sadly, Mary's career ended early. She became very ill in 1919. She passed away on March 5, 1919, at age 46. Mary Young is remembered as a pioneering botanist. She made the University of Texas herbarium much larger. She also started important plant sample exchanges with other collections.
