Susan Hallowell

Susan Hallowell, (1835-1911) was an American botanist, and Professor of Botany at Wellesley College.

Throughout her life she was an avid seeker of knowledge and began a teaching career as soon as she graduated from Colby College. She was the first woman to be admitted to the botanical lectures and laboratories of the University of Berlin although this was not achieved with ease as, arriving in Europe, she found that the Universities of that continent were closed to women. She taught in Bangor High School for more than 20 years, while continuing her own education in her spare time. In order to further her knowledge, she worked in the laboratories of Asa Gray and Agassiz. Susan Hallowell pioneered higher education for women. The many courses she organised have hardly changed - except where additional scientific knowledge has been incorporated into them - since their inception. She built up a botanical library, which even today is only excelled by those of the greatest US universities. Miss Hallowell was 67 years old when, in 1902, she retired from her position of Professor of Natural History at Wellesey College. From that time on she was Emeritus Professor of Botany. It is said that she cultivated her 'disciples', inviting her pupil, Margaret Ferguson, from the class of 1891, to major in botany. made her an instructor in 1893 and appointed her as Head of Department in 1894.

Miss Hallowell was a member of the Torrey Botanical Society.