SMITHSONIAN LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES
Meet the Wildflower Artist Who Was a Smithsonian Champion
New book and upcoming program highlight work of artist and naturalist Mary Vaux Walcott
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Walcott’s technique involved precise attention to detail, color, light, and perspective. Her art can also be appreciated as the work of a woman scientist battling the prejudices against her gender of the day. She was an intrepid explorer and skilled geologist at a time when women’s accomplishments were often overlooked or misattributed. She also had incredibly strong ties to the Smithsonian — North American Wild Flowers was first published as a fundraiser for the Institution.
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To celebrate the publication of this new book, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives is pleased to host a virtual panel discussion about the life and work of Mary Vaux Walcott on Friday, October 28th. Join us for Mary Vaux Walcott: A Life in Bloom at 12 pm ET to learn more about her art, science, and legacy at the Smithsonian. See our event page for additional details and registration link.
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Further Reading:
Evenhaugen, Anne. “Mary Vaux Walcott and the Smithsonian Process” (2019).
Henson, Pamela. “Mary Vaux Walcott’s Wild Flowers” (2015).
Naples, Richard. “For Camping Month: How to Share a Tent With a Smithsonian Secretary” (2016).
Walcott, Mary Vaux. North American Wild Flowers (1925).