Gertrude Clarke Nuttall Explained

Gertrude Clarke Nuttall (15 August 18674 May 1929)^[1] was a British botanist and science writer. She was one of the first women to take a degree in botany.^[2] She is best known as the author of the text for Wild Flowers as they Grow (1911), a book with colored photographs by H. Essenhigh Corke.

Life

Gertrude Clarke was born on 15August 1867 at 1Charles Street, Humberstone Gate, Leicester, to surgeon Dr. Julius St. Thomas Clarke and his wife.^[3] She was one of the first women to take a degree in botany, however, it is not known in which British university she was educated.^[4]

In 1893, Clarke married Dr. Charles Nuttall in Leicester.^[5]

Gertrude Clarke Nuttall wrote many semipopular botanical articles, and in collaboration with H. Essenhigh Corke published Wild Flowers as they Grow (1911), Trees and how they Grow (1913), and Beautiful Flowering Shrubs (1920). Each of three works ran to several editions.

During World War I, she went to France with the British Red Cross and was in charge of recreation huts there.

Gertrude Clarke Nuttall died on 4 May 1929 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, aged 61.

Works

• 1905 – Guide to Leicester and Neighbourhood^[6]
• 1906 – French Prisoners in England: a side-light on the wars of Napoleon^[7]
• 1911 - Wild Flowers as they Grow^[8]
• 1913 - Trees and how they Grow^[9]
• 1920 - Beautiful Flowering Shrubs^[10]

Notes and References

1. Book: Creese, Mary R. S.. Ladies in the Laboratory? American and British Women in Science, 1800-1900: A Survey of Their Contributions to Research. 2000-01-01. Scarecrow Press. 978-0-585-27684-7. 47. en.
2. Book: Desmond, Ray. Dictionary Of British And Irish Botanists And Horticulturists Including plant collectors, flower painters and garden designers. 1994-02-25. CRC Press. 978-0-85066-843-8. 523. en.
3. News: . 17 August 1867. Birth. Leicester Chronicle. 57. 8. en. 751646543. British Newspaper Archive. 12 October 2023. subscription.
4. Book: Ogilvie. Marilyn. The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science: Pioneering Lives From Ancient Times to the Mid-20th Century. Harvey. Joy. Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie. Joy Harvey. 16 December 2003. Routledge. 978-1-135-96342-2. en.
5. England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991. familysearch.org. Accessed 9 August 2023.
6. Book: Nuttall. G. Clarke. Guide to Leicester and neighbourhood. British Medical Association. 1905. Edward Shardlow, the Chromo Press. Leicester. English. 450222495.
7. Book: Nuttall, G. Clarke. French prisoners in England: a side-light on the wars of Napoleon.. 1906. London. English. 40311958.
8. Book: Nuttall. G. Clarke. Wild flowers as they grow, photographed in colour direct from nature. Corke. H. Essenhigh. 1911. Cassell and Company, Ltd.. London; New York. English. 1513771.
9. Book: Nuttall, G. Clarke. Trees and how they grow. 1923. Cassell and Company, Limited. London. English. 628074740.
10. Book: Nuttall. Gertrude Clarke. Beautiful flowering shrubs.. Corke. H. Essenhigh. 1922. Cassell & Co.. London; New York. English. 596150895.