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Darwin Correspondence Project

Women’s scientific participation

ObserversFieldworkExperimentationEditors and critics | Assistants

Darwin’s correspondence helps bring to light a community of women who participated, often actively and routinely, in the nineteenth-century scientific community. Here is a selection of letters exchanged between Darwin and his workforce of women observers, experimenters, fieldworkers, editors and critics, together with comparative exchanges with men.

Observers

Women:

Letter 1194 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [12 August 1849]

Darwin thanks Mary Whitby for passing on the results of her experiments. He would be grateful for any further observations of differences in structure or habits between silkworm breeds, or peculiarities in inheritance.

Letter 3787 - Darwin, H. E. to Darwin, [29 October 1862]

Henrietta Darwin provides her father with observations of cats’ instinctive behaviour.

Letter 4258 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [31 July 1863]

Lydia Becker details her observations and dissection of the hermaphroditic Lychnis plant. She also mentions her attempts to artificially fertilise plants in her garden.

Letter 4523 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, [6 June 1864]

Darwin’s niece, Lucy, responds to Darwin’s request for observations to be made on seeds of Pulmonaria officinalis.

Letter 5745 - Barber, M. E. to Darwin, [after February 1867]

Mary Barber responds to Darwin’s queries about Expression from her home in South Africa.

Letter 6736 - Gray, A. & J. L to Darwin, [8 & 9 May 1869]

Jane Loring Gray, wife of American naturalist Asa Gray, responds to Darwin’s queries about Expression during a trip to Egypt.

Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., [8 June 1867 - 72]

Darwin asks his niece, Lucy, to observe the expression of emotion in her pet dog and birds.

Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H., [30 January 1868]

Darwin asks Thomas Huxley to pass on a questionnaire to his wife, Henrietta. Darwin comments that another woman from his neighbourhood is making similar observations for him.

Letter 6535 - Vaughan Williams, M. S. to Darwin, H. E., [after 14 October 1869]

Darwin’s niece, Margaret, passes on observations of a crying baby to Darwin's daughter, Henrietta.

Letter 7179 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, [5 May 1870]

Darwin’s niece, Lucy, provides observations on the expression of emotion in horses and babies. She also reports briefly on her ongoing observations of wormholes.

Letter 8611 - Cupples, A. J. to Darwin, E., [8 November1872]

Anne Jane Cupples, wife of the Scottish scientist George Cupples, shares her observations on the expression of emotion in dogs with Emma Darwin.

Letter 8676 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [13 December 1872]

Mary Treat details her observations of, and experiments on, Drosera filiformis. She also references her observational work on butterflies and offers to observe birds, insects or plants on Darwin’s behalf.

Letter 8683 - Roberts, D. to Darwin, [17 December 1872]

Dora Roberts reports an incidence of “misguided maternal instinct”, observed in her hen house. She also passes on brief observations of an angry pig and her niece’s ears.

Letter 8701 - Lubbock, E. F. to Darwin, [1873]

Ellen Lubbock, wife of naturalist John Lubbock, responds to Darwin’s request that she make observations of her pet cats.

Letter 8989 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [28 July 1873]

Mary Treat reports in detail on her experiments with fly-catching Drosera.

Letter 9426 - Story-Maskelyne, T. M. to Darwin, [23 April 1874]

Thereza Story-Maskelyne responds to a letter of Darwin’s which was published in Nature with some observations of her canary which eats primroses. She keeps a canary in her house and “cannot keep these flowers in the room” without the birds attacking the buds and flowers.

Letter 9616 - Marshall, T. to Darwin, [September 1874]

Theodosia Marshall sends Darwin observations made by her and her father of plants and insects.

Men:

Letter 2221 - Blyth, E. to Darwin, [22 February 1858]

Edward Blyth, curator of the museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, sends specimens and bird observations from Calcutta.

Letter 3634 - Darwin to Gray, A., [1 July 1862]

Darwin tells American naturalist Asa Gray about the observations of orchids made by his son, George. He details George’s findings and celebrates his son’s “enthusiasm and indomitable patience”.

Letter 4242 - Hildebrand, F. H. G. to Darwin, [16 July 1863]

Hildebrand writes to tell Darwin that he has read his recent publication, Orchids. With the help of the Professor Trevianus, Hildebrand has repeated some of Darwin’s experiments on orchids and passes on their observations contained in “a little treatise”.

Letter 4436 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [26-27 March 1864]

Darwin thanks Hooker for posting to him a number of plants to aid his work on Climbing Plants. The plants are such “a great amusement” to observe that he has moved one or two of them into his bedroom.

Letter 5602 - Sutton, S. to Darwin, [8 August 1867]

Sutton, the keeper of the Zoological gardens in London, responds to Darwin’s request for observations of the expression of emotion in chimpanzees and orangs.

Letter 5705 - Haast, J. F. J. von to Darwin, [4 December 1867]

Explorer and geologist Haast forwards Rev. Stack’s response to Darwin’s queries about Expression. Haast also encloses a photograph of the giant Diornis skeleton which he plans to show in his museum in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Letter 6453 - Langton, E. to Wedgwood, S. E., [9 November 1868]

Darwin’s nephew, Edmund, writes to Emma Darwin’s sister, Sarah, with observations of a Sphinx moth. The moth examined the “mahogany knobs on the curtain rods” and seemed to be attracted to dark spots on the wallpaper.

Letter 5756 - Langton, E. & C. to Wedgwood S. E., [after 9 November 1868]

Darwin’s nephews, Edmund and Charles, write to Emma Darwin’s sister, Sarah, with observations of moths which seem attracted to brightly-coloured flowers on their wallpaper. While at church, Edmund noticed a "humming bird moth" which “was a long time examining the black letters in a marble tablet”.

Letter 6815 - Scott, J. to Darwin, [2 July 1869]

John Scott responds to Darwin’s queries about Expression. He provides observations of expression and hair colour among natives of India.

Fieldwork

Women:

Letter 1701 - Morris, M. H. to Prior, R. C. A., [17 June 1855]

Margaretta Hare Morris describes her work on fish and insects, undertaken on the shores of mountain lakes in Pennsylvania.

Letter 3681 - Wedgwood, M. S. to Darwin, [before 4 August 1862]

Darwin’s niece, Margaret, sends the results of fieldwork undertaken by her and her sisters while on holiday in Llandudno.

Letter 4823 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, H. E., [May 1865]

Darwin’s niece, Lucy, sends Darwin's daughter, Henrietta, the results of fieldwork undertaken in the fields around her home at Leith Hill Place.

Letter 6139 - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [22 April 1868]

Doubleday responds to Darwin’s request for assistance and sends details of his experiments on colour and sex in butterflies. He explains that he will always feel great pleasure in serving Darwin in any way he can.

Letter 8144 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., [5 January 1872]

Darwin asks his niece, Lucy, to probe wormholes on steep slopes with blunt knitting needles.

Letter 4235 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [8 July 1863]

Lydia Becker sends Darwin a number of plant samples which she had gathered from her local woods. She also comments on the variation, hybridity, and inheritance of parasites in Lychnis diurna.

Letter 8168 - Ruck, A. R. to Darwin, H., [20 January 1872]

Amy Ruck reports the results of her fieldwork on furrows and earthworm activity to her brother-in-law, Horace. She has dug a number of trenches, measured soil depths and tried, but failed, to find worm castings on the family’s croquet lawn.

Letter 8224 - Darwin to Ruck, A. R., [24 February 1872]

Darwin asks his “geologist in chief for N. Wales” to provide observations and take measurements of hillside worm casting ridges.

Letter 8169 - Wedgwood, L. to Darwin, [20 January, 1872]

Darwin’s niece, Lucy, gives the results of probing worm-holes with wire. She will send more results once she has “dug some more trenches”.

Letter 9606 - Harrison, L. C. to Darwin, [22 August 1874]

Darwin’s niece, Lucy, sends a sample of Pinguicula which she found near a bog. She also sends a selection of insects, which are carefully packed in a tin box.

Letter 9616 - Marshall, T. to Darwin, [September 1874]

Theodosia Marshall details samples she has taken and observations she has made during a half-mile stroll. The best plants, she finds, are found “in exposed places”.

Letter 10439 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [3 April 1876]

Mary Treat describes a field trip in Florida. She sends Pinguicula specimens and believes she may have discovered a new species of waterlily.

Letter 12389 - Johnson, M. to Darwin, [January 1880]

Mary Johnson tells Darwin about her work on worms and about a recent geological ramble she had taken with her father. During their walk they had stumbled across Prof. Rollerston from Oxford with whom she spent “an interesting day among the bones”. Noting the conspicuousness of her presence, Rollerston commented that she was probably the first woman “except a she bear or so” to have entered the cave “since the flood”.

Letter 12745 - Darwin to Wedgwood, K. E. S., [8 October 1880]

Darwin asks his niece, Katherine, to keep an eye out for worm castings during her walks on the Heath.

Letter 12760 - Wedgwood, K. E. S. to Darwin, [15 October 1880]

Darwin’s niece, Katherine, reports the results of her fieldwork on the common.

Men:

Letter 385 - Wedgwood, S. E. & J. to Darwin, [10 November 1837]

Emma’s sister, Sarah, passes on information and fieldwork results from her father, Josiah Wedgwood II. The fieldwork was undertaken in the parish fields around their home at Maer Hall, Staffordshire.

Letter 1219 - Hooker, J. D. to Darwin, [3 February 1849]

Hooker passes on news of fieldwork he has undertaken in the Himalayas. He writes from Darjeeling, having recently completed an expedition through the Sikkim Himalaya and Tibet.

Letter 4139 - Darwin, W. E. to Darwin, [4 May 1863]

William sends the results of a recent fieldwork trip to the Isle of White.

Letter 4433 - Wright, Charles to Gray, A., [20, 25, 26 March & 1 April 1864]

Charles Wright tells Asa Gray of fieldwork he has undertaken during an expedition in Cuba. He describes the flower of an orchid he has found and details his plans to head further down the coast to look for more samples.

Letter 4928 - Henslow, G. to Darwin, [11 November 1865]

J. S. Henslow’s son, George, passes on the results of some fieldwork he “casually” undertook on his summer holiday in Margate.

Letter 7433 - Wedgwood, F. to Darwin, [9 January 1871]

Darwin’s brother-in-law, Francis, reports on the appearance and depth of furrows in the fields around his home.

Experimentation

Women:

Letter 1113 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [2 September 1847]

Darwin questions Mrs. Whitby, whom he had previously met at a meeting of the British Association, on the difference in flight capacity of male and female silkworm moths. He also requests the results of experiments she has undertaken to determine the heritability of dark “eyebrows”.

Letter 1701 - Morris, M. H. to Prior, R. C. A., [17 June 1855]

Margaretta Hare Morris describes her work on insects, undertaken on the shores of mountain lakes in Pennsylvania.

Letter 4258 - Becker, L. E. to Darwin, [31 July 1863]

Lydia Becker details her observations and dissection of the hermaphroditic Lychnis plant. She also mentions her attempts to artificially fertilise plants in her garden.

Letter 8113 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [20 December 1871]

Mary Treat describes her experiments on the relationship between butterfly sex and larval feeding time.

Letter 8989 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [28 July 1873]

Mary Treat provides a detailed report on her experiments with fly-catching Drosera.

Letter 9485 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [8 June 1874]

Mary Treat details her experiments on Dionaea which she undertakes alongside Dr. Wood of Wilmington.

Letter 10390 - Herrick, S. M. B. to Darwin, [12 February 1876]

Sophia Herrick asks Darwin to provide further detail on some of the plant experiments described in Insectivorous Plants. Sophia describes her own experiments, including her use of microscopes to examine Dionea in more detail.

Family letter: Darwin, E. to Darwin, W. E., [January 23rd 1887]:

Emma Darwin tells her eldest son, William, that her third eldest son, Francis, is receiving help with his plant experiments from Miss Bateman, the first woman admitted to Linnean Society.

Men:

Letter 1836 - Berkeley, M. J. to Darwin, [7 March 1856]

Clergyman and botanist Berkeley details the breeding experiments he has conducted on various seeds. The experiments were carried out “at the suggestion of Dr Hooker” and what little he has ascertained is entirely at Darwin’s service.

Letter 2055 - Langton, E. to Darwin, F., [21 February 1857]

Darwin’s nephew, Edmund, writes to Francis with the results of his experiments with minnows and Prussian carp. He has conducted the experiments as directed but, unfortunately, both types of fish spat out the seeds he tried to feed to them.

Letter 2069 - Tenant, J. to Darwin, [31 March 1857]

James Tenant, keeper of the aquarium at the Zoological Society’s gardens, sends Darwin the results of his feeding experiments with minnows.

Letter 2781 - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [3 May 1860]

Doubleday describes his experiments on Primroses, Oxlips and Cowslips. He has collected samples from nearby woods and planted them in the north-facing borders of his garden.

Letter 4233 - Tegetmeier, W. B. to Darwin, [29 June - 7 July 1863]

Tegetmeier updates Darwin on the progress of the pigeon and poultry breeding experiments undertaken at Darwin’s suggestion.

Letter 5254 - Hildebrand, F. H. G. to Darwin, [23 October 1866]

German botanist Friedrich Hildebrand details his experiments with plants, probably undertaken in his lab at the University of Bonn.

Letter 6046 - Weir, J. J. to Darwin, [24 March 1868]

John Weir describes experiments he is undertaking in his home to test Wallace’s theory that birds reject highly-coloured caterpillars. Weir was a well-known ‘hobby naturalist’ who conducted numerous experiments for Darwin and Wallace from the comfort of his “pretty garden”.

Letter 6083 - Casparay, J. X. R. to Darwin, [2 April 1868]

Casparay details his experiments on submerged flowers. He describes practices at the herbarium at Bonn and compares their plant collections with those at Kew.

Letter 6139 - Doubleday, H. to Darwin, [22 April 1868]

Naturalist Henry Doubleday details his experiments on colour and sex in butterflies and moths, all of which were conducted in his home.

Letter 10517 - Darwin to Francis, F., [29 May 1876]

Darwin gives his son, Francis, close instructions on how best to conduct experiments on the Teazle. Francis was helping Darwin with work which eventually culminated in the publication of The Movement of Plants in 1880 and his “assistance” is proudly referenced on the book’s opening pages.

Editors and critics

Women:

Letter 2345 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [20 October 1858]

Darwin describes to Joseph Hooker the part played by his “non naturalist relations” in critiquing and challenging ideas.

Letter 2447 - Darwin to Murray, J., [5 April 1859]

Darwin asks his publisher, John Murray, to forward a manuscript copy of the first three chapters of Origin of Species to Georgina Tollet for proofreading and criticisms of style.

Letter 2461 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [11 May 1859]

Darwin expresses anxiety over Hooker’s suggestion that his writing style might need improvement. He is particularly concerned that Hooker’s wife found the content obscure, even after it had been proofread and edited by “a lady”.

Darwin, E. to Darwin, W. E., (March, 1862 - DAR 219.1:49)

Emma Darwin updates her son, William, on family news. Henrietta has been correcting the press of Orchids, which Darwin asked her to read to check that she can understand it.

Letter 3896 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H, [before 25 February 1863]

Darwin offers the results of his proofreading of Huxley’s Lectures to Working Men. This letter also includes critical feedback from his daughter, Henrietta.

Letter 4010 - Huxley, T. H. to Darwin, [25 February 1863]

Huxley praises Henrietta’s criticisms of his work, Lectures to Working Men. He hopes that her tenderheartedness will help her forgive his errors and would be obliged if she could send further criticisms in the future.

Letter 4038 - Darwin to Lyell, C., [12-13 March 1863]

Darwin secretly passes on Henrietta’s insightful comments on Lyell’s Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man. She has read Lamarck’s work under her own steam and is a “first rate critic”.

Letter 5585 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [26 July 1867]

Darwin praises Henrietta’s “excellent, excellent, excellent” “criticisms, doubts & corrections” of Variation.

Letter 7124 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [8 February 1870]

Darwin seeks Henrietta’s editorial help with chapters three and four of Descent of Man. He seeks her “deep criticisms” as well as her help with tone and style.

Letter 7123 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [March 1870]

Darwin thanks his daughter, Henrietta, for editing a manuscript version of chapter two of Descent, which was on the mental powers of man and lower animals. She has thoroughly mastered Darwin’s manuscript; her corrections and suggestions are “excellent” and her transpositions “most just”.

Letter 7605 - Darwin to Darwin, H. E., [20 March 1871]

Darwin reports to Henrietta on the high volume of sales and positive reception of his book, Descent. Several reviewers speak of the “lucid, vigorous style, &c.” for which he owes her a great debt. Darwin offers Henrietta “some little memorial” in memory of the book over which she “took so much trouble”.

Letter 7858 - Darwin to Wallace, A. R., [12 July 1871]

Darwin tells Wallace that he will let his family determine the worth of a paper on Mivart. While Henrietta, “who is a great critic”, thought the article worth reprinting, Emma was less convinced.

Letter 8089 - Darwin to Litchfield, H. E., [2 December 1871]

Darwin sends a chapter on voice from Expression for Henrietta’s perusal. Darwin asks Henrietta for corrections as well as input on style and praises her patience.

Letter 8427 - Darwin to Litchfield, H. E., [25 July 1872]

Darwin thanks Henrietta for her editorial help with Expression. Her alterations are “all good” and most have been accepted.

Men:

Letter 378 - Darwin to Henslow, J. S., [20 September 1837]

Darwin takes Henslow up on his offer to proofread one of his manuscripts. He seeks sweeping criticisms and comments on tone but suggests that Henslow not trouble himself with “minutiae and correcting as such”.

Letter 2475 - Darwin to Hooker, J. D., [2 July 1859]

Darwin returns the manuscript of Hooker’s On the Flora of Australia, which he has proofread. He offers a series of “criticisms” including comments on style and force of argument as well as errors of fact.

Letter 2501 - Lyell, C. to Darwin, [3 October 1859]

Lyell offers praise and criticisms of a manuscript copy of Origin which he has proofread. He comments both on errors of content and on the style and tone of Darwin’s writing.

Letter 3001 - Darwin to Lubbock, J., [28 November 1860]

Darwin offers editorial criticism of a paper written by English naturalist John Lubbock. In addition to offering advice on content, Darwin provides detailed feedback on missing words, style and clarity.

Letter 5403 - Darwin to Carus, J. V. [17 February 1867]

Darwin thanks Carus for his editorial work on Origin. Darwin congratulates Carus' editorial decisions and praises his "laborious" efforts over the translation of the text into German. The task at hand is troublesome but Carus' "indomitable powers of work" mean that it is now nearly over.

Letter 8153 - Darwin to Darwin, W. E., [9 January 1872]

Darwin thanks his son William for checking the proofs of a new, sixth edition of Origin. Darwin thanks William for his “grinding work” and acknowledges the “labour and anxiety” involved in the editorial process.

Letter 9156 - Wallace, A. R. to Darwin, [19 November 1873]

Wallace reassures Darwin that he his happy to pass on the job of editing the second edition of Descent to Darwin's son George. The work is tedious and Wallace feels that Darwin would be more satisfied if his son was to take on the job.

Letter 9157 - Darwin to Darwin, G. H., [20 November 1873]

Darwin offers the work of editing the second edition of Descent to his son, George. Darwin warns George that it will be tedious work. He has consulted Mr. Bates who has suggested a wage of around 30 guineas for such “labours”.

Assistants

Letter 347 - Darwin to Whewell, W., [10 March 1837]

Darwin seeks to decline the Secretaryship of the Geological Society. Once his writing skills and knowledge of geology are improved he will be happy to be of assistance to Whewell in any way he might suggest.

Letter 717 - Hooker, J. D. to Darwin, [28 November 1843]

Hooker thanks Darwin for his offer of assistance with the examination of a large collection of plants. Hooker will gladly accept Darwin’s offer of help.

Letter 1113 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [2 September 1847]

Darwin asks Mrs. Whitby to assist him with his work on the heritability of dark “eyebrows” in caterpillars. She is, he says, the “best authority” on the subject.

Letter 1836 - Berkeley, M. J. to Darwin, [7 March 1856]

Clergyman and botanist Miles Berkeley details the breeding experiments he has conducted on various seeds. The experiments were carried out “at the suggestion of Dr Hooker” and what little he has ascertained is entirely at Darwin’s service.

Letter 3298 - Darwin to Clarke, W. B., [25 October 1861]

Darwin asks William Clarke to pass on information on granite boulders found on Norfolk Island near Australia. He makes a series of other requests for help but knows Clarke will be able to respond to them all thanks to his "indomitable energy".

Letter 3316 - Darwin to Nevill, D. F., [12 November 1861]

Darwin requests the assistance of Lady Dorothy Nevill. He asks if she would be so generous as to send him some plant samples from her hot-house to aid his work on orchids. Nevill is referenced for her “kindness” in Darwin’s Fertilisation of Orchids.

Letter 4373 - Darwin to Wedgwood, K. E. S, M. S. & L. C., [4 August 1862]

Darwin thanks his “angel” nieces for their help with the enumeration of Lythrum. He asks whether they will be “more angelic than angels” and do further work on his behalf.

Letter 5410 - Darwin to Muller, J. F. T., [22 February 1867]

Darwin thanks Muller for passing on observations of orchid self-fertility which will be a “most useful addition” to his discussion of self-impotent plants in Variation. Darwin asks Muller for further assistance with his work on Descent and Expression.

Letter 6046 - Weir, J. J. to Darwin, [24 March 1868]

John Weir describes experiments he is undertaking in his home to test Wallace’s theory that birds reject highly-coloured caterpillars. Weir was a well-known ‘hobby naturalist’ who conducted numerous experiments for Darwin and Wallace from the comfort of his “pretty garden”.

Letter 6066 - Weir, H. W. to Darwin, [28 March 1868]

Harrison Weir passes on information on the recognition of colour by animals. As a painter of animals and judge at two of the country’s largest animal shows, Weir spends lots of time with animals, “Fanciers & Naturalists” and would be happy to prosecute any inquiries Darwin may have on related subjects.

Letter 6081 - Darwin to Bowman, W., [2 April 1868]

Darwin requests surgeon and physiologist Bowman’s “kind assistance” with his work on the contraction of the orbicularis during screaming. Since he believes the contraction is the keystone of a whole class of expressions, he is “unwilling to trust a single observer” on the subject.

Letter 6903 - Darwin to Gunther, A. C. L. G., [21 September 1869]

Darwin asks Gunther for “a great deal of assistance”. He encloses a list of queries on the basis that “four-fifths of the facts that I give, are quoted from you and your works”.

Letter 8676 - Treat, M. to Darwin, [13 December 1872]

Mary Treat details her observations of, and experiments on, Drosera filiformis. She also references her observational work on butterflies and offers to observe birds, insects or plants on Darwin’s behalf.

Letter 8719 - Darwin to Treat, M., [1 January 1873]

Darwin gives Mary Treat close instructions on how best to make observations and conduct experiments on his behalf. Darwin is grateful for her work, which is a “great treat”.

Letter 9157 - Darwin to Darwin, G. H., [20 November 1873]

Darwin offers the work of editing the second edition of Descent to his son, George. Darwin warns George that it will be tedious work. He has consulted Mr. Bates who has suggested a wage of around 30 guineas for such “labours”.

Letter 10517 - Darwin to Francis, F., [29 May 1876]

Darwin gives his son, Francis, close instructions on how best to conduct experiments on the Teazle. Francis was helping Darwin with work which eventually culminated in the publication of The Movement of Plants in 1880 and his “assistance” is proudly referenced in the book’s opening pages.