Anna Botsford Comstock

Anna Botsford Comstock, born on September first, eighteen fifty-four, was a pioneering figure in the field of natural studies. As the first female professor at Cornell University, she made significant contributions to education and the understanding of the natural world. Her most notable work, The Handbook of Nature Study, published in nineteen eleven, has been influential in nature education and is now in its twenty-fourth edition.

Comstock was not only an accomplished author but also a talented illustrator and educator. She collaborated with her husband, John Henry Comstock, to produce The Manual for the Study of Insects in eighteen eighty-five, which showcased her skills as an artist and wood engraver. Together, they contributed to the field of entomology through their detailed illustrations and writings.

At Cornell University, Comstock worked alongside notable figures such as Liberty Hyde Bailey and Julia Rogers, developing curricula that fostered curiosity and appreciation for the natural environment. Her efforts in the department of Nature Study were instrumental in promoting conservationism and instilling a love for nature in her students and the broader community.