Author: Madeline Hutchins

Ireland's first Female Botanist

Telling the world

Dawson Turner’s letter to Ellen written on 12th February, 210 years ago, in 1814, is HERE. In it he wrote “It was but 4 nights ago that I had the gratification of telling the world what I thought of you & what I owed to you, while describing Fucus fruticulosus, of which you yourself furnished…
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February: two events and significant dates

The significant dates explained: 9th February is the anniversary of Ellen’s death in 1815, aged just 29. The date is now perfectly placed between St Brigid’s Day National Holiday, on Monday 5th February this year, and the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11th February. And the two events: Both of these…
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‘I have not left my bed for 14 days’

Ellen’s letter to Dawson Turner written on this day, 18th January, 210 years ago, in 1814 is HERE. Ellen thanked her ‘dear good friend for his two long kind letters’ and wrote about her ill health and her mother. She mentioned the weather and then she responded to Dawson Turner’s recent letter to her. Ellen’s…
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On This Day: 3rd January 1814

210 years ago today, Dawson Turner wrote to Ellen Hutchins with New Year greetings and a sincere desire to know about her health. Read the full letter HERE. He told her that Dr (Thomas) Taylor, her cousin, had been staying with William Jackson Hooker at his home, Halesworth, in Suffolk, for the past month and they…
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Correspondence from 1813

Here is access to the correspondence between Ellen Hutchins and Dawson Turner in 1813. The previous post ‘On This Day 13th November’ gives a brief overview and bits of context for the letters in 1813 up to that date. The correspondence from three full years is now available, 1811 to 1813. The 1811 letters are…
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On This Day 13th November

Ellen Hutchins wrote to Dawson Turner on 13th November 1813 – On This Day, 210 years ago. The full text of the short letter is HERE. The notes below fill in a bit of what had been happening in Ellen’s life since February that year, which was the last On This Day blog. On 6th…
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Podcast available: Seaweed & Sealing Wax 2

Seaweed & Sealing Wax 2: letters from 1812 with botanical art and poetry This is a new development for the Festival. A podcast, available in the comfort of your own home, at a time to suit you, today on International Women’s Day 2023 or some time in the future. You can listen to a performance…
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As soon as I am able…

On This Day 210 years ago, 6th February 1813, Ellen Hutchins wrote a short letter to Dawson Turner. Her first to him since 16th December, even though in that one she had said that she would write in a few days. And this letter is much shorter than usual. Ellen had been ill and hopes…
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Saturday 11th February 2023

Open House at the Ellen Hutchins Reading Room and Archives Saturday 11th February from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Ellen Hutchins Building, Lee Road, Cork T23 XE10 with easy parking Free of charge Drop in, see the archives, displays and film, browse the books, have your questions answered at this free event. To celebrate Ireland’s…
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Correspondence between Ellen Hutchins and Dawson Turner in 1812

Here you can access the text of the twelve letters that survive from the correspondence between Ellen Hutchins and Dawson Turner in 1812. As with 1811 (letters available in three PDFs Here) the correspondence covers more than the plants, seaweeds, freshwater algae and lichens that they were studying. We hear about their health, their families, Ellen’s…
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