At an event sponsored by the University of Oregon’s History Department and Lane County Historical Society, I’ll be speaking about Mischievous Creatures: The Forgotten Sisters Who Transformed Early American Science, archival discoveries, and historical erasures. Plenty of food and drinks available while we talk!

Margaretta Hare Morris and Elizabeth Carrington Morris were two sisters from Philadelphia who sped the growth of American science in the 19th century, though its likely you’ve never heard of them.

In the recently published book Mischievous Creatures: The Forgotten Sisters Who Transformed Early American Science, environmental historian Catherine McNeur finally tells the history of the Morris sisters – their lives, work and how they should be remembered.

During this event, join McNeur to learn more about the Morris sisters and explore the many ways they were erased and how their erasure speaks to issues of power in fields of science and history. You will also learn how McNeur stumbled upon the Morris sisters, including the illustrations, correspondence and photographs of Margaretta and Elizabeth that she found in the Littell Family Papers within UD’s Special Collections.

McNeur is an associate professor at Portland State University and an award-winning author. Following the talk, she will be signing books. The UD Barnes and Noble Bookstore will be selling books before and after the event.

This event is co-sponsored by UD’s College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Women and Gender Studies, the Delaware Environmental Institute (DENIN), the Department of History, and the Department of English.

Refreshments will be provided.

This in-person event is free and open to the public. It will not be recorded.

Registration is required as seating is limited.

Margaretta Hare Morris and Elizabeth Carrington Morris: the Forgotten Germantown Sisters who Transformed Early American Science

In her new book, Mischievous Creatures, historian Catherine McNeur uncovers the lives and work of the forgotten Germantown scientists, Margaretta Hare Morris and Elizabeth Carrington Morris, who were at the center of scientific conversations and debates in the nineteenth century. Margaretta, an entomologist, was famous among her peers and the public for her research on 17-year cicadas and other troublesome insects. Elizabeth, a botanist, was a prolific illustrator and a trusted supplier of specimens to the country’s leading experts. At this talk, McNeur will discuss the research involved in recreating the Morris sisters’ lives, their community in Germantown, and the many ways that they’ve been erased from the history of science in the centuries since.

This talk is co-sponsored by the Wyck House, Stenton, Germantown Historical Society, and Germantown Friends School.

Registration required. Reception begins at 6pm. Free and open to the public.

The American Philosophical Society was the first venue where Margaretta Morris published her research on wheat flies in December 1840. I’ll be speaking about the Morris sisters and the research behind Mischievous Creatures at this free event. It will be broadcast virtually as well at 6pm Eastern, 3pm Pacific. Registration required.

At this book talk for Mischievous Creatures, I’ll be joined by Michelle Nijhuis, science writer and author of Beloved Beasts.

In this virtual book talk streaming over YouTube, I’ll be joining Christy Peterson of Vancouver, Washington’s Vintage Books to talk about the research and writing of Mischievous Creatures.

I’ll be joining Karl Jacoby, author of many amazing books, most recently The Strange Career of William Ellis, to talk about Mischievous Creatures at Book Culture.

Registration requested.