Carolyn Phinney Sweetser (1863–1952) was an American

watercolorist Watercolor (American English) or watercolour (British English; see spelling differences), also ''aquarelle'' (; from Italian diminutive of Latin ''aqua'' "water"), is a painting method”Watercolor may be as old as art itself, going back to t ...

and amateur botanist who lived and worked in

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idah ...

Early life and education

Carolyn Knowles Phinney, daughter of Nelson and Eunice (Clark) Phinney, was born in

Centerville, Massachusetts Centerville is one of the seven villages in the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Located on the South Side of Barnstable, Centerville is primarily residential, and includes a small business district as well as several notable beach ...

, on September 11, 1863. She married Albert Raddin Sweetser (1861–1940) in Centerville on February 29, 1888. The couple had no children, but they raised Carrie's nephew, George Phinney. They moved to

Forest Grove, Oregon Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a commuter town in the Portland metro area. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850, then incorpora ...

, in 1897 when her husband was hired by

Pacific University Pacific University is a private university in Forest Grove, Oregon. Founded in 1849 as the Tualatin Academy, the original Forest Grove campus is west of Portland. The university maintains three other campuses in Eugene, Hillsboro, and Wood ...

. They moved to Eugene when her husband joined the Botany faculty of the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...

in 1902, and became head of the department in 1909.

Watercolorist and amateur botanist

Sweetser spent much time over the years on botanical exploring trips with her husband and others, during which she painted watercolors of wildflowers and

fungi A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...

, though she had no formal training in art. More than 300 of her paintings are in the special collections in the University of Oregon Libraries.

Reception

''The Eugene Guard'' noted, "For many who have not had the opportunity to roam over the hills and meadows of the Oregon country, these delicate watercolors are a source of great interest and knowledge. And for those who have more intimate knowledge of the wildflowers of the area, the pictures are a delightful reminder." Biographer Rhoda Love wrote, "Her surviving paintings, photographs, and diaries provide a vivid picture of a Northwest botanist's life in the early twentieth century." Sweetser died in Eugene on September 9, 1952, two days short of eighty-nine years.

References

External links

Albert and Carrie Sweetser papers
at the University of Oregon
Carrie K. Sweetser paintings
at the University of Oregon {{DEFAULTSORT:Sweetser, Carrie 1863 births 1952 deaths 20th-century American artists 20th-century American women artists Artists from Massachusetts American watercolorists American women watercolorists American botanical illustrators Painters from Oregon Artists from Eugene, Oregon People from Centerville, Massachusetts