Susan Minns
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Susan Minns (born Susanna Minns, August 21, 1839 – August 2, 1938) was an American
biologist A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual Cell (biology), cell, a multicellular organism, or a Community (ecology), community of Biological inter ...
,
philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...
, and collector. She was one of the first women to study at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...
. She created a notable and extensive collection of art and literature relating
Danse Macabre The ''Danse Macabre'' (; ), also called the Dance of Death, is an artistic genre of allegory from the Late Middle Ages on the universality of death. The ''Danse Macabre'' consists of the dead, or a personification of death, summoning represen ...
, a portion of which is now held by the
University of Louvain UCLouvain (or Université catholique de Louvain , French for Catholic University of Louvain, officially in English the University of Louvain) is Belgium's largest French-speaking university and one of the oldest in Europe (originally establishe ...
. Minns helped establish the
Marine Biological Laboratory The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is an international center for research and education in biological and environmental science. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution that was independent ...
and donated generously to numerous scientists, institutions and to her home state of
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
.


Early life

Minns was born to Frances Ann Parker and her husband Constant Freeman Minns on August 21, 1839 in Lincoln, Massachusetts. She began her education at private schools including the Cambridge School for Girls run by the naturalist
Louis Agassiz Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz ( ; ) FRS (For) FRSE (May 28, 1807 – December 14, 1873) was a Swiss-born American biologist and geologist who is recognized as a scholar of Earth's natural history. Spending his early life in Switzerland, he recei ...
. She also attended the Anderson School of Natural History set up by Agassiz on
Penikese Island Penikese Island is a island off the coast of Massachusetts, United States, in Buzzards Bay. It is one of the Elizabeth Islands, which make up the town of Gosnold, Massachusetts. Penikese is located near the west end of the Elizabeth island c ...
. She went on to graduate from
Wellesley College Wellesley College is a Private university, private Women's colleges in the United States, historically women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henr ...
. Minns was one of the first women to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She was a graduate of the class of 1881.


Collecting

Minns created several collections over her lifetime. Her most notable was the collection she created from the age of 14 of art and literature relating to death and the Danse Macabre. Much of this collection was purchased by the University of Louvain through the generosity of Minns. Minns also created a collection of juvenile texts that she bequeathed to the Clapp Library of Wellesley College. She was a botanical collector, collecting botany specimens herself as well as obtaining specimens from other collectors. Her specimens can be found in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, the Harvard University Herbaria, the New York Botanical Garden Herbarium, the University of Vermont Pringle Herbarium and University of Minnesota Bell Museum. These specimens continue to be used to further scientific research.


Public service and philanthropy

Minns helped establish the
Marine Biological Laboratory The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is an international center for research and education in biological and environmental science. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution that was independent ...
. In 1888 She was appointed a member of the inaugural board of trustees and was a signatory of the Laboratory's Act of Incorporation. She also served for several years on the Harvard University Committee of the
Gray Herbarium The Harvard University Herbaria and Botanical Museum are institutions located on the grounds of Harvard University at 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Botanical Museum is one of three which comprise the Harvard Museum of Natural ...
. Her donations of money and artifacts to individuals and institutions were substantial during her lifetime. She donated to land to MIT to be used for a river flow hydraulics laboratory. She donated $50,000 to Wellesley College as a memorial to Professor Susan Maria Hallowell in 1914. In 1917 Minns donated land to the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, including 127 acres on the Little Wachusett mountain, which was subsequently used to create the Minns Wildlife Sanctuary. In that year Minns also donated funds to the
Arnold Arboretum The Arnold Arboretum is a botanical research institution and free public park affiliated with Harvard University and located in the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, Massachusetts, Roslindale neighborhoods of Boston. Established in 1872, it is the ...
. In 1924 Minns made a substantial donation of $50,000 in honour of Mary Hancock, her great grandmother, to the
Harvard Botanical Museum The Harvard University Herbaria and Botanical Museum are institutions located on the grounds of Harvard University at 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Botanical Museum is one of three which comprise the Harvard Museum of Natural ...
. Minns, when initially proposing this donation, explained to
Oakes Ames Oakes Ames (January 10, 1804 – May 8, 1873) was an American businessman, investor, and politician. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts. As a congressman, he is credited by many historians as being ...
that she was donating her great grandmother's twenty dollar gold piece. Ames' disappointment was allayed when Minns explained that this gold piece had been carefully invested and had transformed into a sizeable gift. In 1925 Minns made a donation to the Wellesley College Library of a collection of books illustrated by Kate Greenway. Also in the 1920s she made significant monetary donations aiding the construction of the botany section of Sage Hall at Wellesley College as well as ensuring improvements were made to the college library. In June 1930 Minns donated funds to assist Professor Margaret Clay Ferguson of Wellesley College with her botanical research. In her will Minns established the Thomas Minns Fund in memory of her brother and enabling the creation of the Minns Lectures. In the 1940s the Susan Minns estate gifted portions of her art and literature collections to Wellesley College.


Books and art

During the later part of her life Minns studied silkworms. In 1928 she authored a book entitled "Book of the silkworm", illustrating the book herself. She also wrote a book about her genealogy entitled "Minns and allied families in the line of descent of Miss Susan Minns". Minns was also a painter of watercolors and a creator of woodblock prints.


Institution memberships and awards

Minns was a member of several institutions or societies. She was a member of
Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, ...
. Minns was also a member of the
Boston Society of Natural History The Boston Society of Natural History (1830–1948) in Boston, Massachusetts, was an organization dedicated to the study and promotion of natural history. It published a scholarly journal and established a museum. In its first few decades, the s ...
from 1877 and remained a member for over 50 years. She was elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), is a learned society that champions innovation and progress across a multitude of sectors by fostering creativity, s ...
as well as a Fellow of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is a United States–based international nonprofit with the stated mission of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsib ...
. Minns also had various scholarly works dedicated to her in appreciation and acknowledgement of her support.


Death

Minns died on August 2, 1938 and was buried at
Mount Auburn Cemetery Mount Auburn Cemetery, located in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, is the first rural or garden cemetery in the United States. It is the burial site of many prominent Boston Brahmins, and is a National Historic Landmark. Dedicated in ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minns, Susan 1839 births 1938 deaths 20th-century American philanthropists American botanists American women scientists Burials at Mount Auburn Cemetery Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Philanthropists from Massachusetts American women botanists