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Collectors of the UNC Herbarium
Alma Holland Beers
(10 January 1892- 31 October 1974)
Alma Leonora
Holland was born January 10, 1892 in Moore County, North Carolina.
Her parents were James Leonidas Holland and Inez Neglina Leach,
both farmers.
In 1917 she enrolled in
summer session at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
where she took a botany course under Dr. William Chambers Coker.
Impressed with the care and precision of her work, Dr. Coker asked
Miss Holland to remain in the Botany Department as a "research
assistant." She was never given another title, but while
bearing this one performed the duties of teacher, editor, librarian,
translator, secretary, artist, and plant collector. She reported
that she was so elated to receive this position that she burned
her certificate for teaching in public schools.
She was the first woman hired by the Botany department as a research
assistant. While in the employ of the Department, she also took
occasional courses, earning her B.A. degree in 1925 and becoming
a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
In 1941 she married Dr.
Charles Dale Beers of the Zoology Department. She spent summers
with him in Cold Springs, New York, to escape the North Carolina
heat and humidity. In 1951, Mrs. Beers retired from the Botany
Department, stating simply, "Henceforth I shall dig in my
garden and raise flowers." She passed away on October 31,
1974. |
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Alma was well-known within the
department for her skills as an illustrator and contributed to most
of the publications produced during her thirty-three year career.
She was also accomplished in Latin and French and aided faculty
and students by translating works in those languages (see the letter
reproduced below).
The University of North Carolina
Herbarium has, to date, catalogued about 160 specimens that Ms.
Beers collected. As only about 10% of the collection has been databased,
no doubt many more will be found. She was a frequent co-collector
with Dr. W. C. Coker and Nancy Eliason. In fact, on many labels
Dr. Coker puts just "Alma & Nancy" or even "the
girls" as co-collectors.
"Research Assistant"
Executive editor of the Journal of
the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society from 1946-1951.
Co-author of two books with Dr. Coker
(see bibliography).
Caretaker of the Botany Department's
collection of books, later the core of the
John N. Couch Biology Library.
Illustrator of numerous botanical works
of UNC faculty.
Botany instructor—her favorite course
to teach was a fern class.
Secretary to Dr. Coker—this involved
typing and editing his voluminous and cryptic notes.
Reliquiae
Below is a drawing of a Vaccinium
specimen and the closing portion of a translation which she wrote.
The translation may be clicked upon to view a larger image.
Bibliography
The only biographical article
on Alma Holland Beers (barring a few brief newspaper items)
was written by Mr. William R. Burk of the Couch Biology Library.
This appeared in the Spring, 1986 issue of the Friends of
the UNC Herbarium Newsletter, pp. 7-8.
The two books which Mrs.
Beers co-authored with Dr. Coker are: Boletaceae of North Carolina.
Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1943. This was
reprinted by Dover Publications in 1974 as Boleti of North
Carolina.Stipitate hydnums of the eastern United States.
Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1951.
This page was constructed by Ron Gilmour with
the assistance of Mr. Bill Burk, Mrs. Mary Felton,
Dr. Jim Massey, and Mr. Jim Murphy. Additional information and
corrections are welcome.
  
Curriculum North Carolina UNC
In Ecology Botanical Garden Biology Department
University of North Carolina
Herbarium
CB# 3280, Coker Hall
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280
phone: (919) 962-6931
fax: (919) 962-6930
email: herbarium@bio.unc.edu
Last Updated: 28 September
2007
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