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Collectors of the UNC Herbarium
Alma Holland Beers
(10 January 1892 -- 31 October 1974)
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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. Holland designed “Carolina Moon” chinaware
for the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill.
This chinaware was produced by the Shenango
China Company of New Castle, Delaware.
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 200 specimens that Ms. Beers collected. As NCU’s
collection continues to be database, 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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