Annie Trumbull Slosson

Annie Trumbull Slosson ( Anna Trumbull; May 18, 1838 – October 4, 1926) was an American author and entomologist. As a writer of fiction, Slosson was most noted for her short stories, written in the style of American literary regionalism, emphasizing the local color of New England. As an entomologist, Slosson is noted for identifying previously unknown species and for popularizing entomological aspects of natural history.

Personal life

Slosson was the daughter of Gurdon Trumbull (1790-1875) and Sarah Ann (née Swan) Trumbull of Stonington, Connecticut. Her given name was Anna, although she appears to have consistently used the name Annie. Her father, Gurdon Trumbull, was originally from Norwich. He was a merchant and local politician in Stonington and became wealthy in the whale and seal fishery industries that were active in New England at the time. Annie Trumbull was the ninth of ten children, seven of whom survived to adulthood.

In 1852, the family moved to Hartford, where she attended public schools and the Hartford Female Seminary. She was married in Hartford on June 27, 1867 (another date given is June 6) to Edward Slosson (born 1814 – died 1871, brother of Justice John Slosson (1806–1872), who was a lawyer and a politician in New York City. They had no children.

Family members Several others of her family were notable in literary, scientific, and religious life: John Trumbull Robinson

Career Literary works Slosson is considered a significant author in the "local color" (regionalism) movement of the late 19th century. The loveliest of all her simple narratives is that which I have chosen to stand near the end of this book,--a kind of benediction on anglers.

Entomology

Slosson devoted much of her time to entomology later in life, especially after 1886, even though she had no formal training in entomology.

Having had no formal scientific education, Slosson's expertise as an entomologist was enhanced through relationships she developed with other entomologists. These mentors included: Philip Powell Calvert, William T. Davis, Alpheus Spring Packard Jr., William Morton Wheeler, and Edward Payson Van Duzee, in addition to Asa Gray and Henry Edwards. It met for some time in her home in New York City. Later, through her efforts, the Society met at the American Museum of Natural History. Slosson authored an article in the first issue of the Journal of the New York Entomological Society appearing in March 1893. Over one-hundred newly described insects bear the species epithet slossoni (or slossonae) in her honor, often because she collected the first specimen. Rhopalotria slossoni, a weevil associated with cycads, especially Zamia pumila, and Zethus slossonae, a wasp. Another previously unknown species that Slosson described was Eubaphe meridiana, a species of geometer moth.

At times, Slosson herself named new species that she identified, usually naming the species after the locale in which she found it. An example is Dasylophia puntagorda, found near Punta Gorda, Florida. in 1916 addressing her two passions, fiction writing and entomology. In the article, she contended that the two interests are complementary.

By the time of her death in 1926, she was known for her entomological work, but her fiction was largely forgotten. Some literary scholars have suggested a possible resurgence of interest in her literary works.