Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew

Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Bartholomew (June 14, 1912 – March 15, 1985) was an American botanist dedicated to the study of plant systematics.

Early life Bartholomew was born on June 14, 1912, in Wheeling, West Virginia. Influenced by her naturalist father, she became interested in the natural sciences at a young age. When she was 12 Bartholomew joined the Girl Scouts, and she subsequently earned all of the nature badges. After high school, Bartholomew attended West Virginia University. She became interested in botany during her freshman year after taking a class taught by Perry Daniel Strausbaugh.

Career In 1936, Bartholomew graduated with an A.B. degree in botany from West Virginia University. She started working for the Botany Department, acting as Herbarium Assistant of the West Virginia University Herbarium. Bartholomew initiated an exchange program between dozens of botanists in the southeast, and she personally coordinated, sorted, and mailed the botanical specimens.

In 1946, Bartholomew became Secretary of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Club. She received her M.S. degree in botany from West Virginia University in 1948. under the direction of Earl Lemley Core. Her thesis was titled "The Flora of Wirt County, West Virginia".

The Elizabeth A. Bartholomew Seed Collection, housed in the WVU Herbarium, contains over 2,000 specimens.

Awards In 1974, Arch A. Moore Jr., Governor of West Virginia, gave Bartholomew an award as Outstanding West Virginian in 1974. The West Virginia Academy of Science gave her an appreciation award in 1983.

Publications 1939. Spring foray in the Alleghanies of West Virginia. Castanea 4:131-132. 1940. Three spermatophytes new to West Virginia. Castanea 5:111. 1941. Galium pedemontanum in North America. Castanea 6:141-142. 1948. The flora of Wirt County. Castanea 13:145-167. 1948. Flora of Wirt County, West Virginia. Unpublished Masters Thesis, West Virginia University. 166 p. 1950. The family Hypericaceae in West Virginia. Castanea 15:102-110. 1951. The genus Botrychium in West Virginia. Castanea 16:135-137. 1957. Euonymus alatus established West Virginia. Castanea 22:139. 1957. Spring wild flowers-No. 1. West Virginia Univ. and The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1960. Summer and fall wild flowers. West Virginia Univ. and The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.