Vera Katharine Charles

Vera Katherine Charles (1877–1954) was an American mycologist. She was one of the first women to be appointed to professional positions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Charles coauthored several articles on mushrooms while working for the USDA.

Education Charles graduated from Mount Holyoke College, and received her PhD from Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 1903. While in school, she primarily studied mycology, but also focused on plant pathology. After graduation, she began to work for the USDA, where she worked for many years in the Office of Mycological Collections and its successors.

In 1931 she published Introduction to Mushroom Hunting. In addition, she contributed a chapter to a 1935 book on careers for women. Her chapter was entitled "The Mycologist." Even after retiring on 30 June 1942, Charles collaborated with other mycologists. However, eventually Charles' eyesight weakened to the point that she could no longer use a microscope but she continued writing. During her career she was author or co-author of over 37 books and scientific papers, as well as assisting other mycologists with descriptions of new species.

Selected publications Charles VK. "Occurrence of Lasiodiplodia on Theobroma cacao and Mangifera indica". The Journal of Mycology, Vol. 12, No. 4 (1906), pp. 145–146 Charles VK. "A fungus on lace bugs" Mycologia, Vol. 29, No. 2 (1937), pp. 216–221 Charles VK. "An entomogenous fungus on spider mites on water Hyacinth" Mycologia, Vol. 32, No. 4 (1940), pp. 537–540 Charles VK. "A fungous disease of codling moth larvae" Mycologia, Vol. 33, No. 4 (1941), pp. 344–349 Charles VK. "Mushroom poisoning caused by Lactaria glaucescens" Mycologia, Vol. 34, No. 1 (1942), pp. 112–113 Charles VK. "Some common mushrooms and how to know them. United States Department of Agriculture, no. 143 Washington, D.C. (1946)