While the Victorian fern craze of late 19th century Britain had less impact in North America, one noted author who recognized the need for a guide to the ferns of the northeastern United States was Frances Theodora Parsons (1861-1952), who wrote the field guide “How to Know the Ferns” (1899). Parsons was very active in New York City and State politics and active advocate for women’s suffrage. Her autobiography, written late in her long life, talked little of her botanical writing that included three other books. However, during her active botany period, before the death of her second husband in 1902, her books were very popular.
She recognized that “in England one finds books of all sizes and prices on the English ferns, while our beautiful American ferns are almost unknown, owing probably to the lack of attractive and inexpensive fern literature.” Unusual for the time, her books were both written and illustrated by women, the artists being her sister and a long-time friend. Parsons books were also noted for the covers of their bindings, designed by book cover artist Margaret Armstrong.
Excerpted from the Spring 2020 issue of the Arboretum Bulletin