Sophia Eckerson

Sophia Eckerson
Eckerson teaching female University of Chicago staff how to fire rifles in 1917.
Born	c. 1880 Old Tappan, New Jersey
Died	(1954-07-19)July 19, 1954 Connecticut
Alma mater	Smith College
Occupation	Botanist
Academic career
Institutions	Boyce Thompson Institute

Sophia Hennion Eckerson (c. 1880 – July 19, 1954) was an American botanist and microchemist.

Biography[]

Sophia Eckerson was born around 1880 (her exact date of birth is unknown) in Old Tappan, New Jersey to Albert Bogert Eckerson and Ann Hennion Eckerson. After graduating from secondary school, Eckerson did not immediately go to university and instead helped her brothers in college. By 1901, however, she had enrolled in Smith College in Massachusetts where she was inspired by William Francis Ganong to study and pursue a career in botany and plant physiology. Eckerson completed her bachelor's degree in 1905 and stayed at Smith College for her master's degree which she completed in 1907. During her time at Smith College Eckerson taught botany and plant microchemistry, working as a demonstrator and assistant in the botany department between 1905 and 1909. Travelling to the University of Chicago in 1909, Eckerson was awarded her PhD in 1911.^[1]

Following her doctorate, Eckerson obtained the post of assistant plant physiologist at the University of Chicago until 1915 when she became an instructor of plant microchemistry. Between 1921 and 1922 Eckerson taught and did research at the University of Wisconsin whilst also working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry, before taking a job as plant microchemist at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research in Yonkers, New York in 1924; a position in which she remained for the rest of her career, eventually becoming chair of the institute's Department of Microchemistry.^[1]

Due to often moving around the country with her work, Eckerson never married.^[1] She retired from active work in 1940,^[1] and died on July 19, 1954 in Pleasant Valley, Connecticut following a week's illness.^[2][3]

Research[]

Eckerson's work on plant chemistry began with her PhD on the topic of how seed embryos change during germination. At the Boyce Thompson Institute, she conducted experiments on how plants synthesize proteins found in the soil, and later on the processes by which cotton and other plants produce cellulose particles.^[1]

Eckerson served as vice chair (1934) and chair (1935) of the physiological section of the Botanical Society of America; a rare position for a woman at that time.^[1][2]

References[]

External links[]

• Works by or about Sophia Eckerson at Internet Archive