Nature Study Workbook, 1907-1909

Following on from our last blog, the latest project the Archive has been digitising is our collection of student workbooks and albums, we’ve found one that links to our last post on the botanical works of Henry Trimen’s A Handbook of the Flora of Ceylon and had to share it. This blog looks at one student, Lena Pike who attended Avery Hill College in 1907-09 and her Nature Study workbook.

Nature Study was the only science subject studied at Avery Hill College, with biology being optional in schools for girls at the time. This is a really fascinating document to look at as it shows Pike’s observations as she writes her analysis in great detail and her illustrations look like they could have been taken out of Trimens’ handbook. There is even what is now over a century old flower pressing of a Pansy and some Ferns, which was extremely delicate to digitise.

Illustration of a Pansy
Analysis of a Pansy
Flower Pressings from a Pansy
Tulip Illustration
Buds Illustration
Description of Buds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description of a Scilla
Scilla Illustration

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holly Illustration
Orange Illustration
Fern Pressings

In an essay on why Nature Study was included in the schools’ curriculum, Pike wrote that “the class minds are greatly broadened, their knowledge is widened, and they are able to appreciate the beauties of nature. A child will be mystified at the wonders of nature.” She goes on to talk about the experiments and observations and how teaching this in schools would mean that children can learn about the protection nature gives to all living things as well as the economic benefit of nature as she notes the different aspects of a tree.

Nature Study Laboratory in the former stables

First Digitisation of the Year

The archive has just finished digitising one of our rare book collections using our new digital camera.

Here are some of the images taken from Henry Trimen’s A Handbook of the Flora of Ceylon. It was considered to be one of the most comprehensive floras available of a tropical area.

This is one of the rare books that the archive holds as it is a complete collection, as many botanical books at this time had the pages taken out to resell at a more profitable price than the book. However, we don’t recommend doing this.

IMG_0002_TRI_tp_Plt_I-XXV

Plate I - Acrotrema Lyratum. From the Dilleniacea family . The common name is Arnott's Acrotrema
Plate I – Acrotrema Lyratum.
From the Dilleniacea family
Plate III - Wormia Triouetra Part of the Dilleniaceae family.
Plate III – Wormia Triouetra
Part of the Dilleniaceae family
Plate VI - Aeeria Gardneri
Plate VI – Aeeria Gardneri
Plate X - Dipterocarpus Zeylanicus Part of the Dipterocarpaceae family
Plate X – Dipterocarpus Zeylanicus
Part of the Dipterocarpaceae family
Plate XV - Stemonoporus Affinis
Plate XV – Stemonoporus Affinis
Place XVII - Hibiscus Angulosus
Place XVII – Hibiscus Angulosus
Plate XXXI - Pericopsis Mooniana Part of the Fabaceae family.
Plate XXXI – Pericopsis Mooniana.
Part of the Fabaceae family
Plate XXXIII - Cassia Auriculata
Plate XXXIII – Cassia Auriculata
Plate XLII - Trichosanthes Integrifolia
Plate XLII – Trichosanthes Integrifolia
Plate LX - Orchrosia Bobonica Part of the Apocynaceae family
Plate LX – Orchrosia Bobonica.
Part of the Apocynaceae family
Plate LXXI - Barleria Arnottiana Part of the Acanthaceae family.
Plate LXXI – Barleria Arnottiana.
Part of the Acanthaceae family
Plate XC - Cymbidium Ensifolium
Plate XC – Cymbidium Ensifolium
Plate LXVI - Ipomoea Jucunda
Plate LXVI – Ipomoea Jucunda
Plate LXXXI - Balanophora Thwaitesii
Plate LXXXI – Balanophora Thwaitesii