Monday, January 10, 2011
She Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore
My parents dragged me to the dinosaur exhibit at our local science museum over the weekend.
It was cute and informative, but the most interesting aspect was the mention of one woman in particular: Mary Anning.
I was so mesmerized, I decided to share with you a little history lesson on a very fabulous woman. She wasn't a fashionista. She wasn't royalty. She wasn't even that attractive. She was just a woman who was years before her time.
Mary Anning was the "the greatest fossilist the world ever knew."
Before your eyes glaze over and you skim over this post, humor me and read on.
Born into wretched poverty in 1799, Mary didn't stand a chance. Her life was already mapped out to be insignificant, until a discovery as a child changed her life forever.
When she was 12, Mary and her brother were climbing the rocky cliffs by their home, Lyme Regis, in England, when they came across the complete skeleton of an Icthyosaur. Mary pieced the entire dinosaur skeleton together by herself and became known as one of the world's most famous palaeontologists.
Throughout her teens, Mary made many more discoveries along the coast of her home. She would go on to find the first two Plesiosaur skeletons ever found, the first Pterosaur skeleton, and very important fish fossils.
Most of her fossils were sold to institutions and private collectors, and although it brought in funds, it wasn't the astronomical number you would think. Back then, dinosaur fossils were still relatively new. You couldn't find anyone who was willing to fork over millions of dollars for a T-Rex skeleton. Despite her world-wide fame, her family was still desperately poor and relied on charity to get by.
Also, her accomplishments were sullied by the male British elite. As a working class woman, Mary was not allowed to be a member of the Geological Society of London. Although she knew more about fossils than any other scientist at the time, her findings were always published by male geologists who often did not give her credit. She grew resentful because of this treatment.
Her unhappiness could be found in a letter: "The world has used me so unkindly, I fear it has made me suspicious of everyone."
It wasn't until she was diagnosed with breast cancer that she finally started getting the recognition she deserved.
She received an annuity from the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1838. The Geological Society of London collected a stipend for her and she was named the first Honorary Member of the new Dorset County Museum, one year before her death from breast cancer at age 47. Her obituary was published in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society--an organization that would not admit women until 1904.
Her legend lives on not only in scientific journals and history books, but also in our culture.
The tongue twister, "She sells sea shells by the seashore," was written about Mary.
Not bad for a penniless girl who liked to play in the dirt.
Let that be your inspiration.
wow. i will never look 'She sells sea shells by the seashore' ever again. Mary finally got the recognition she deserved. i hope it doesn't have to reach to a point such as breast cancer but it did. darn those men!
ReplyDeleteThat sister was as good as any mister...and continues to help all of us sistahs remember that truth every day. ;)
ReplyDeleteWow Jennifer, thank you for this history lesson! I actually had no idea who this lady was, but now I am really fascinated by her!
ReplyDeletexxx
Vikki
http://stylometre.blogspot.com
WOW...wow....wow. Thank you so much for sharing this. I never knew that saying was related to a person let alone to such a significant woman in history. She was a dreamer indeed and you have just made my day all the more brighter by sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday.
Look forward to hearing from you
Love
Tashrin from Canada
Very cool bio, darling!
ReplyDeletexoxox,
CC
Wow thanks for sharing this, I had no idea :)
ReplyDeleteLove, Vanilla
http://vanillaheartsstyle.blogspot.com/
That is very inspiring. It's an impressive story and not one I was familiar with. I think when I was 12 I was faking sick so I could stay home and watch baseball...and look what she was doing.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that she had to get sick and, ultimately, die before gaining any recognition. Society has changed little in that regard in the years since. It seems like there are so many people that we fail to appreciate until they pass.
Not bad at all! Thanks for the history lesson, doll!
ReplyDeleteHappy monday <3
xoXOxo
Jenn @ Peas & Crayons
Thank you for this! There is a very similar story about a female scientist that the Nazi's tried to squash because she was 1. female, 2. Jewish.
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring story Jenn! Thank you!
Amber
Ambersmouthwash
This is such a brilliant post xox
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Jennifer. I didn't know that about the tongue twister. When I was at school we'd be taken to Lyme Regis to dig out fossils and it was amazing how many you'd find. The pic is of Lulwoth Cove which almost perfectly circular.
ReplyDeletebest David
http://britsintheus23.blogspot.com/
Wow, that's amazing. Just to stumble upon that. It's sad that it took breast cancer to her the recognition though. What an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredibly inspiring, my dear. Love it.
ReplyDeletexo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com
this was seriously an awesome history lesson! i feel ashamed that i never knew about her before
ReplyDeleteDefinitely really inspirational!! But also a sad story. I can imagine it being really hard to be both a woman and poor back then. At least she eventually got the recognition she deserved.
ReplyDeleteAmazing tidbit of history!
ReplyDeleteThis is actually really interesting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all that history. I remember trying to say you title post when I was younger, fun tongue twister. Sounds like you had a fun and educational time. XOXO
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story! I know a little girl who needs to read this. She wants to be a Paleontologist when she grows up and I'm sure this will be super inspiring :)
ReplyDeleteWow really informative! And on another note, her dog looks exactly like mine. Papillons like seashells apparently. Btw its Julie I'm too lazy to sign in on ny phone.
ReplyDeleteI loved this! I'm a huge history nerd and love stories like this. My mom's side of the family owns a farm in kansas where a TON of fossils can be found in the limestone and when Jurassic Park came out I was determined to be a paleontologist. I think I got 2 or 3 books about dinosaurs, realized all of their names were really hard to remember and gave up. I'm apparently no Mary!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story. Well except for the whole dying of cancer part that was pretty sad. Sounds like one hell of a woman.
ReplyDeleteI think we had an exhibit like that here and I wanted to go so bad! Love the first pic! xo
ReplyDeleteA love of champagne, cupcakes, and we have the same name! Did we just become best friends?! :)
ReplyDeleteCheers, Jenn
I didn't know that there was this much history behind the tongue twister!!! mary sure was a great woman,its sad that she got the fame she deserved so very late in her life!!!
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like a really special person, and I'm outraged at the sexism that went on in England back then. I'm glad though, that she received some recognition, and her accomplishments were amazing! And the way you wrote this post made it totally interesting, I wasn't even bored when you started mentioning fossils and dinosaurs. http://thearcenciel.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I've never heard of this woman before! She sounds absolutely amazing. It's a shame that it took something so tragic for her to get the recognition she deserved, but still, what an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYou arise beauteous in the horizon of the heavens
ReplyDeleteOh living Aten who creates life.
When you shine forth in the Eastern horizon you fill every land with your beauty.
You are so beautiful: you are great; gleaming and high over every land.
Your rays embrace the lands and all you have created;
You are Re and reach out to all your creations, and hold them for your beloved Son.
You are afar, but your rays touch the earth;
Men see you, but know not your ways.
Thanks...sweet sugar!
I learn something new all the time. That was a fascinating post, Jen, You write so well,.xxx
ReplyDeleteThis kind of made me want to go visit a museum or two. Reminds me that I've actually been thinking of going back to our main historical msueum ere since it's been more than 5 years since my last visit, humm...
ReplyDeleteFabulous post and very interesting. She certainly deserves a lot of recognition and how unfair that she didn't receive that for a long time. I always think it's interesting to look at how famous or accomplished people started out especially those from very humble beginnings.
ReplyDeleteThat quote..."The world has used me so unkindly, I fear it has made me suspicious of everyone." It's so easy to relate to it; though it makes you feel for her. :(
ReplyDeleteWow, truly inspiring. I also had no idea that tongue twister was written about her. Interesting!
ReplyDeleteGreat history lessons, and very insightful.
ReplyDelete~Giselle
http://www.machinewashwarm.blogspot.com
wow thats really interesting!
ReplyDeleteMissy
Enter my £50 giveaway!
http://thefashionfusion.blogspot.com
Had no clue! :) But I do not think I wld have gone with my parents. Brownie points for you on that! :)
ReplyDeleteI read the whole story and I didn't know about about her until now! What an inspiration! I can't believe she was treated back then; that was cruel. I completely sympathize the way she felt because when you were left being isolated, unappreciated and treated unfairly, you grew weary of people in general. Thank you for sharing her remarkable story! xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeletethanks for the post. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat that you shared this history in this post!
ReplyDeletehttp://de-vero.blogspot.com
It's a very nice story,didn't know it either so thanks for sharing dear!And thank you for stopping by at my blog,keep in touch!!
ReplyDeletenice post!! thanks for your lovely comment!!
ReplyDeletekatslovefashion.blogspot.com
Thank you,Jennifer,for this interesting post!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for sharing the Mary's history
xoxo Mary
fashionteaat5.blogspot.com
wow fascinating!
ReplyDeletegreat post
http://blackadderfashion.blogspot.com/
oh i love museums and exhibits. if you ever go to arizona then DON'T stop at "The Thing"...it's some sort of lame exhibition.
ReplyDeletehttp://ohtobeamuse.com
cute! love it :)
ReplyDeletenatalieoffduty.blogspot.com
Wow, this was amazing. Thank you for sharing this. I really like your blog, and I'm a follower now. And thank you for your sweet comment on my blog =)
ReplyDeletehi dear!! Thanks for your comment on my blog, I like yours! What do you think about following each other?
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Mony
i learned so much and i am in awe! xo!
ReplyDeleteHer unhappiness could be found in a letter: "The world has used me so unkindly, I fear it has made me suspicious of everyone." love this quote by the way - it is a bit of how i feel lately.
ReplyDeleteHuh well would you look at that. I never knew ANY of that. Wow that was pretty cool! Watch all be on jeporady or something and this will come up!! =P
ReplyDeleteMelanie's Randomness