On the Plains, and Among the Peaks : Or, How Mrs. Maxwell Made Her Natural History Collection: by Mary Dartt

American naturalist and taxidermist Martha Maxwell became famous in the 1870s for her skill and expertise in collecting and preserving specimens of Colorado's wildlife but is virtually unknown today. On the Plains, and Among the Peaks , written in 1879 by Maxwell's half-sister Mary Dartt, provides a fascinating case study of how women practiced natural history and taxidermy, as well as a fresh look at the early exploration and settlement of Colorado. Dartt's book tells the story of Maxwell's lifelong passion and dedication to work and education that made her a pioneer in more ways than one. It catalogs her important scientific contributions and development of museum habitat groupings and lifelike taxidermy mounts, showcases engaging accounts of wilderness excursions on the frontier of the Western United States in the 1860s and 1870s, and testifies to her resolve to show that women were capable of succeeding in traditionally male-dominated fields. This scholarly edition of On the Plains, and Among the Peaks will spark renewed interest in Maxwell and Dartt as neglected figures in nineteenth-century US history and literature, opening a conversation that other literary scholars and historians will join to further situate their work within the numerous disciplines to which it speaks, including nineteenth-century American literature; women's, western, environmental, and natural history; and gender, museum, and animal studies.

American naturalist and taxidermist Martha Maxwell became famous in the 1870s for her skill and expertise in collecting and preserving specimens of Colorado's wildlife but is virtually unknown today. On the Plains, and Among the Peaks, written in 1879 by Maxwell's half-sister Mary Dartt, provides a fascinating case study of how women practiced natural history and taxidermy, as well as a fresh look at the early exploration and settlement of Colorado.Dartt's book tells the story of Maxwell's lifelong passion and dedication to work and education that made her a pioneer in more ways than one. It catalogs her important scientific contributions and development of museum habitat groupings and lifelike taxidermy mounts, showcases engaging accounts of wilderness excursions on the frontier of the Western United States in the 1860s and 1870s, and testifies to her resolve to show that women were capable of succeeding in traditionally male-dominated fields.This scholarly edition of On the Plains, and Among the Peaks will spark renewed interest in Maxwell and Dartt as neglected figures in nineteenth-century US history and literature, opening a conversation that other literary scholars and historians will join to further situate their work within the numerous disciplines to which it speaks, including nineteenth-century American literature; women's, western, environmental, and natural history; and gender, museum, and animal studies.

American naturalist and taxidermist Martha Maxwell became famous inthe 1870s for her skill and expertise in collecting and preservingspecimens of Colorado's wildlife but is virtually unknown today.On the Plains, and Among the Peaks, written in 1879 byMaxwell's half-sister Mary Dartt, provides a fascinating case studyof how women practiced natural history and taxidermy, as well as afresh look at the early exploration and settlement of Colorado.Dartt's book tells the story of Maxwell's lifelong passion anddedication to work and education that made her a pioneer in moreways than one. It catalogs her important scientific contributionsand development of museum habitat groupings and lifelike taxidermymounts, showcases engaging accounts of wilderness excursions on thefrontier of the Western United States in the 1860s and 1870s, andtestifies to her resolve to show that women were capable ofsucceeding in traditionally male-dominated fields. This scholarlyedition of On the Plains, and Among the Peaks will sparkrenewed interest in Maxwell and Dartt as neglected figures innineteenth-century US history and literature, opening aconversation that other literary scholars and historians will jointo further situate their work within the numerous disciplines towhich it speaks, including nineteenth-century American literature;women's, western, environmental, and natural history; and gender,museum, and animal studies "American naturalist and taxidermist Martha Maxwell famous in the 1870s for her skill and expertise collecting and preserving specimens of Colorado's wildlife but is virtually unknown. Written in 1879 by Maxwell's half-sister Mary Dartt, provides a case of how women practiced natural history and taxidermy, as exploration and settlement of Colorado"-- Provided by publisher