Elzada Urseba Clover
Personal Information
Born: 1897
Died: 1980
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: W
Education
Nebraska State Teachers College 1930; University of Michigan MS 1932 & PhD 1935
"in reference to her plans to raft the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon she said, "Just because the only woman who ever attempted this trip was drowned is no reason women have any more to fear than men." (Wikipedia); “This part of the West is inaccessible because of a complete lack of roads and trails. It has never been explored botanically and for that reason everything collected will be of interest.”(nps.gov); “It was just a part of the day’s work to make a flying leap for shore, to climb steep cliffs after plants, and to get photographs.” (nps.gov); “The men depend on Lois and me for so many little things. Mirrors, combs, finding shirts, first aid, etc.,” Clover wrote. “Just as men always have since Adam.” (heritage.umich.edu);"
— Elzada Urseba Clover
Professional Life
Field of Study: Botany
Institution/Corporation: University of Michigan
Degrees & Memberships: Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science, Botanical Society of America. Michigan Academy of Science
Awards & Achievements
Awards: None found
Achievements: first to catalog plant life in the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River; with Lois Jotter became the first two non-indigenous women to raft the entire length of the Grand Canyon; during 1st expedition in Grand Canyon she & Jotter identified over 400 species of plants along the river, including 4 new species & divided the plants into 5 zones
Grew up on a farm in Nebraska
became interested in cacti after family moved to Texas in 1925
was a public school teacher in Nebraska & Texas & the principal of South Mission School a segregated school for Spanish speakers in Texas
after obtaining her PhD joined the faculty at University of Michigan as a botany instructor in 1935 & was denied a professorship because she was a female until attaining a full professorship in 1960
was assistant curator of the school's botanical gardens until becoming curator in 1957
was instrumental in establishing cactus & succulent areas in the gardens initially focusing on specimens of the Colorado Plateau in Utah
retired from University of Michigan in 1967 & moved to the Rio Grand Valley in Texas
began her 1st expedition in 1938 at Green River Utah & ended at Lake Mead Arizona
she & Jotter were expected to cook all meals in addition to helping get the boats down river & collecting plant samples after sunset during that 1st expedition
overcame rheumatic fever as a child