Quillin, Ellen Schulz, 1892-1970

Director of the Witte Museum of San Antonio, Tex., from its opening until her retirement in 1960; published a number of works on Texas plantlife.

Botanist and museum director, of San Antonio, Tex.

Ellen Dorothy Schulz was born 1892 June 16 in Saginaw, Michigan, growing up on a small farm in the area. After receiving a degree from the University of Michigan, she moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she taught science at Main Avenue High School. She soon became interested in establishing a museum in San Antonio and helped organize the acquisition of a large natural history collection, which was housed in Main Avenue High School. The collection was the nucleus of the Witte Memorial Museum, which opened in 1926 with Schulz as its director, a position she held until her retirement in 1960.

In addition to these activities, Schulz pursued her interest in botany, publishing her first field guide, 500 Wild Flowers of San Antonio and Vicinity, in 1922. A more ambitious work, Texas Wild Flowers, followed in 1928. Her other works include Texas Cacti (co-author, 1930); Cactus Culture (1932); and The Story of the Witte Memorial Museum, 1922-1960 (co-author, 1966) as well as children's books and numerous articles on plant life.

In 1927, Ellen D. Schulz married Roy W. Quillin of San Antonio, an oil company employee and nature enthusiast. Upon her retirement, the City of San Antonio proclaimed Ellen Schulz Quillin Day in honor of her service with the Witte Museum, appointing her director emeritus of the museum, a position she held until her death on 1970 May 6.

References

Bonta, Marcia Myers. Women in the Field: America's Pioneering Women Naturalists . College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1991.

Ellen Schulz Quillin biographical file, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

Ellen Schulz Quillin Papers, 1924-1968, Col 910, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

Steinfeldt, Cecilia. "Ellen Dorothy Schulz Quillin." Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fqu09 .

Woolford, Bess Carroll and Ellen Schulz Quillin. The Story of the Witte Memorial Museum, 1922-1960 . San Antonio: San Antonio Museum Association, 1966.

Ellen Dorothy Schulz was born 1892 June 16 in Saginaw, Michigan, growing up on a small farm in the area. After receiving a degree from the University of Michigan, she moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she taught science at Main Avenue High School. She soon became interested in establishing a museum in San Antonio and helped organize the acquisition of a large natural history collection, which was housed in Main Avenue High School. The collection was the nucleus of the Witte Memorial Museum, which opened in 1926 with Schulz as its director, a position she held until her retirement in 1960.

In addition to these activities, Schulz pursued her interest in botany, publishing her first field guide, 500 Wild Flowers of San Antonio and Vicinity, in 1922. A more ambitious work, Texas Wild Flowers, followed in 1928. Her other works include Texas Cacti (co-author, 1930); Cactus Culture (1932); and The Story of the Witte Memorial Museum, 1922-1960 (co-author, 1966) as well as children's books and numerous articles on plant life.

In 1927, Ellen D. Schulz married Roy W. Quillin of San Antonio, an oil company employee and nature enthusiast. Upon her retirement, the City of San Antonio proclaimed Ellen Schulz Quillin Day in honor of her service with the Witte Museum, appointing her director emeritus of the museum, a position she held until her death on 1970 May 6.

References

Bonta, Marcia Myers. Women in the Field: America's Pioneering Women Naturalists . College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1991.

Ellen Schulz Quillin biographical file, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

Ellen Schulz Quillin Papers, 1924-1968, Col 910, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

Steinfeldt, Cecilia. "Ellen Dorothy Schulz Quillin." Handbook of Texas Online . http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fqu09 .

Woolford, Bess Carroll and Ellen Schulz Quillin. The Story of the Witte Memorial Museum, 1922-1960 . San Antonio: San Antonio Museum Association, 1966.

Director of the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas from its opening in 1926 to her retirement in 1960.

Ellen Schulz Quillin also authored several field guides to Texas wildflowers and other plants.