Clemens, Mary Strong, 1873-1968.

Mary Strong Clemens (1873-1968) was a botanical explorer who collected in remote areas of the South Pacific. She transmitted valuable material to George B. Cummins, Edwin Bingham Copeland, R. E. Holttum, Elmer Drew Merrill and C. G. G. J. van Steenis, all of whom relied extensively upon her collections for their studies. She was born Mary Knapp Strong in New York in 1873. She married Joseph Clemens, a Methodist Episcopal clergyman in 1894. She collected as she moved from post to post with him. They collected in Mindanao and Luzon, Philippines; Borneo; China; French Indochina; and New Guinea. Their collections are housed in herbaria around the world including: Belgium, Berlin, Leiden, Munich, Singapore, Zurich, California Academy of Sciences, Harvard, University of Michigan, Rocky Mountain, Purdue, United States Botanic Garden and the New York Botanical Garden. After Joseph Clemens' death, Mary remained in New Guinea, evacuating to Australia during World War II. She died in Brisbane in 1968.

From the description of Mary Strong Clemens papers, 1912-1934. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155462874

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