The History of Science Collection’s Mary Anning Exhibit Attracts Scholars to the Work of a Pioneering Woman in Paleontology

Thanks to a gift from geologist and OU alumni Everette Lee DeGolyer, the History of Science Collection is known as one of the more complete collections of multidisciplinary research in the country with pieces dating to as far back as the second century B.C.E.

The exhibit for spring 2023 displays the life and work of Mary Anning. Dubbed The Mother of Dragons, the collection highlights Anning’s impact on the field of paleontology.

During the first half of the 19th century – known as the “Golden Age of Geology” -- Anning provided more fossil discoveries than any other professional in Great Britain. Anning’s discoveries proved more impressive considering that she was not necessarily a professional in the classical sense, but a working-class woman living in the coastal town of Dorset. 

These were still the days of women not being allowed their proper space alongside their male counterparts. Despite her lack of credit in her time, Anning’s discoveries proved vital to the understanding of prehistoric creatures such as the plesiosaur and ichthyosaurus. 

Among the display are 105 large boxes of papers, books and drawings donated from British historian Hugh S. Torrens and his wife Shirley. Torrens is one of the most distinguished historians of geology across the globe. An Oxford-educated man from Staffordshire, England, Torrens chose the University of Oklahoma’s History of Science Collection due to its reputation of scholarly care and its history of rare collections accrued over the years.

“We are honored at the trust [the Torrens] have placed in us,” said Curator of the History of Science Collection Kerry Magruder. “For more than 60 years, the Collections has always sought ways to further develop its rich holdings in the earth sciences, so the new collecting initiative is a continuation of our deep institutional identity.”

The pieces in the collection provide OU students and faculty with an invaluable resource for study. Visiting researchers from all over the world have also taken to the exhibit for their work. OU’s gold status within the field of geology paired with the Anning exhibit yields an environment of scholarship unparalleled in higher education.

“The university already excels in the geosciences, so it makes sense for the university to also become a pre-eminent place for research in the history of the geosciences,” said Magruder. “We anticipate many more researchers will use these collections in future years, and the presence of each one on campus brings a tangible value to the students and researchers working here.”

Anning’s exhibit has even attracted the attention of young scholars across the country. Magruder shared the account of a 7th grade student from North Carolina who was participating in a National Historical Day competition. Isabella Hardy wrote to the History of Science Collection to ask permission for some of the Anning pieces from the Torrens collection. The History of Science Collections obliged and sent Hardy some assets electronically.

The correspondence between Hardy and OU paid off – the young 7th grade scholar, in full Mary Anning garb, won her competition. Between over 180 years of time, a pioneering woman’s work in the field of geology and paleontology continues to inspire and encourage the minds of young female scholars all over the world. 

“The Torrens archives comprise a distinctive attraction for researchers,” said Magruder. “Scholars of Mary Anning, for example, will henceforth consider a visit to OU as a standard part of their research trajectory.”