Lucy Say

Lucy Say

Lucy Way Sistare Say (October 14, 1801-November 15, 1886) was an American naturalist and nature artist. Say illustrated and colored 66 of 68 plates which became American Conchology, a depiction of the North American mollusks collected by her husband, Thomas Say, during his expeditions in North American. Lucy Say became the first female member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia on October 26, 1841.
Early life and education
Born in New London, Connecticut, Lucy was one of ten children born to Joseph and Nancy Way Sistare. Her first known education was at a Pestalozzian girls' school in Philadelphia, operated by Marie Duclos Fretageot, where learning is "by head, hand and heart" was the motto. Lucy was taught drawing by French naturalist/illustrator Charles Alexandre Leseuer and John James Audubon. Through her connection to other artists and naturalists at the Fretageot school, she met her future husband, Thomas.
Career
Lucy and Thomas married on January 4, 1827, and moved with other naturalists affiliated with the Fretageot school to a utopian socialist community of New Harmony, Indiana, established by Robert Owen. While Thomas went on explorations, Lucy sometimes taught children in the community. New Harmony provided a social freedom for Lucy rare in those days, and she stayed there until Thomas died in 1834, when she then returned to the East Coast, where her mother and sister lived.

After Thomas died, Lucy took on the task of illustrating and coloring his life's work into American Conchology, and even learned engraving when the engraver the same year. All told, Lucy assisted with three volumes on insects of America and six volumes on shellfish of North America.

References _______________________________________________________________________________________

Collection 433B. Lucy Say Illustrations. Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. http://www.jhpestalozzi.org/