Cookson, Isabel Clifton (1893-1973)

Also known as
Cookson, Isabel C. (Isabel Clifton) (1893-1973)
Field of activity
Botanist; academic; botanist; palaeontologist
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35030891
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-459257

Biographies

COOKSON, ISABEL CLIFTON (1893-1973), botanist and palaeobotanist, was born on Christmas Day 1893 at Hawthorn, Melbourne, third and youngest daughter of English-born John Cookson, gentleman, and only child by his second wife Elizabeth, née Somers, from Adelaide. Educated at Methodist Ladies' College, Kew, Isabel gained honours in anatomy, physiology and botany in the senior public examination. She also developed skills as a pianist, was a prefect and played in the school's first tennis team. At the University of Melbourne (B.Sc., 1916; D.Sc., 1932) she graduated with exhibitions in zoology and botany. Tennis remained an interest and she competed in intervarsity matches.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Isabel Clifton Cookson was born in Melbourne in December 1893 and educated at Hambledon Ladies' College and later at the Methodist Ladies' College before entering the University of Melbourne where she graduated B.Sc. in 1916. She tutored at Newman and was appointed as Lecturer in Botany "including evening") for 1930 and remained associated with the Department until her death on 1 July 1973, when she was still a Research Associate. She visited Europe for the first time in 1925, and in 1929 studied at the University of Manchester under Professor Lang, a specialist in fossil plants. In 1948 she received a Leverhulme Research Grant and in 1952 attended the 40th session of the Indian Science Congress.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Isabel Cookson was Research Fellow in Botany, University of Melbourne 1952-1959. She was world renowned for her research which included fossil plant studies. Cookson created many international collaborations and associations which lead to significant discoveries. Isabel Cookson published over 80 papers and produced many botanical illustrations. The Cooksonia plant genus and the Isabel Cookson Award (Botanical Society of America) have been named in her honour.

After completing her studies at Hambledon and Methodist Ladies Colleges, Isabel Clifton Cookson went to Melbourne University. In 1916 she graduated with a BSc majoring in botany and zoology. Cookson went on to tutor, then lecture in botany at the University. She was appointed Research Fellow in 1952 and held this position up until her death in 1973. In 1926 Isabel Cookson made the first of many study/ research trips to the University of Manchester. It was during one of these visits that she developed a keen interest in fossil plants. Cookson and Manchester University's Prof. W. H. Lang developed a long term and very productive partnership. Their collaboration resulted in many key publications. Prof. W. H. Lang even named a plant genus (Cooksonia) in her honour.

Isabel Cookson later returned to Australia where she pioneered palynology studies in Australia. Her work on fossil-plant remains lead to her appointment as head of the University's Pollen Research Unit (1949) and to obtain a Doctorate of Science. Her 58 years of research produced great insight into the history and evolution of Australia's flora and 85 publications - 30 of which were written after she had officially retired. Her reputation as an outstanding botanist was world wide. The Botanical Society of America commemorate her achievements by awarding the Isabel Cookson Award to the best paper on palaeobotany presented at their annual meeting.

  • 1916 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Melbourne
  • 1916 - 1917 Career position - Government research scholarship received to study the flora of the Northern Territory
  • 1916 - 1926 Career position - Botany Tutor at Newman College, University of Melbourne
  • 1916 - 1929 Career position - Demonstrator in Botany at the University of Melbourne
  • 1917 - 1958 Career position - Member of the Royal Society of Victoria
  • 1925 - 1926 Career position - Research and studies at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London
  • 1926 - 1927 Career position - Research work at the University of Manchester, UK
  • 1928 Career position - Demonstrator (part-time) in Zoology at the University of Melbourne
  • 1929 - 1930 Career position - Research work at the University of Manchester
  • 1930 - 1951 Career position - Lecturer in Botany at the University of Melbourne
  • 1932 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Melbourne
  • 1942 Career position - Head of the Pollen Research Unit at the University of Melbourne
  • 1947 Career position - Keynote speaker at the opening of the Birbal Sahni Institue of Paelaeobotany in Lucknow, India
  • 1948 - 1949 Career position - Leverhulme Researcher at the University of Manschester
  • 1952 Career position - Research Fellow in the School of Botany at the University of Melbourne
  • 1952 - 1963 Career position - Senior Lecturer in Botany at the University of Melbourne
  • 1957 Award - Corresponding member of the Botanical Society of America
  • 1959 - Award - Life member of the Royal Society of Victoria
  • 1959 Career position - Retirement (official)
  • 1959 - 1962 Career position - Honorary Associate at the National Museum of Victoria

View the full record at Encyclopedia of Australian Science

Related people and organisations

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Resources for Isabel Clifton Cookson

Selected resources (10)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

  1. Where are the Women in Australian science?
    Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    Series: http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/wisa/wisa.html
  2. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press
  3. Cookson, Isabel Clifton (1893-1973)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online : Cookson, Isabel Clifton (1893-1973)
    Dettmann, Mary E.
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130544b.htm
  4. The University of Melbourne Archives: Cookson, Isabel Clifton (1893 - 1965)
    Notes of trip by ship via Adeliade, Perth, Colombo, Suez and Marseilles (expenses); notes from reading on Spain; Italy. 1925. Notes of trip to India, December 1952 - January 1953. Incluess newspaper cutting from Lucknow National Herald, 3 January 1953 and leaflet advertising "All the History of Benares and Sarnath ..." by B.N. Roy. Exercise book inscribed "Isabel C. Cookson, Newman Colege, Carlton" with "M.Sc. added, containing labelled diagrams of parts of the body magnified. n.d. Thirteen photographs of Isabel Cookson from childhood to late middle-age; passport issued 1947 (latest stamp 1965); photograph of mother, Elizabeth Somers Cookson, 1882, and father, John Cookson, n.d. Register, University of Manchester,congratulating her on her Lever- hulme Research Grant which has been reported to the Council and Senate, the University always taking "a warm interest in the welfare of its members". Birthday Book of Isabel Cookson, November 1906, Photocopy of Isabel Cookseon's birth certificate, 25 December 1892. MS. notes on Dr. Cookson by Mrs. Archer, 2 pp. Photocopy.
    93/181

Encyclopedia of Australian Science

  1. 200 Australian Women: a Redress Anthology
    Radi, H.
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press Inc
  2. Cookson, Isabel Clifton (1893-1973), Botanist and PalaeobotanistAustralian Dictionary of Biography John Ritchie 13 401-492 : Cookson, Isabel Clifton (1893-1973), Botanist and Palaeobotanist
    Dettman, Mary E.
    [1993]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
  3. Isabel Cookson (1893-1973) palaeobotanist200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology Heather Radi : Isabel Cookson (1893-1973) palaeobotanist
    Dettmann, Mary E.
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press Inc
  4. 150 Years, 150 Stories: Isabel Clifton CooksonUni News 11 21 4 : 150 Years, 150 Stories: Isabel Clifton Cookson
    Flesch, Juliet and McPhee, Peter
    [2002]
  5. 150 years, 150 stories: brief biographies of one hundred and fifty remarkable people associated with the University of Melbourne
    Flesch, Juliet and McPhee, Peter
    [2003]
    Published: Department of History, University of Melbourne

Resources by Isabel Clifton Cookson (4)

  1. Mesozoic and cainozoic palynology : essays in honour of Isabel Cookson / editors: J.E. Glover and G. Playford
    Playford, G. (Geoffrey)
    [ Book : 1973 ]
    At 21 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 38.144)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 38.144)

  2. [Collected papers / by Isabel Clifton Cookson]
    Cookson, Isabel Clifton, 1893-1973
    [ Thesis : 1932 ]
    At Baillieu Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.864)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.864)

  3. Plant microfossils from the lignites of Kerguelen Archipelago / by Isabel C. Cookson
    Cookson, Isabel Clifton, 1893-1973
    [ Article : 1947 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.901)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.901)

  4. Papers
    Cookson, Isabel Clifton, 1893-1973
    [ Book : 1900-1999 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.45)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.45)

Resources about Isabel Clifton Cookson (1)

  1. Mesozoic and cainozoic palynology : essays in honour of Isabel Cookson / editors: J.E. Glover and G. Playford
    Playford, G. (Geoffrey)
    [ Book : 1973 ]
    At 21 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 38.736)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 38.736)

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    Hughes, W. M. (William Morris), 1862-1952
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  1. SOCIAL NOTES.
    The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Monday 20 May 1912 p 9 Article
    ... well taxed. Mrs. Cookson was at the head of affairs, and she was capably assisted by a number of ... os tame representing Charlton's Photographic Studio, North Fremantle, and Master Freddy Cookson as Punch. Little Miss Charlton received a silver-backed brush, given by Mrs. Cookson, and Master Cook ... 1662 words
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  2. Family Notices
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Friday 18 September 1931 p 8 Family Notices
    ..., London, Edwin Henry Lewer, of Clapham, London, to Charlotte Isabel Banning, of Clapham, London ... . CLIFTON. - September 17, 1931, at her residence, 40 Vine-street, Hurstville, Mary Jane Clifton, beloved mother and grandmother of Mr. and Mrs. F. Clifton, and of Mr. and Mrs. A. Clifton and families ... 2621 words
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    ... of Mr. P. Nee, of Clifton Hill, and who was for over 20 years sergeant of police in the north-eastern ... Tolstrup, E. A. Curry; Mesdames W. H. Whiting, T. Dunn, Misses M. Plummer, (Avenel), L., Anna, Isabel and Elsie Johnson, Maude and F. Kilpatrick, Cookson, Scale, A. McRae, Dobson, Hay, Messrs G. Plummer, ... 1256 words
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