The Comstocks of Cornell

Combining biography and autobiography, Mrs. Comstock interweaves in this book the story of her personal and professional life with that of her distinguished scientist husband, John Henry Comstock. She tells of the early experiences with a vividness and clarity that will give the reader the feeling of sharing in them. She tells of the Comstock's mutual interests and ambitions while both were students at Cornell University: the hardships they encountered as struggling young scientists; Dr. Comstock's success as an entomologist, author, and lecturer; and Mrs. Comstock's contributions as an artist and pioneer in the development of nature study.

(United States Quarterly Book Review)

Karen Penders St. Clair's masterful recovery of Anna Botsford Comstock's personal voice corrects a historical injustice. It also bestows a gift to us all, as we hear and learn from a woman of great warmth and wisdom in her full humanity.

- Scott J. Peters, Cornell University

Anna Botsford Comstock's voice has been returned to her in this carefully edited and amended edition of her memoir of her husband John Comstock, her observations of life around her, and of Cornell University during its early days. Anna Comstock was Cornell student, scientific illustrator, wife, mother of Nature Studies, Cornell faculty woman, and one of the three most admired female citizens of the world she inhabited. Her words return us to a different world and are worth attending.

- Carol Kammen, Thompkins Country Historian

Certainly, anyone who studies the history of science will find nuggets of information about the rise of American science departments and AAAS history. Those interested in nature-study and early science education will also find this book worthwhile. And since Anna does not just write about academics, [The Comstocks of Cornell] provides context to what a rural life was like at the turn of the 20th century.

(Plant Science Bulletin)