Mary Louisa Duncan Putnam
Original Davenport Academy of Natural Science building, c. 1895, located at the corner of 7th and Brady streets, Davenport, Iowa
Original Davenport Academy of Natural Science building, c. 1895, located at the corner of 7th and Brady streets, Davenport, Iowa
supporter of the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences
Mary Louisa Duncan Putnam was born on September 23, 1832, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, United States. She raised in Jacksonville, Illinois, where she enjoyed early privilege as the daughter of Illinois Congressman Joseph Duncan.
The young Mary Louisa Duncan experienced early tragedy following the premature death of her father. During her family’s subsequent financial struggles, Mary learned to run the family home and help raise her siblings.
Mary Putnam graduated from the Jacksonville Female Academy (now Illinois College) in 1851.
Mary Putnam became involved with the Academy in 1868. Lacking scientific training, she concentrated on fund-raising, driving the publication and international distribution of the academy’s papers and the construction of a museum. Mary Putnam also continued to nominate friends for membership until more than half of the new members elected in 1875 were women, marking the academy’s move toward a more populist organization and away from an exclusive circle of scientifically oriented men. In recognition of her efforts, the academy elected her as its president in 1879, an extremely rare occurrence in any scientific institution of the time and certainly for a woman who did not have strong academic training.
Mary Putnam subsequently promoted a relationship between the academy and the public schools and also expanded its role in the community through popular lectures. She played a key role in acquiring a neighboring building in 1900, and she pushed the academy to expand its role in sponsoring cultural events and educational programming for the public. She also raised funds to support an active science program for Davenport’s children, refurbishing old exhibits and arranging new ones until her death at age 71.
Quotes from others about the person
Michael J. Smith (1999): "Mary Louisa Duncan Putnam was indeed the guiding spirit behind the Davenport Academy and without her... the Quad Cities region would not know the benefits of an institution like the Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science."
Mary Putnam got married in 1854. Her husband was Charles E. Putnam. She gave birth to their first son, Joseph Duncan Putnam, in October 1855. She had 11 children.
Joseph Duncan Putnam assembled a large and significant collection of insects, minerals, and geological specimens. He participated in expeditions to Yellowstone, Colorado, and Utah, and published investigations on bark lice and the Solpugidae before his death, at the age of 26, in 1881. Many of his collections remain with the museum today.
