Background
Tracy was born in Jackson, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, daughter of pioneer Stephen Tucker and Lucy Tucker (née Harris).
Tracy was born in Jackson, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, daughter of pioneer Stephen Tucker and Lucy Tucker (née Harris).
The standard author transcript C.Tracy is used to indicate this individual as the author when citing a botanical name. When she was three she started attending local schools, and by about 1832 was teaching, while she continued her studies. From 1835-1840 she was both student and teacher at the Franklin Academy in Harford.
In 1840 she became assistant at Ladies Seminary, Honesdale, being appointed head around 1842 and holding that post until 1846.
In 1844 she spent one term at Troy Female Seminary, New New York From around 1849-1851 she ran a private school at Honesdale, from then until about 1856 she was associated with the academy there.
Between 1856 and 1859 she ran another private school at Neenah, Wisconsin. In 1859 she was appointed matron in charge of domestic arrangements, head of the ladies department and teacher at Ripon College.
She studied the local flora for almost thirty years, publishing her Catalogue in 1889, based entirely on specimens collected by her or her students.
In 1893 she retired, buying a house off-campus, but continued tutoring and retained her association with Ripon College up to her death in 1905.