Biographical Notes on
Miss Kathleen M. Morehouse (1912-1975):
Offices and activities in the
Doncaster Naturalists’ Society and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union.
By Derek Allen, Colin Howes and Andrea Marshall 2011
Compiled as associated documentation for the Morehouse Conchological Collection held at Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery.
Preliminary Biographical Notes:
Kathleen M. Morehouse BSc (Leeds), MIBiol (1912-1975), only daughter of Mrs. Elsie May Morehouse
“… was educated at Doncaster High School for Girls, after which she spent some time working at a Nursery Garden to widen her experience before going up to Leeds University where she graduated with an Honours Degree in Botany and Zoology in 1940. Following a teaching appointment at Leighton Buzzard High School for Girls she joined the staff of the Doncaster Technical College in 1941 as Lecturer in Biology, a post she held until her retirement in 1971.”
She was an active member of the Doncaster Naturalists’ Society from at least 1930, serving as a botanical recorder for many years from at least 1944 to 1976; a recorder of Mollusca 1945 to 1976; a recorder of Freshwater Biology in 1930 and 1968 and Vertebrates for many years at least 1944 to 1966. She was DNS Treasurer during the session 1965/66. She gave lectures on “The life history of the Crayfish” in 1934 and on “Evolution” in 1943, and organised four DNS excursions between 1954 and 1968.
Kathleen served as DNS President on five occasions 1954/56, when her presidential address was “A Botanical Survey past and present”; 1956/57 when she spoke on “On four wheels in Europe”; 1966/67; 1967/68 and finally in 1975/76. Tragically she died during her term of office. She was taken Ill during her return from holiday in the Yosemite National Park USA and died from the effects of blood clots shortly after arriving back in Britain. Her presidential address, based on the many slides she had taken during her final expedition was given posthumously.
Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union membership dated from 1926 and she was one of the few Life Members. She was, of course, one of the more active members who attended most of the field meetings, formerly with her mother, and latterly on her own. Her particular interests were Conchology and Mycology. She served on the Conchology section as Secretary for several years and was also Chairman in 1953. She was a member of the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland and Council Member and Past President of the Yorkshire Conchological Society. Association with the Mycological Section was spread over many years and she was a familiar figure at Fungus Forays. She was Executive Representative for the past four years [1970-75] as well as the current Chairman. She also held the offices of Secretary and President during her active membership of the Doncaster Naturalists’ Society (*).
Kathleen’s activities were not confined to natural history and her many and varied interests included boundless enthusiasm for the NSPCC (+). She was also an active playing member and Treasurer of the Doncaster Bridge Club. She was an entertaining and knowledgeable conversationist and a most congenial companion: she will be greatly missed” (Dearing 1976).
During the 1970s her address was 95 Ardeen Road, Doncaster. During her presidential year of 1975 DNS committee meetings took place in her front room which held much of her conchological collection and library; all kept in pristine condition.
*President of the Doncaster Naturalists’ Society from 1954 to 1956, 1966 to 1968 and 1975.
+ After her death, her library was passed by her executors to the NSPCC. The Books were subsequently passed on to the YNU and stamped as the property of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. However, since the Morehouse Conchological Collection had been specifically left to Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery, the YNU lodged the extensive conchological literature at the Museum to accompany the collection. In 1994 the Museum purchased the E.M and K.M Morehouse Conchological Library with a grant from the Pilgrim Trust. Where practicable, book plates to this effect have been placed in these books and journals
APPENDIX
Miss Kathleen M. Morehouse
Obituary:
Dearing, E. (1976) Kathleen M. Morehouse 1912-1975. The Naturalist 101: 18.
Doncaster Naturalists’ Society Offices and Activities
DNS Talks:
7.03.1934 “Life history of the Crayfish”
11.12.1943 “Evolution”
DNS Excursions organised:
10.07.1954 Fairburn (with Mrs E.M. Morehouse)
30.06.1956 Criddling Stubbs (with Mrs E.M. Morehouse)
07.09.1957 Smeaton
13.07.1968 Spurn Point
President of the Doncaster Naturalists’ Society from 1954 to 1956, 1966 to 1968 and 1975.
Presidential Addresses:
1954/55 “A Botanical Survey past and present”
1955/56 “On four wheels in Europe”
1975/76 posthumous “Slides of Yosemite National Park USA”
DNS Vice President
1956; 1974; 1975;
DNS Treasurer
1965/66
Recorder for Botany
1944; 1945; 1946; 1947; 1948; 1949; 1950; 1951; 1952; 1953; 1954; 1955; 1956; 1965; 1966; 1967; 1968; *1974; 1975; 1976;
Recorder for Mollusca
1945; 1946; 1947; 1948; 1949; 1967; 1968; 1974; 1975; 1976;
Freshwater Biology
1930; 1931; 1932; 1933; 1934; 1935; 1936; 1956; 1965; 1966; 1967; 1968;
Recorder for Vertebrates
1944; 1950; 1951; 1952; 1953; 1954; 1955; 1956; 1965; 1966;
YNU Offices and Activities (Conchological Section)
1939 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1939)
1940 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1940)
1941 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1941)
1949 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1949)
1953 Chairman of YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1953)
1958 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1958)
1966 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1966)
1968 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1968)
1969 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1969)
1970 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1970)
1972 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1972)
1974 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1974)
1975 in YNU Conchological Section (YNU Members Card 1975)
No mention in 1976 and later YNU cards.
YNU Offices and Activities (Fresh-water Biology Section)
1941 in YNU Fresh-water Biology Section (YNU Members Card 1941)
YNU Offices and Activities (Mycological Section)
1939 Member of YNU Mycological Section (YNU Members Card 1939)
1941 in YNU Mycological Section (YNU Members Card 1941)
1958 in YNU Mycological Section (YNU Members Card 1958)
1972 Mycological Section Rep. on YNU Executive (YNU Members Card 1972)
1973 Mycological Section Rep. on YNU Executive (YNU Members Card 1973)
1974 Mycological Section Rep. on YNU Executive (YNU Members Card 1974)
1975 Chairman of YNU Mycological Section (YNU Members Card 1975)
No mention in 1976 and later YNU cards.
A Bibliography of
Published Notes, Papers and Conchological Excursion Reports
by Miss Kathleen M. Morehouse
in The Naturalist, Quarterly Journal of the
Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union.
This report has been compiled to form associated documentation for the Morehouse Conchological Collections at Doncaster Museum
C.A. Howes 2011
Chronological Bibliography:
Morehouse, K.M. (1966) Conchology (p.128) in Anon. (ed.) Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union in
Thornton-le-Dale VC62 28-30 May. The Naturalist 91: 127-132.
Morehouse, K.M. (1969) Conchology (p.130) in Anon. (ed.) Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union in
Brandesburton Gravel Pits VC61 7 June. The Naturalist 94: 130-133.
Obituary:
Dearing, E[rnest]. (1976) Kathleen M. Morehouse 1912-1975. The Naturalist 101: 18.
Example of use made of the conchological collection:
Eversham, B. and Moss, M. (1982) The Freshwater Snails of the Doncaster District. The Doncaster
Naturalist. Vol 1. No. 1: 21-32.