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Erickson, Frederica Lucy (Rica) (1908 - )

AM, FRWAMS
Online SourcesArchival/Heritage SourcesPublished Sources
Naturalist, Botanical artist and Teacher
Born: 10 August 1908  Boulder City, Western Australia, Australia
Frederica Lucy Erickson (Rica) is one of Western Australia's treasures. Few people have contributed as much to the community as has Dr Rica Erickson. She has gained renown as a naturalist, botanical artist, historian, author and genealogist and has been awarded many honours including having insects and plants named after her. In 1980 she was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters for her work in the fields of Literature and Botany, and in the same year was WA Citizen of the Year for outstanding service to the Arts, Culture and Entertainment. She became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1987 for her services to the Arts particularly as an author and illustrator. The Department of Conservation and Land Management named a bush reserve after her (1996), and a commemorative plaque was laid in her honour in St Georges Terrace, Perth (1999). Throughout her life and career her work has been strongly linked to the development of the collections at the J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History.
Taken from the Rica Erickson site of the Battye Library

Career Highlights

Chronology
1926Monitor and Teacher at Kendenup School in Western Australia
1927 - 1928Student at Claremont Teachers' College
1928 - 1934Teacher at Aurora School then Youngs Siding in Western Australia
1934 - 1936Teacher in Bolgart
1951Orchids of the West - her first self-illustrated book published
1979The Dictionary of Western Australians 1829-1914 published
1980Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon Dlitt) received from the University of Western Australia
1987Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
1996Rica Erickson Nature Reserve named in her honour by the Department of Conservation and Land Management

 
Online SourcesPublished Sources

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Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: Annette Alafaci
Created: 8 September 2005
Modified: 29 January 2007

Published by The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre on ASAPWeb, 1994 - 2007
Originally published 1994-1999 by Australian Science Archives Project, 1999-2006 by the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
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Updated: 26 February 2007
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P004587b.htm

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