Eigenmann, Rosa Smith (1858–1947)

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Eigenmann, Rosa Smith (1858–1947)

American ichthyologist. Born Oct 7, 1858, in Monmouth, Illinois; died Jan 12, 1947, in San Diego, California; m. Carl H. Eigenmann (zoologist), Aug 20, 1887 (died April 24, 1927); children: 5.

The 1st woman ichthyologist of prominence, studied fishes in the San Diego (CA) area; published 1st scientific paper (1880); became 1st woman member of San Diego Society of Natural History and served as recording secretary and librarian; toured Europe with ichthyologist David Starr Jordan and other students (1881); published nearly 20 papers in ichthyology and cryptogamic botany by time of marriage; coauthored 15 scientific papers with husband (1888–93); with husband, was 1st to describe some 150 species of fish.