Annetta Mary Carter


Annetta Mary Carter was an American botanist.

Early life

Annetta Mary Carter was born on June 28, 1907 in Sierra Madre, California. After the death of her mother, Carter's father spent the summers working in the San Gabriel Mountains as a fire guard, giving Carter the freedom to explore her surroundings and develop an appreciation for nature. Her interest in botany was encouraged and supported by her botany teacher at Pasadena High School.

Education and career

In 1928, Carter enrolled in the Botany program at the University of California in Berkeley. She graduated in 1930 with her A.B. in Botany. Her graduating class consisted on 7 women, including Mary L. Bowerman. Carter went on to pursue her master's degree with a focus in the morphology of floating liverwort. Her studies during the program were supervised by William Albert Setchell.
After receiving her M.A. in 1932, Carter went on to work at the University of California, Berkeley Herbarium where she began as a mounter. She remained with the herbarium under the title Principal Herbarium Botanist until her retirement in 1968. Despite having officially retired, Carter continued to assist the herbarium as a Research Associate.
While she was employed at the herbarium, Carter began collecting throughout California.