The document is an abstract for a case study examining the Horner sisters, six daughters of a famous British geologist who were involved in various academic fields in the 19th century. It summarizes that the sisters published numerous academic works across subjects like geology, art history, botany, and more while corresponding with a large intellectual network. Through analyzing their preserved letters and journals, the study aims to shed light on how these women facilitated networking between male and female intellectuals in their fields and acted as vital agents for the advancement of knowledge, despite their contributions often being overlooked.

2. Rebecca Phoenix
Advised by *Dr Eric Ash (History Department)
The Unusual Six:
a case study of the Horner sisters in Victorian women’s networking.

3. During the Victorian era in Britain, the academic and scientific
communities expanded across the country and across the world. These
communities connected people of different origin and discipline, yet it is
the men in these communities who are remembered today. Where were
the women in these fields? It is highly unlikely that a large segment of
the population was simply absent from an expanding world and
community. While there were certainly prominent women who made
their work known, still many more women are found working in the
shadows. This paper hopes to shed light on their function and
interaction with various intellectual communities during this period by
investigating the correspondence of the Horner sisters. These sisters,
all daughters of famed Geologist Leonard Horner, produced academic
works on a variety of subjects and conversed with a large intellectual
network. Through examination of three out of six sisters'
communications the extent of that network, and its effects on the
communities becomes apparent. Their letters and journals display that
these women acted as networking nodes between other female and
male intellectuals in their field. These women acted as key networking
agents while also producing their own work, essentially fulfilling a
double service to research fields. It is apparent that women were always
involved in the advancement of knowledge and vital to the health and
effectiveness of intellectual communities even if their contributions were
overlooked, stolen or hidden from public view.
Abstract

4. Introduction
Interest: How did I find these women?
Question: How did these women and their extensive letter
writing network effect the male academics in their circles?

5. Who were the Horner sisters?
Mary
Conchology, Geologist
Susan
Italian Art Historian
Frances
Botanist, Educational Reformer
Katherine
Botanist
Leonora
Historian, Translator
Joanna
Italian Art Historian, Translator
The Sisters

6. What did they do?
The Horner Sisters Publications Chronological order
• Oersted, Hans Chsitsian. The soul in nature with supplementary contributions by Hans Christian Oersted. Trs.by Leonora and
Joanna Horner. London: H.G. Bohn, 1852.
• Richard, Lepsius. Letters from Egypt, Ethiopia, and the peninsula of Sinai. Tras. Joanna
• Horner, Leonora Horner. United Kingdom: Henry G. Bohn, 1853.
• Horner, Susan. Hungary and its Revolutions from the Earliest Period to the Nineteenth Century: with a memoir of Louis
Kossuth. United Kingdom: H. G. Bohn 1854. (originally published under S.E.O a known alias)
• Koch, Karl. The Crimea and Odessa; Journal of a Tour, with an Account of the Climate and Vegetation. Trs. Joanna Horner
1855.
• Colletta, Pietro. The History of Naples from the Accession of Charles of Burbon to the death of Ferdinand I Trs. Susan Horner
London: I. B. Tauris, 1858.
• Horner, Susan. A century of Despotism in Naples and Sicily. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, 1860.
• Horner, Susan. The Tuscan poet Giuseppe Giusti and his times. London: Macmillan and Co., 1864.
• Lyell, Katharine. A Geographical Handbook of all the Known Ferns with the Tables to Show Their Distribution.1870.
• Horner, Susan. Isolina; or the Actors Daughter. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1873.
• (Published under S.E.O, a known alias)
• Horner, Susan and Joanna. Walks in Florence. London: Strahan and Co., 1873.
• Lyell, Charles The Life, Letters and Journals of Sir Charles Lyell. Edited by, Katharine Lyell, London: John Murray, 1881.
• Horner, Leonard. Memoir of Leonard Horner, F.R.S., F.G.S.: Consisting of Letters to his Family and from Some of his Friends.
Edited by Katharine Lyell. London: Women's Printing Society, 1890.
• Pertz, George. Autobiographic and letters of George Henry Pertz, ed Leonora Horner Pertz. London: Women’s Printing Society,
1894.
• Horner, Susan. Greek Vases: Historian and descriptive: with some brief notices of vases in the Museum of the Louvre, and a
selection from Vases in the British Museum. London: Swan Sonnenschen and Co., 1897.
• Bunbury, Charles J.F. Bunbury, Charles J.F. The Life and Letters of Sir Charles J.F. Bunbury. Edited by Katharine Lyell and Frances
Bunbury, London: John Murray, 1906.

7. Methodology/Experimental
Reading
Experts on women in science and “help mate” culture
More reading
The published letters of male family members
Even more reading
The unpublished letters from the sisters

8. Conclusions
Upper class women’s ability to network with each
other and these interact with their social circle
facilitated academic advancements for others in their
family and also themselves.
Science and academics are communal by nature
meaning that there are few insignificant roles and its
past time that we reevaluate what is defined as
“valuable” or important labor.

9. Acknowledgments
Kinnordy Estate
Edenborough University
Rice University Library
Royal Society in London
Doctor Marsha Richmond (History)