120 Years in 120 Objects
Join the KwaZulu-Natal Museum in celebrating the museumโs 120th year of orbiting the sun. Staff and guest curators have chosen one object or item per year of our existence to highlight to the public. Visit the website and our social media platforms regularly to see the latest object and keep an eye out for information about a physical exhibition later this year!
Todayโs Object is from 1937
Evelyn Pickford and the โWorm Womenโ by Siyabonga Zamisa, Research Technician, Natural Sciences
The study of earthwormsโoften seen as a "dirty" and labour-intensive fieldโhas traditionally been male-dominated. However, in the southern part of Africa, a trio of pioneering women has dramatically changed this narrative, leaving an indelible mark on the world of earthworm research. Evelyn Pickford, Danuta Plisko, and Thembeka Nxele, have all contributed significantly to the study and understanding of these humble yet ecologically crucial creatures.
In the early 20th century, Evelyn Pickford emerged as a formidable force in earthworm research, particularly in the study of the Acanthodrilidae family. At a time when women in science faced significant barriers, Pickfordโs work stood out. She meticulously clarified uncertainties in this group, published descriptions of new species, and in 1937, authored a monograph on acanthodrilid earthworms. This work not only expanded scientific knowledge but also became the cornerstone of the Acanthodrilidae collection and database at Iziko Museums of South Africa. The period between the two wars saw significant contributions by female scholars in many natural and human science fields in South Africa.
Pickfordโs specimens, which she accurately collected and described, were originally housed at the South African Museum (Iziko Museums of South Africa) and Danuta Plisko requested a loan, after seeing that the specimens did not have a curator at Iziko Museum of South Africa, than Danuta Plisko asked for a long-term loan as the KwaZulu-Natal Museum had a curator who can look after the specimens. Today, they remain an invaluable part of the Oligochaeta collection housed at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum. Pickfordโs contributions laid the groundwork for future research in the region, inspiring subsequent generations of scientists. Today, the torch is carried by Thembeka Nxele, who still studies acanthodrilid earthworms, standing on the shoulders of those who came before and enhancing the KZN Museumโs research reputation.
