Margery Claire Carlson (1892-1985) was a pioneer in science and conservation. She was the first woman to major in botany at Northwestern University, and she was the first woman to become a full professor at Northwestern where she taught for more than 30 years. Dr. Carlson was also a Research Associate at The Field Museum, where many of the specimens she collected are housed.

The collecting expeditions Margery made along with research associate and long-time companion Kate Staley are her most notable adventures. The pair traveled in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Europe, and the United States in search of rare plant species to collect and study. The two women traversed jungles in a jeep and on foot, relying on whatever supplies they could carry and the knowledge of indigenous guides.

Describing one of their journeys, Margery wrote "Every collector hopes that he will be able to bring home some species unknown to science, never before described or even given a botanical name." Certainly Margery met her own expectations. One trip through Central America in 1948 yielded about 4,000 plant specimens and the discovery of 15 new plant species.

Margery is also remembered for her devotion to conservation. She was one of the founders of the Illinois Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the national Conservancy. Raising money, negotiating with landowners, and planting seeds were some of the ways Margery contributed to the preservation of natural areas in Illinois, as well as Indiana and Wisconsin. The Margery C. Carlson Nature Preserve was named in 1976. The 400-acre state preserve is located on the Vermilion River in LaSalle County, Margery's birthplace and one of the areas she helped acquire. Dr. Margery C. Carlson died in 1985 at the age of 92.

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