From Plant Press Vol. 17 no. 2, April 2014.
By Rusty Russell
In her book, The Mind and The Eye, morphologist, anatomist, and historian of botany Agnes Arber alluded to the critical nature of science support activities in successful scientific outcomes. Earlier this year, support for critical collections and research activities for the United States National Herbarium were dealt a serious blow upon the retirement of Debbie Bell and Linda Hollenberg. With a combined service record of 75 years, half the history of our herbarium, their departure has meant that multiple generations of Department knowledge and Institutional memory have slipped out the door.
It is out of the question to even pretend to chronicle their specific achievements over this period. Debbie arrived in 1975, having been recommended by Kittie Parker at George Washington University. Linda arrived about four years later. They arrived at a time when most activities required manual effort, and left at a time when full length motion pictures could fit on a small disk in your pocket. They didn’t simply endure the transitions that occurred in the interim; they embraced and incorporated them into Department routines, improving efficiency at a time when staff size was shrinking.
They outlasted an entire generation of research scientists and welcomed in an entirely new research staff. Their knowledge of collections at both the Natural History Building and the Museum Support Center made them the go-to staff for answers to questions, resolution to problems, or simply help when it was needed. It is a tribute to them and their lack of ego that so much of their work went unnoticed.
I have been trying to write this piece for two months, but I kept putting it aside because a) how do you summarize a person’s entire outstanding career in one article, and b) I’ve been in denial. Debbie and Linda are not simply colleagues, they are good friends. Debbie arrived the same day as I (ten minutes earlier which, technically, gives her seniority). We’ve been essentially joined at the hip ever since. Her approach to helping staff has always been nurturing, and she talked me off the ledge on multiple occasions. We could argue like spouses and party like best friends, but it was always in the best interest of the collections. More than anyone I’ve ever known … anyone! … she cared for collections. You can’t teach that. You can’t replace that.
Linda took on every job that no one else wanted. She is wired for precision and eats detail for breakfast. She reads blueprints better than many architects, and her tape measure should go to the National Museum of American History. When major facilities projects were done, Linda was behind it. And she has handled and moved more specimens that anyone in the history of the U.S. National Herbarium … guaranteed. Oh, by the way, she ran our operations at the Museum Support Center in her “spare” time. When it was time to get something done, we were lucky that Linda was on our team.
Thankfully, and not surprisingly, Linda and Debbie have continued their relationship with us as Collaborators. Why? Because they know they can still help. Good luck, you two. And welcome to the second half of your life!
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