Arctic Botanist: Isobel Wylie Hutchison

Isobel Wylie Hutchison

Working in the archives at Kew Gardens is a great way to stumble across exciting characters and stories from the past.

Whilst conducting research for an enquiry, I came across the registered file of Isobel Wylie Hutchison, an Arctic explorer during the early 20th century. This file contains the correspondence Hutchison had with Sir Arthur William Hill (Director of RBG Kew from 1922-1941), alongside a number of clippings relating to her travels.

Hutchison was an Arctic traveller and botanist who undertook notable expeditions to Iceland, Greenland, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. In her biography Gwyneth Hoyle describes Hutchison as ‘one of the truly adventurous women of the 1920s and 1930s.’ This adventurous spirit can be seen in an extract of one of her letters to Sir Arthur Hill in which she writes ‘Another year I hope to be able to plan another visit to some less well-known part of the world, such as Kam Chatka or Sahalien.’

 

Alaska Journey

One of Hutchison's greatest journeys was her plant collecting trip through Alaska in 1933-1934. This journey took her from Vancouver, up through the Bering Strait, ending in Edmonton.

In the early 20th century northern travel was popular, with many countries sending sponsored expeditions out to these areas. However it was extremely rare for women to travel this far north, especially a single woman travelling alone.

During this journey Hutchison was required to use various modes of transport to navigate the difficult Arctic terrain. This included a schooner chartered from local tribesmen after she was unable to connect with the Arctic boat ‘Pattason’. When this schooner became frozen Hutchison was forced to hire dog sleds for the rest of the 350 mile journey along the Arctic coast.

These difficulties, combined with temperatures often reaching 70 degrees below zero, show Hutchison’s commitment to Arctic plant collecting. In a letter to Sir Arthur W Hill dated 11 February 1934 Hutchison states she is glad to hear that Kew received the 308 species sent from her, for which she was paid £10.10.0d. However it is clear that Hutchison’s motivation for plant collecting was not based on material payment or seeking adventure. In the same letter she writes ‘The fun of collecting of course is not the payment but the joy of getting the flowers.’

 

 

Ethnobotany Observations

Hutchison also showed a keen interest in learning about the indigenous people of the areas she visited, and their relationship with the surrounding plants. In an article written for the Kew Bulletin regarding her Alaskan expedition Hutchison observes the local women gathering ‘leaves of the willow, which, mixed with seal-oil, were used as a salad.’ 

 

An Engaging Writer

Hutchison was able to combine these interests, with her engaging style of writing, to publish a number of poems, books and articles, many of which can be found in the library collection at Kew.

In her book ‘North to the Rime Ringed Sun’, an account of her travels in Alaska, Hutchison’s evocative writing style can be seen:

‘the rich cobalt of Alaskan midnights, when the summer sun circles the horizon all night long and the mountains veil themselves in indescribable shades of sapphire.’

Hutchisons’ love of plant hunting and adventure, combined with her ability to encapsulate this in her letters and published works make her a fascinating character to discover more about.  

- Philippa -

(Archives Graduate Trainee)