Edward Tuckerman Materials

Edward Tuckerman, the eldest son of Edward Francis Tuckerman (1775-1843), a Boston merchant, and Sophia May Tuckerman(1784-1870) was born in Boston in 1817. After attending Ingraham’s School and the Boston Latin School, he attended Union College, from which he received a B.A. in 1837 and an M.A. in 1844. He also attended Harvard Law School and earned his L.L.B. in 1839. In 1841 he was still at Harvard, studying in the Divinity School. Then, after a few years studying history, philosophy, and botany in Germany, he returned to Harvard where he joined the Class of 1846 to earn a A.B. (according to an obituary, out of "friendship for several members of [the senior] class"). His obituary records that he was "a scholar in the truest sense of the word." While it is true that the family's wealth allowed him to follow his interests, it is also true that he produced results of lasting quality. A local obituary records that he was also known for his charity, often ordering food and clothing to be delivered to local people in need, and for his almsgiving.

In 1854 Tuckerman married Sarah Eliza Sigourney Cushing, the daughter of Thomas Parkman Cushing (his father's business partner) and Martha Cargill Cushing, formerly of Virginia. In 1855 Tuckerman joined the faculty at Amherst College. Initially, he taught history; three years later he became a professor of botany. Severe hearing loss forced Tuckerman to abandon his classroom work for botanical research. Although no longer teaching in the classroom, Tuckerman was included in the Amherst College course catalogues until his death in 1886.

Tuckerman is probably best known as an authority on lichens -- it was in the course of his research on this topic that he found the famous ravine in the White Mountains that now carries his name. Tuckerman’s lichenological work is contained in many articles and books, but he also wrote widely on genealogy, biography, and theology. Another gift to Amherst College includes his early (1834-1841) columns for the "Churchman" that he wrote under the titles of "Notitia Literaria" and "Adversaria."

In the late 1850s the Tuckermans began to build Applestead, a large stone house surrounded by gardens and an orchard. In the first quarter of the 20th century the College converted Applestead into a fraternity and then tore it down in order to build the Cage. Photographs of the estate may be found in several collections in the Archives and Special Collections.

Tuckerman seems to have lived an increasingly secluded life as his hearing loss grew. He died on March 15, 1886.