D. Vivian Lee Bowden (February 23, 1943 – January 9, 2017[1]) was a science journalist who discovered the unpublished drawings of early French botanist Antoine Nicolas Duchesne and authored an influential history of the garden strawberry. Her extensive research conducted in both Europe and America has been widely cited.
Lee conducted extensive research in her work on the historical background of the strawberry.[2][4] At the behest of Henry A. Wallace, Lee visited France, Germany and the Netherlands in summer 1962 to research the history of the garden strawberry.[5] On July 10, 1962, she discovered in the Paris Jardin des Plantes a collection of 73 original drawings of Fragaria by Antoine Nicolas Duchesne.[6] Duchesne prepared these for use in his monumental book describing strawberry history, taxonomy, and cultivation. Due to budgetary constraints, the drawings were not published, and were overlooked for almost 200 years.[7] The drawings provide significant historical context for the pioneering work of Duchesne.[8] Lee made her discovery at age 19, the same age that Duchesne published his book.
Lee presented her findings in an invited talk at a national meeting,[9] and wrote four chapters on the history of strawberry for the positively reviewed[4][10] and widely cited[11] book The Strawberry: History, Breeding and Physiology.[2] Her contribution is clearly acknowledged in the preface, but not on the title page, and most subsequent authors have misattributed the chapters to George M. Darrow, a USDA strawberry geneticist. In his discussion of the nomenclature of the garden strawberry, taxonomist M. Guédès alludes to the thoroughness of her scholarship, and properly cites her contribution.[12]
^ abUnknown. "Book Review of 'The Strawberry...'". www.cabdirect.org. Retrieved 2021-03-20. In describing the evolution of the cultivated strawberry Miss Vivian Lee has made exceptional use of early literature, and her account, spread over five chapters, goes into fine detail. Miss Lee's ability as an experienced journalist has enabled her to present a lengthy discourse in a most readable form.
^Unknown. "Book Review of 'The Strawberry...'". www.cabdirect.org. Retrieved 2021-03-20. Miss D. V. Lee is mainly responsible for the next three chapters, which cover the early history of the strawberry, especially the role played by Duchesne, and the origin of the first large-berried European varieties.
