Nancy M. Adams (1926-2007)

A DigitalNZ Story by Sienna Latham

Adams, who joined the Dominion Museum as assistant curator of botany in 1959, contributed to nearly forty botanical publications. She was internationally recognized for her skill as an illustrator, and an exhibition of her work travelled the nation between 2003 and 2006. In 2006/7 Te Papa acquired more than ten thousand of Adams's sketches, watercolors, etchings and other works. This set contains just a small sample of some of her most remarkable pieces. More on Adams here: http://clerestories.com/2012/11/07/remembering-nancy-adams/

botany, trees, native, alpine, seaweed, algae, flowers, wellington, illustration

Image: Nancy Adams, curator and artist, Dominion Museum, Wellington, New Zealand

Nancy Adams, curator and artist, Dominion Museum, Wellington, New Zealand

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Forest Scene

Forest Scene

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Campanulaceae - Lobelia roughii

Campanulaceae - Lobelia roughii

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Mountain berries

Mountain berries

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Spindrift

Spindrift

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of Xiphophora seaweed specimens, Plate 36 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of Xiphophora seaweed specimens, Plate 36 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Boraginaceae - Myosotis australis

Boraginaceae - Myosotis australis

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Unidentified Species

Unidentified Species

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Apiaceae - Anisotome haastii

Apiaceae - Anisotome haastii

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Unidentified species

Unidentified species

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Rubiaceae - Nertera scapanioides

Rubiaceae - Nertera scapanioides

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Nothofagaceae - Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides

Nothofagaceae - Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Poaceae - Hierochloe alpina

Poaceae - Hierochloe alpina

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Podocarpaceae - Prumnopitys ferruginea

Podocarpaceae - Prumnopitys ferruginea

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Epacridaceae - Cyathodes colensoi

Epacridaceae - Cyathodes colensoi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Campanulaceae - Wahlenbergia cartilaginea

Campanulaceae - Wahlenbergia cartilaginea

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Campanulaceae - Pratia angulata

Campanulaceae - Pratia angulata

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Convolulaceae - Calystegia soldanella

Convolulaceae - Calystegia soldanella

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Fabaceae - Corallospartium

Fabaceae - Corallospartium

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Gentianaceae - Gentiana bellidifolia

Gentianaceae - Gentiana bellidifolia

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the gentian (Gentiana bellidifolia), Page 13 from “Mountain flowers of New Zealand”

Watercolour illustration of the gentian (Gentiana bellidifolia), Page 13 from “Mountain flowers of New Zealand”

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Gentianaceae

Gentianaceae

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of a native gentian (Gentiana bellidifolia), first appeared in 'Mountain Flowers of New Zealand'.

Watercolour illustration of a native gentian (Gentiana bellidifolia), first appeared in 'Mountain Flowers of New Zealand'.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Craspedia uniflora

Asteraceae - Craspedia uniflora

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Leucogenes grandiceps

Asteraceae - Leucogenes grandiceps

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Haastia sinclairii var. fulvida

Asteraceae - Haastia sinclairii var. fulvida

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Apiaceae - Aciphylla simplex

Apiaceae - Aciphylla simplex

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Ranunculaceae - Clematis forsteri

Ranunculaceae - Clematis forsteri

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the Dasyclonium, Plate 107 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of the Dasyclonium, Plate 107 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: R flavidum

R flavidum

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of puriri (Vitex lucens), Plate 32 in 'New Zealand Native Trees 2'.

Watercolour illustration of puriri (Vitex lucens), Plate 32 in 'New Zealand Native Trees 2'.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Scrophulariaceae - unnamed species

Scrophulariaceae - unnamed species

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Araliaceae - Schefflera digitata

Araliaceae - Schefflera digitata

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Ophioglossaceae - Ophioglossum coriaceum

Ophioglossaceae - Ophioglossum coriaceum

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Caryophyllaceae - Colobanthus acicularis

Caryophyllaceae - Colobanthus acicularis

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of Anisotome lanuginosa published in "New Zealand Alpine Plants"

Watercolour illustration of Anisotome lanuginosa published in "New Zealand Alpine Plants"

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Ranunculaceae - Helleborus niger

Ranunculaceae - Helleborus niger

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Ranunculaceae - Runuculus lyalli

Ranunculaceae - Runuculus lyalli

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Ranunculaceae - unnamed specimen

Ranunculaceae - unnamed specimen

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of Helminthocladia seaweed specimens, Plate 49 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of Helminthocladia seaweed specimens, Plate 49 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Cyperaceae - Uncinia viridis

Cyperaceae - Uncinia viridis

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Cardiomanes reniforme

Cardiomanes reniforme

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Pyrrosia serpens

Pyrrosia serpens

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Nature print

Nature print

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Lycopodium Scariosum

Lycopodium Scariosum

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Unidentified species

Unidentified species

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Strigulaceae - Strigula novae-zelandiae, S. Superbum and S. ?

Strigulaceae - Strigula novae-zelandiae, S. Superbum and S. ?

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Scrophulariaceae - Hebe venustula

Scrophulariaceae - Hebe venustula

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Poaceae - Poa pygmaea

Poaceae - Poa pygmaea

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Podocarpaceae - Podocarpus nivalis

Podocarpaceae - Podocarpus nivalis

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Gentianaceae - Gentiana concinna

Gentianaceae - Gentiana concinna

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the Nemastoma algae, Plate 68 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of the Nemastoma algae, Plate 68 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the Iridaea algae, Plate 64 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of the Iridaea algae, Plate 64 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the Kallymeniaceae algae, Plate 75 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of the Kallymeniaceae algae, Plate 75 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the Chordariaceae algae, Plate 16 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of the Chordariaceae algae, Plate 16 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Olearia rani

Asteraceae - Olearia rani

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the iris (Iridaceae) family flowers, Plate 5 in 'Wild Flowers in New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of the iris (Iridaceae) family flowers, Plate 5 in 'Wild Flowers in New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Dobson's Memorial, Arthurs Pass

Dobson's Memorial, Arthurs Pass

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Gleicheniaceae - Gleichenia dicarpa

Gleicheniaceae - Gleichenia dicarpa

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) and dogbane/milkweed (Apocynaceae) family flowers, Plate 7 from 'Wild Flowers in New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) and dogbane/milkweed (Apocynaceae) family flowers, Plate 7 from 'Wild Flowers in New Zeal...

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Cover design for Mount Cook National Park booklet

Cover design for Mount Cook National Park booklet

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Poaceae - Chionochloa australis

Poaceae - Chionochloa australis

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Grossulariaceae - Quintinia acutifolia

Grossulariaceae - Quintinia acutifolia

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Pencil sketch of mountain beech (Nothofagaceae - Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) on a mountain tarn, first appeared in 'Mountain Flowers of New Zealand'.

Pencil sketch of mountain beech (Nothofagaceae - Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) on a mountain tarn, first appeared in 'Mountain Flowers o...

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Primulaceae - Cyclamen neapolitanum

Primulaceae - Cyclamen neapolitanum

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Ericaceae - Pernettya nana

Ericaceae - Pernettya nana

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Ericaceae - Gaultheria depressa

Ericaceae - Gaultheria depressa

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Droseraceae - Drosera arcturi

Droseraceae - Drosera arcturi

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Unidentified specimen

Unidentified specimen

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Apiaceae - Gingidia enysii

Apiaceae - Gingidia enysii

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Rubiaceae - Coprosma brunnea

Rubiaceae - Coprosma brunnea

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Raoulia eximia

Asteraceae - Raoulia eximia

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Raoulia youngii

Asteraceae - Raoulia youngii

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Celmisia coriacea

Asteraceae - Celmisia coriacea

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Haastia recurva

Asteraceae - Haastia recurva

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of the penwiper (Notothlaspi rosulatum), published on page 20 of 'Mountain Flowers in New Zealand'.

Watercolour illustration of the penwiper (Notothlaspi rosulatum), published on page 20 of 'Mountain Flowers in New Zealand'.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Ranunculaceae - Anemone fulgens

Ranunculaceae - Anemone fulgens

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour painting of a bearded Iris

Watercolour painting of a bearded Iris

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Unidentified species

Unidentified species

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Cruciferae - Notothlaspi rosulatum

Cruciferae - Notothlaspi rosulatum

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Rubiaceae - Coprosma parviflora

Rubiaceae - Coprosma parviflora

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Orchidaceae - Pterostylis irsoniana

Orchidaceae - Pterostylis irsoniana

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Cunoniaceae - Weinmannia racemosa

Cunoniaceae - Weinmannia racemosa

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Epacridaceae - Dracophyllum fiordense

Epacridaceae - Dracophyllum fiordense

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Agavaceae - Phormium cookianum

Agavaceae - Phormium cookianum

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Cordyline indivisa

Cordyline indivisa

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of Curdiea seaweed specimens, Plate 57 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of Curdiea seaweed specimens, Plate 57 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of seaweed specimen

Watercolour illustration of seaweed specimen

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Watercolour illustration of Grateloupia seaweed specimens, Plate 70 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Watercolour illustration of Grateloupia seaweed specimens, Plate 70 from 'Seaweeds of New Zealand'

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Unnamed

Unnamed

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Trichomanes reniforme

Trichomanes reniforme

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Campanulaceae - Colensoa physaloides

Campanulaceae - Colensoa physaloides

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Glechinia, Lycopodium, lichens and moss

Glechinia, Lycopodium, lichens and moss

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Myrtaceae - unidentified species

Myrtaceae - unidentified species

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Raoulia mammillaris

Asteraceae - Raoulia mammillaris

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Asteraceae - Olearia angustifolia

Asteraceae - Olearia angustifolia

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Unidentified species

Unidentified species

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Onagraceae - Epilobium alsinoides subsp. atriplicifolium

Onagraceae - Epilobium alsinoides subsp. atriplicifolium

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Anemone

Anemone

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Epacridaceae - Dracophyllum recurvum

Epacridaceae - Dracophyllum recurvum

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa