Establishing the Darwinian legacy: editorial and scientific work in the archive of Lady Nora Barlow

Emma ‘Nora’ Barlow, née Darwin (1885–1989), is perhaps most widely known for the columbine flower Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Nora Barlow’ named for her, with its additional variations ‘Black Barlow’ and ‘White Barlow’. However, Barlow's life and work extended far beyond domestic horticulture. From the curation of her famous grandfather Charles Darwin's archive to her contributions to genetics research, the collection of Barlow's papers held at Cambridge University Library (CUL) illuminates the range and complexity of women's participation in scientific research and natural history in the twentieth century. Described are the many ways in which Lady Barlow engaged with her scientific heritage, from studying genetics under William Bateson at Cambridge, to editing the papers of her famous ancestor for publication and to helping to curate her family archive. This paper examines the connections between Barlow's various activities as a continuous desire to engage with and curate the legacy of her famous ancestor.