“B” is for Brodie, Laura (1908-2004)

“B” is for Brodie, Laura (1908-2004). Herpetologist. Brodie was born at Rockwood Farm five miles southeast of Leesville. At an early age she developed an interest in the living things around the farm. While Brodie was at Winthrop College, her biology professor noted her interest and called her to the attention of Howard K. Gloyd, a well-known herpetologist. He helped Brodie get a position at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. In 1946 she joined the staff of the herpetology department at the Chicago Natural History Museum (now the Field of Museum of Natural History), In 1956 after being in a horrible automobile accident, Laura Brodie was forced to retire and returned to her childhood home near Leesville, where she remained an important contributor to the herpetology collections of some of America's largest museums.