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This blazing building is the University of Cape Town botany department. It housed the Bolus Herbarium, which was founded in 1826 and housed one of the most extensive collections of specimens and literature on S'African, and particularly, western cape, flora. https://twitter.com/abbyrussy_CFC/status/1383798375577886731
The Institute was named after Harry Bolus, a British born botanist who contributed immensely to South African botany and founded UCT's Bolus professorship. A peer & correspondent of Alfred Wallace and Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Bolus
But MORE importantly, it housed many specimens and art works by his niece, Harriet Louisa Bolus.
Louisa curated the herbarium for many years and, at 1,494 spp. she has described more plant species to science than any other female scientist EVER! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Bolus
Louisa curated the herbarium for many years and, at 1,494 spp. she has described more plant species to science than any other female scientist EVER! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Bolus
She is a true hero of her field; a Madame Curie of botany, and far too little known in South Africa today.
To watch that building burn, knowing all the wonders it housed, and the millions of students it has seen trained, it's just too heart-breaking.
To watch that building burn, knowing all the wonders it housed, and the millions of students it has seen trained, it's just too heart-breaking.
An important update: I've heard from several reliable sources that the Herbarium has been largely unscathed 
Still much horrible damage though. https://twitter.com/ACMJulier/status/1383883934623096845?s=19
Still much horrible damage though. https://twitter.com/ACMJulier/status/1383883934623096845?s=19
A final update, screen shot from the university's official statement.
Summary is that Bolus library & herbarium (Pearson building) largely OK.
Jagger library gutted & some valuable losses there but most collections in vaults OK it seems.
Summary is that Bolus library & herbarium (Pearson building) largely OK.
Jagger library gutted & some valuable losses there but most collections in vaults OK it seems.
Trying to keep this thread as up to date as possible: https://twitter.com/contestedspaces/status/1384752999608852483?s=09