Biographical entry Erickson, Frederica Lucy (Rica) (1908 - 2009)

Summary

Rica Erickson gained renown as a naturalist, botanical artist, historian, author and genealogist and was awarded many honours. In 1980 she was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters for her work in the fields of Literature and Botany, and in the same year was WA Citizen of the Year for outstanding service to the Arts, Culture and Entertainment. She became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1987 for her services to the Arts particularly as an author and illustrator. The Department of Conservation and Land Management named a bush reserve after her (1996), and a commemorative plaque was laid in her honour in St Georges Terrace, Perth (1999). Throughout her life and career her work was strongly linked to the development of the collections at the J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History.

Details

Events

1926

Career position - Monitor and Teacher at Kendenup School in Western Australia

1927 - 1928

Education - Student at Claremont Teachers' College

1928 - 1934

Career position - Teacher at Aurora School then Youngs Siding in Western Australia

1934 - 1936

Career position - Teacher in Bolgart

1951

Career position - Orchids of the West - her first self-illustrated book published

1979

Career position - The Dictionary of Western Australians 1829-1914 published

1980

Education - Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon Dlitt) received from the University of Western Australia

1987

Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

1996

Award - Rica Erickson Nature Reserve named in her honour by the Department of Conservation and Land Management

Archival resources

J S Battye Library of West Australian History (Battye Library), State Library of Western Australia

• The Rica Erickson archives, http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/erickson/pages/foreword.html; J S Battye Library of West Australian History (Battye Library), State Library of Western Australia. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Erickson, Rica, 'Drummond, James (1784-1863), botanist and plant collector', in Douglas Pike (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 1, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1966, pp. 325-326. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010309b.htm. Details
• Erickson, Rica, 'Georgiana Molloy (1803-1843) botanist', in Heather Radi (ed.), 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology, Women's Redress Press Inc, Sydney, 1988. Details

Online Resources

• Rica Erickson AM Hon Dlitt Cit WA FRWAMS, 2001, http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/erickson/. Details
• National Library of Australia, 'Erickson, Rica', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-465217. Details