User:Nicolezoeedel/Ellen Trueblood

Ellen Trueblood (August 1, 1911- May 17, 1994) was an environmental activist, mycologist and journalist who discovered over 20 new species of fungi and assembled over 6500 collections of mushrooms. Her fieldwork contributed articles to both local and professional journals and newspapers, including Caldwell News Tribune, the Boise Capital News, and the Nampa Free Press.

Early Life and Education
Ellen Trueblood was born on August 1, 1911 in Boise, Idaho to Carl Cyrus Hinkson and Rosa Blunk Hinkson. Trueblood attended Boise High School and wrote for the student newspaper, “The Pepper Box.”

Career and Publications
Following her high school graduation, Trueblood married R. Lynn Michaelson, whose father was an owner of the "News Tribune" in Caldwell, Idaho. Trueblood began working at the “New Tribune” as a reporter and gave birth to a daughter, Mary Ellen Michaelson. Michaelson and Trueblood later divorced and Trueblood began working at “Capital News” in Boise, the city’s evening newspaper. In 1936, while working at “Capital News”, she met her late husband, Ted Trueblood, whom she shared a mutual love of nature with. Ted Trueblood left “Capital News” to work for a paper in Salt Lake City, Utah and Ellen Trueblood began reporting and editing for the “Free Press” in Nampa, Idaho. The two were married on July 6, 1939 after Ted Trueblood’s return, and left for a four month honeymoon camping throughout Idaho. Trueblood documented her observations of the Idaho wilderness and sent them back to be published in the “Free Press.”

Trueblood began studying fungi and mushrooms in the late 1950’s. She studied under Alexander H. Smith, a nationally prominent mycologist, soon becoming one of the leading authorities of mycology in the Pacific Northwest. Trueblood gathered over 6,500 collections of mushrooms over 30 years, and discovered 20 new species of fungi. Hygrophorus ellenae and rhizopogon ellenae, two species of fungi, were named in her honor.

Trueblood joined the North American Mycological Association in 1960 and served as the vice president. The North American Mycological Association gave her an award for “Contributions to Amateur Mycology” in 1982. In 1975, she founded the Southern Idaho Mycological Association and was awarded in 1984 for “Years of Outstanding Contributions to the Mycology of Idaho.” In the 1970's, Trueblood assisted the Smith Kline & French Laboratories in Philadelphia with searching for and documenting chemotherapeutic agents by fostering fungi.

Death
Trueblood died in a Seattle care center on May 17, 1994 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Following her death, her documented fieldwork was given to Boise State University and her remaining mushroom collections were donated to the University of Michigan Herbarium.