A talented woman making it big in a man's world
A female who was the first professional woman employed by an Australian Museum and arguably the best in her field is lying under a headstone that doesn't bear her name. Forgotten no more.. JANE CATHERINE TOST Jane was born in 1817 (believed to be in London England) to John Ward, a bird breeder, and his wife, Catherine. Her parents not only bred birds but also stuffed them for gentlemen collectors and had been carrying out this activity since the early 1800's. Jane and her siblings learnt the trade first hand and later the siblings were working in the Gould's taxidermy shop in London. On 1 April 1839, Jane married Charles Gottleibe Tost, a native of Prussia and a piano-forte maker; they were to go on to have six children. The workload at Gould's became so large that Jane was taken on in a greater role and during the 1840's -1850's under Gould's direction she was employed at the British Museum, preparing specimens. Although taxidermy had been practised fro...