Date of birth: 22 February 1868
Date of death: 1954
Website:

*The “forever educator, lecturer, and naturalist of Maine.”*

Miss Nelson was born on February 22, 1868 in [Livermore][1], [Maine][2], U.S.A. She was the daughter of Samuel A. Nelson and Ellen Alden Nelson, and granddaughter of Deacon Alexander Nelson who built the famous Stone House in the same town she grew up in.

She was educated at the Coburn Classical Institute in [Waterville][3], where she taught for many years. For another 23 years she taught Latin in Atlantic City, New Jersey, High School. She also taught at the Livermore school house (later the "Livermore Public Library.") in the summer for $7.00 a week with up to as many as 42 students! (I have been in the library and even have a library card for it, that library is small! I can't imagine 42 kids in that one room!) According to the Superintending School Committee of the Town of Livermore, (1892) they describe Miss Nelson's work/teaching skills in these words:

"The work preformed in this school was highly creditable to the teachers skill and the industry of the pupils. Miss Nelson is a good scholar, possesses a general manner, and is a excellent instructor."

Other later comments of Miss Nelson as she later changed from the school teacher to the librarian of the building are:

"This library is reported as "going forward by leaps and bounds-not yet a year old-and has 700 volumes, all gifts from the Livermoreans, and a fund of several hundred dollars! Miss Florence Nelson (the librarian) is responsible for all the good work."

She wrote this book, *Lest We Forget*, basically telling how [New England][4] was like while she was a child and into her young womanhood.

She became famous in Livermore and all over Maine when she displayed her lifelong hobby of collecting natural artifacts. Her hobby, which grew into over 100 different types of artifacts, was put on display in her home making it into a mini museum! She called her museum the “Quaissa.” (Or possibly the “Qnaissa.”) This was later all over the Sun Journal newspapers.

Another of her favorite hobbies was traveling. She traveled throughout Europe, the Holy Land, upper Egypt, and all over the U.S. She was a member of various clubs including: the Baptist Church, Stanton Bird Club, Josselyn Botanical Society of Maine, Turner Center Natural History Club, and Maine's Writers Research Club!

She died at 85 years old in 1954 at her winter home in Waterville after several weeks of illness. (Illness was not specified.) R. I. P. Always be remembered.

References:
" Devoted to the Maine Farm and Deacon Alexander Nelson Built the Famous Stone House in Livermore" Lewiston Journal Illustrated Magazine, Saturday, Sept. 14, 1940.
"Letter's From Manywings Florida Sanctuary" (1942 newspaper clipping)
" Livermore Woman Maintains 97 Different Collections In Her Home!" Lewiston Journal Magazine October 8, 1949.
“Past Views of Livermore, Maine 1795-1995.”
Miss Florence Nelson Obituary.


[1]: http://openlibrary.org/subjects/place:livermore_%28me.%29
[2]: http://openlibrary.org/subjects/place:maine
[3]: http://openlibrary.org/subjects/place:waterville
[4]: http://openlibrary.org/subjects/place:new_england

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