Caroline Dormon

Caroline Dormon. . , The botanist, artist, author, conservator, and pioneer, Caroline Dormon, was born at Briarwood in Saline, Louisiana on July 19, 1888. Established by Dormon's grandparents, Harietta and Benjamin Sweat, in 1859. Briarwood was originally a cotton plantation. In 1921, she became the first woman employed by the U.S. Forestry Department and she took a major part in establishing Kisatchie National Forest in 1930. Dormon researched and studied a variety of native trees., President Roosevelt appointed Dormon as the La. representative on the Desoto Commission in 1936; she was the only woman to serve on the board. Dormon wrote several publications about wildlife and the environment. She conserved La. wildflowers for landscaping and on highways. Dormon was awarded with an honorary doctorate from LSU in 1965 for her work in botany and horticulture. Caroline Dormon passed away on November 23, 1971 and was buried at Briarwood Baptist Cemetery.