Vera Katherine Charles was an American mycologist. She was one of the first women to be appointed to professional positions within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Charles coauthored several articles on mushrooms while working for the USDA.
During her early career as a mycologist, Charles often worked with Flora Wambaugh Patterson, the first female mycologist in the USDA. During the 1910s and 1920s, they published many coauthored papers. These papers were held in high regard by Charles' and Patterson's contemporaries. This partnership continued until Patterson's death in 1928. Charles was responsible for inspecting many imported plants prior to the Plant Quarantine Act, enacted in 1912. Through inspecting these plants for signs of disease, Charles and her lab were the first to report and categorize potato wart disease. Charles and Patterson became primarily responsible for fungus research with the Pathological Collections after the organization of Plant Disease Survey in 1917. Charles also conducted research and publish articles on the fungal pathogens that North American insects face. Her knowledge of agarics, specifically the identification of edible and poisonous fungi, meant that for many years she was the government expert. Her Some common mushrooms and how to know them published in 1931 and twice revised was still among the most frequently requested publications from the US Department of Agriculture in the mid-1950s. In 1931 she published Introduction to Mushroom Hunting. In addition, she contributed a chapter to a 1935 book on careers for women. Her chapter was entitled "The Mycologist." Even after retiring on 30 June 1942, Charles collaborated with other mycologists. However, eventually Charles' eyesight weakened to the point that she could no longer use a microscope but she continued writing. During her career she was author or co-author of over 37 books and scientific papers, as well as assisting other mycologists with descriptions of new species.
Selected publications
Charles VK. "Occurrence of Lasiodiplodia on Theobroma cacao and Mangifera indica". The Journal of Mycology, Vol. 12, No. 4 , pp. 145–146
Charles VK. "A fungus on lace bugs" Mycologia, Vol. 29, No. 2 , pp. 216–221
Charles VK. "An entomogenous fungus on spider mites on water Hyacinth" Mycologia, Vol. 32, No. 4 , pp. 537–540
Charles VK. "A fungous disease of codling moth larvae" Mycologia, Vol. 33, No. 4 , pp. 344–349
Charles VK. "Mushroom poisoning caused by Lactaria glaucescens" Mycologia, Vol. 34, No. 1 , pp. 112–113
