Classroom Notes and Illustrations
As a trained botanist and illustrator, Orra took a very active role in Edward's work as an instructor. She constructed a number of charts, diagrams, and illustrations to accompany his lectures during his career as a professor of Natural Sciences at Amherst. Her works were crafted on large sheets of linen using inks of varied colors. Edward was a very accomplished scientist in his own right, and his presence as both a President and instructor had lasting effects on the College's structure and academic standards.
While there is no evidence to suggest that the above illustrations were paired with the above notes, the selected works give a pretty good idea of what Edward's classroom would look like. It is important to note that the selected notes are not reproduced in their entirety, and that he often had pages worth of lecture notes to teach from. Accordingly, Orra's illustrations probably served as an educational way to break up the monotony of lecture text.