Mathilde Hertz’s bibliography spans 15 years and includes 32 publications. A pioneer in the field of comparative psychology, Hertz studied a wide range of animal species—from hermit crabs to ravens, and most notably bees. Informed by principles of Gestalt psychology, she conducted numerous experiments on animal sensation and perception. Her work significantly shaped the early development of ethology and animal psychology. Despite this, she remains an often-overlooked figure in her field. Drawing on the titles of her articles as well as her own designs, this website serves as a visual guide to her work—a self-initiated design project created in the hope of sparking curiosity and shedding some light on the figure of Mathilde Hertz.
Scroll to view the full timeline
Click on the bars to see an event
Hover on the bars to see an event
January 14, 1891 - Mathilde Carmen Hertz is born in Bonn, the younger of two daughters of the physicist Heinrich Hertz and Elisabeth Hertz.
1894 - Heinrich Hertz dies in Bonn, aged 36.
After graduating from high school, Mathilde Hertz takes up art studies. Between 1910 and 1915 she studies in Weimar, Karlsruhe, and Berlin before begining a career as a sculptor.
1918 - In order to support herself financially, she takes up a position at the library of the German Museum (Bibliothek des Deutschen Museums) in Munich. Her duties consists of drawing and sculpting plastic reconstructions of fossilised teeth for the zoological collection.
1921 - She enrolls at the University of Munich, after her skills are noticed by Ludwig Döderlein (1855-1936), then director of the zoological collection at the University.
1925 - Completed her doctoral degree under the supervision of Richard von Hertwig (1850-1937) with a dissertation about observations of primitive mammal teeth.
1926 - She is granted a scholarship at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology in Munich.
1927 - Moves to Berlin where she obtains a position as a researcher at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology in the Department for Genetics and Biology of Animals under the direction of Richard Goldschmidt (1878-1958).
1929 - Completes her Habilitation [post-doctoral thesis] on the organisation of the optical field in honeybees. She receives a permanent position at the institute.
1930 - She receives authorization to teach zoology at the Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Berlin. In addition to working as a senior lecturer she continues her research work at the Kaiser Wilhelm Insitute.
Between 1930 and 1933, she gives various lectures, publishes scientific articles, supervises staff members and doctoral researchers at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute, and is invited to give lectures and undertake research stays abroad.
1932/33 - Spends the winter studying hermit crabs at the Laboratorio Biológico-Marino in Majorca.
September 2, 1933 -Her authorisation to teach and work is revoked after the implemantation of the “Law for the Restoration of Professional Civil Service” passed by the Nazi regime on the 7th of April of the same year.
January 3, 1934 - After intervention efforts by Max Planck (1858-1947), then president of the Kaiser-Wilhelm Society, she is given permission to continue working at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Biology.
Janurary 1936 - Mathilde Hertz emigrates to England where she continues her work at Cambridge University in the Zoology Department. Her mother and older sister follow her shortly after.
1938 - Publishes her last article in German concerning optical experiments with bees.
December 1941 - Her mother Elisabeth Hertz dies.
1942 - Declares she is too sick to continue working.
1947 - Her sister Johanna Hertz is recovered at the Fullbourne Mental Hospital in Cambridgeshire.
1956 - Recieves a visit from Max von Laue (1879-1960) at her home in Griton, Cambridge. He reports that she is living in complete seclusion in two little rooms, and that she is almost blind in one eye. He describes her as being too proud to accept any money simply because she is Heinrich Hertz’ daughter.
1967 - Johanna Hertz dies.
20 November 1975 - Mathilde Hertz dies in relative poverty at her home in Griton, at the age of 84.
A BIBILOGRAPHY OF MATHILDE HERTZ
Mathilde Hertz’s bibliography spans 15 years and includes 32 publications. A pioneer in the field of comparative psychology, Hertz studied a wide range of animal species—from hermit crabs to ravens, and most notably bees. Informed by principles of Gestalt psychology, she conducted numerous experiments on animal sensation and perception. Her work significantly shaped the early development of ethology and animal psychology. Despite this, she remains an often-overlooked figure in her field. Drawing on the titles of her articles as well as her own designs, this website serves as a visual guide to her work—a self-initiated design project created in the hope of sparking curiosity and shedding some light on the figure of Mathilde Hertz.
[TIMELINE]