Deborah Passmore
Deborah Griscom Passmore (1840-1911) was an artist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Division of Pomology for nineteen years. While her work for USDA focused on fruits, she was also a skilled painter of flowers and cacti.
Deborah G. Passmore was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, on July 17, 1840, to Everett Griscom Passmore (1787-1868) and Elizabeth K. Knight (c.1800-1845). She carried the name of her paternal grandmother, Deborah Griscom (b.1758), who was a first cousin to Betsy Ross (Elizabeth Griscom, 1752-1836). Deborah G. Passmore was raised and educated within the Orthodox Quaker community, before continuing her art education in Philadelphia. She was a student of the School of Design and the Academy of Fine Arts there, and studied under several famous artists, including Thomas Moran.
After working for several years as a teacher in Philadelphia, Passmore relocated to Washington, D.C., and accepted an appointment with USDA in 1892. Many of her works for USDA may be found in agency reports and publications, such as USDA Bulletin No. 7, Fruit Industry. Additional print images of Passmore’s pomological works may be found in the Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture, 1902-1911, accompanying the annual article by William A. Taylor entitled “Promising New Fruits.” Passmore also maintained an independent studio and taught art in Washington, D.C.
Deborah G. Passmore died in her home on January 3, 1911.