Betsy Bang

Her works included Functional Anatomy of the Olfactory System in 23 Orders of Birds, published in 1971.

• Name — Betsy Bang • Birth Name — Betsy Garrett • Born — 1912 • Died — October 31, 2003 • Place of death — Woods Hole, Massachusetts • Occupation — Biologist, scientific/medical illustrator • Spouse — Fred Bang • Children — Caroline (1941–1996), Axel, and Molly • Known for — establishing that birds have a sense of smell

Born in Lancaster, North Carolina, Betsy Garrett was raised in Washington, D.C., enrolled in public schools there and earned her bachelor's degree from George Washington University in 1933. She moved to Baltimore and studied medical illustration at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine with Max Broedel, "the world-renowned medical illustrator who was credited with bringing 'art to medicine'." She took to scientific research in ornithology late in life. Through her detailed dissections, she uncovered the olfactory systems in many bird species.

Her husband, Fred Bang, was appointed the director of the Johns Hopkins Centers for Medical Research Training in India and Bangladesh from 1961 to 1976. While there, Betsy Bang became interested in the culture of the Indian subcontinent and learned to read Bengali. She used her knowledge to translate folk tales, which she published in English. She also researched and wrote widely about Sitala, the Hindu goddess for curing poxes, sores, and diseases.

She met Frederik Bang when she was studying medical illustration at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and he was there as a first year medical student. Interviewed at age 90, she recalled their first encounter In 1940, they married, and eventually he was named chairman of the parasitology department at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene. She created illustrations for some of his medical work and they published several papers together. He died in 1981. The children of Betsy and Fred Bang include Caroline (1941–1996), Axel and Molly, who illustrated her translations of folk tales and is listed as co-author. Betsy Bang moved to Woods Hole, Massachusetts after her husband's death. The Bangs had a long association with the Marine Biological Laboratory there having first arrived in 1952 to conduct research; they returned for many summers thereafter to work. In Woods Hole, Betsy volunteered and conducted tours at the laboratory and helped computerize its vast catalog of books. She also volunteered at the town's public library until she was 90. Betsy Bang died at her home in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, on October 31, 2003, at 91 years of age.