Institutional Inventories

The archival collections include materials that document the administration and facilities of the various botanical herbaria and institutions. Researchers can consult correspondence, plans and blueprints, accession records, directors' reports, financial records, and photographs. 

Additional materials on the institutional histories can be found in personal papers of herbaria directors and at the Harvard University Archives.

Arnold Arboretum Inventory

The Arnold Arboretum is a living museum in Jamiaca Plain MA that is co-managed by Harvard University and the City of Boston.  Records in this collection include publications and the "Arnold Arboretum Controversy".  Consult the Arnold Arboretum records finding aid.

Other Related Collections:

Administrative Correspondence Collection
Arnold Arboretum Horticulture Library Archives
Harvard University Archives

Botanic Garden Inventory

This collection includes correspondence, financial records, policies, plant information, publications (mostly photocopies of newspaper articles), timelines, and plans related to the Harvard Botanic Garden. The materials are dated from 1784-1987 and only cover a small portion of the history of the Botanic Garden.  Consult the Harvard Botanic Garden finding aid.

Other Related Collections:

Asa Gray correspondence files
Administrative Correspondence Collection
Asa Gray Papers
Jane Gray Papers
Harvard University Archives

Botanical Museum Inventory

The Harvard Botanical Museum records is a wide-ranging collection comprised of materials pertaining to the Museum’s administrative, research, teaching, and public exhibition activities.  Consult the Harvard Botanical Museum records finding aid.

Other Related Collections:

Administrative Correspondence Collection
Harvard University Archives

Botany Libraries Inventory

The Botany Libraries is the administrative unit created in 1988 which manages the five libraries of the Harvard University Herbaria. Those libraries are the combined Arnold Arboretum Main Library and the Library of the Gray Herbarium, the Farlow Reference Library of Cryptogamic Botany, and the Oakes Ames Economic Botany and Orchid Libraries. The Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library in Jamaica Plain works in close cooperation with the Cambridge libraries, but is managed separately.

These papers are the consolidated records of all of the libraries found in the librarians' files and organized by Judith Warnement, the Botany Librarian appointed in September, 1989. Included are annual reports, financial records, lists of items transferred, sold, and/or withdrawn from the collections, and other documentation describing the policies, practices, and issues addressed by the librarians and their colleagues, primarily between the years 1970 through 1989.

Archives Holdings Include:

Administrative Papers
Conservation
Directors Files
Exhibitions
Guest Books
Materials Management
Monthly Budget Statements
Permissions

Other Related Collections:

Harvard University Archives

Bussey Institution Inventory

Archives Holdings Include:

Annual Reports
Building and grounds plans
Correspondence
Photos

Other Related Collections:

Asa Gray correspondence files
Administrative Correspondence Collection
William Gilson Farlow Papers
Harvard University Archives

Economic Botany Inventory

Archives Holdings Include:

Administrative Records
Building plans
Research Records

Other Related Collections:

Asa Gray correspondence files
Administrative Correspondence Collection
The Archives of Rudolf and Leopold Blaschka
Harvard University Archives

Farlow Herbarium Indices and Exsiccatae

This collection contains indices, checklists, exsiccatae, accession lists, and some field notes related to the Farlow Herbarium specimen collections. Some general administrative information on the Farlow Herbarium is also included. Consult the Farlow Reference Library and Herbarium: Indices, Exsiccatae, and Field note collection Finding Aid

Farlow Herbarium of Cryptogamic Botany Inventory

Archives Holdings Include:

Annual Reports
Budgets
Building
Correspondence
Directors
Exhibits
Financial
Funds
Grants
Herbarium Specimen Collections
Library - Accessions Ledgers
Library - Journal Vouchers
Organizations
Personnel files
Publications

Other Related Collections:

Asa Gray correspondence files
Administrative Correspondence Collection
William Gilson Farlow Papers
Harvard University Archives

Friends of the Farlow Papers

The collection consists of two boxes of material pertaining to the planning and administration of the Friends of the Farlow. Both typed and handwritten materials are included, covering the years 1982-1996.  Consult the Friends of the Farlow Papers finding aid.

Gray Herbarium Inventory

This collection contains records and some published material documenting the history of the Gray Herbarium at Harvard University from circa 1805-2010. Records include some herbaria correspondence; budget, finance, and donation reports and receipts; building and equipment expenses; staff and library records; staff expedition expenses; visiting committee records; general history information; Harvard Botanical Club notes; publications; and plant records including accession records and exchanges. Consult the Gray Herbarium institutional records collection Finding Aid

Harvard University Herbaria Inventory

Archives Holdings Include:

Archives
Annual Reports
Awards
Budget
Blueprints and Architectural Drawings
Correspondence
Director's Papers
Emphemera
Grants
Mounted Specimen Labels
Photographs
Personnel
Proposals
Publications
Renovations and Space Planning Studies
Woodlab

Other Related Collections:

Administrative Correspondence Collection
Harvard University Archives

Orchid Herbarium Inventory

Archives Holdings Include:

Correspondence
Memoranda
Orchid Research Assistant
Proposals
Publication Notes
Publication Illustrations
Visitors Log

Other Related Collections:

Administrative Correspondence Collection
Oakes Ames orchid manuscripts
Orchid Library Illustrations
Harvard University Archives