Browsing Over a Century of Museum Popular Publications in the Library’s Digital Repository

by Mai Reitmeyer on

Gottesman Research Library News

In 2012, through a grant funded by IMLS, LSTA and METRO, the Library was able to digitize almost 400 individual AMNH publications. These items were scanned and made available through their portal by the Internet Archive.  However, because current circumstances dictate that we work remotely, we now finally have the time to begin adding these to our own Digital Repository; a process that involves downloading, in many cases re-formatting, and finally copy-cataloging each item individually. These publications, which span much of the Museum’s history from the late 19th century, provide a wealth of information about the Museum’s history as related to research, exhibition and education.

One publication series that I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight is the Guide Leaflet, continuously published from 1901 through 1943. The Guide Leaflets were issued as a supplement to the American Museum Journal, the Museum’s popular publication and predecessor to Natural History Magazine and then as a supplement of Natural History Magazine itself. The Guide leaflets provide a detailed look at specific Museum exhibits, or research topics. The first of these publications, was prepared by Frank M. Chapman in 1901 and included a twenty-four page description of the Bird Rock Group, a diorama depicting several kinds of sea birds from the Bird Rock Islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which opened in that same year. According to the 1901 Annual Report, “this [leaflet] has proved to be of great interest and value to visitors."

Historical photograph of a Museum diorama featuring a grass-topped rock formation with several kinds of sea birds (about fifty total) perched on rock.
The Bird Rock Group exhibit, from the 1901 Hall Guide by Frank Chapman - AMNH Library, Image no. 341
Keller, E. F. (photographer)

Although some of these publications may seem out of date, the publications can provide useful historical information not only for historians but for conservators and other museum professionals.  For example, the following two publications detail the Museum techniques for modeling artificial flowers: Plant forms in wax : some methods employed in the Department of Preparation and Installation of the American Museum of Natural History. (Guide leaflet, no. 34) and Plants of wax. (Guide leaflet, no. 54).  These artificial flowers can still be found in many of the Museum’s dioramas today. Knowing how these plants were made allows conservators to maintain and preserve our iconic dioramas, such as those in the Akeley Hall of African Mammals.

A page from Guide leaflet 54, illustrating the dies used in making flowers.
A page from Guide leaflet 54, illustrating the dies used in making flowers. Some of these dies may be found in the Library’s archives.

The other publications that have been added thus far have been organized into various collections in our Digital Repository.

  • Education publications –Historical publications highlighting the Museum’s educational mission and programs.
  • Grapevine – An employee newsletter that spanned from 1937-1992. Includes a breadth of information on Museum staff and a look at the Museum “behind the scenes."
  • Hall Guides – Spanning 1900-2004, the Museum Hall Guides illustrate how the Museum has evolved over the last century.
  • Nature and Science – A historic publication for young audiences that explains scientific concepts and offers instructions for hands-on activities and experiments.
  • Rotunda - The Museum's current newsletter, available from 1977’s first issue to the latest, contains information on exhibitions and programs.
  • Science Guides, Guide Leaflets and Handbooks – Spanning over 75 years, these publications provide an in-depth look at Museum topics including research, exhibitions, artifacts and specimens. 
  • Other Museum Publications – Miscellaneous publications related to the Museum’s history and its development.
We encourage you to browse our collections to see what you can discover in this treasure trove of historical popular and educational publications. Cover Plants of Wax, Guide Leaflet Series, number 54 published by AMNH in February 1922

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This is the third post in a series about how the Library's staff is working remotely and enriching its digital collections to enhance access to researchers and the public during the Covid-19 pandemic. This entry was written by Mai Reitmeyer, Senior Reference Librarian.