Small Collections Grant
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Accessioning and digitization of uncurated historical collections at Hendrix College
USA
Database, Digitally image, Process backlog, Conserve
Cost (USD):
2000
HXC
Hendrix College
Objective:
The Hendrix College Herbarium has approximately 6600 accessions dating back to the 1940s, including bryophytes, lichens, fungi, marine algae, and vascular plants, but lacks funding for collections management or curation. Funds are requested to mount, digitize and properly 300-350 research-grade cryptogamic collections, which are in various stages of disarray, as well as up to 500 tracheophyte collections that are labeled but unmounted. The tracheophytes are primarily unicate collections of local significant from county flora projects done in the 1960s-1980s.
Timetable:
Work would begin as soon as funds are available (ideally spring of 2021) and conclude by Dec. 2021. The project will comprise three phases:
PHASE 1: In the first 1-2 months, we will print new bryophyte labels with updated nomenclature onto archival packets with updated nomenclature, move specimens from deteriorating glassine or wax envelopes, and re-file according to updated taxonomy. Barcodes (already printed) will be added to each sheet and label data added to our internal and regional consortium database (SERNEC).
PHASE 2: The next 2 months will be spent mounting and databasing our backlog of approx. 500 locally significant tracheophyte collections.
PHASE 3: Two day-trips to the herbarium imaging station at the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission herbarium to take digital photos of each of these specimens and link them with the previously databased records. Following imaging, specimens will be frozen and interfiled with the existing collection in standard herbarium cabinets.
Scoring Rubric
Reviewer's name:
Collection Improvement (max. 120 points)
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Facilitating access to the physical collections by digitization (e.g., data entry, setting up database structure with an outline of the platform to be used, purchasing equipment, and imaging specimens) – up to 30 points.
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Enhancing physical collections by improving the conservation status of specimens in the herbarium (e.g., better folders, protecting covers, mounting paper, labeling, etc.) – up to 30 points.
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Curating specimens (e.g., updating families, species identification, identifying types) – up to 20 points.
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Increasing our understanding of the flora or funga by making new herbarium specimens available, such as processing of backlog or collecting and mounting of new specimens from understudied sites – up to 20 points.
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Securing collections by distribution of duplicates (or orphan collections) to other regional or international herbaria or shipping endangered collections to another herbarium – up to 20 points.
This proposal scores:
/120
Methods & Funding (max. 40 points)
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Match between the proposed budget and methods for the aims described – up to 10 points.
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Perceived need, the extent to which the project will benefit from IAPT funding: e.g., due to active floristic work or contribution to poorly collected sites, due to threatened conditions of collections, and for the degree of involvement of others (outreach and education). We give more points for herbaria in low- and middle-income countries – up to 20 points.
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Sharing duplicate specimens with other herbaria – up to 10 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
Broader Impacts (max. 40 points)
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Degree of regional importance of the collection or the taxonomic importance of the targeted collection – up to 10 points.
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The project will yield durable benefits (specimens, digitized metadata, databases, websites) – up to 15 points.
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The project involves outreach/mentoring and broad dissemination – up to 15 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
Plan:
Funding is primarily requested to hire an undergraduate student worker to carry out these tasks under my direct (volunteer) supervision at Hendrix College. Facilities, equipment, and most supplies are already available, but purchasing additional bryophyte packets and mounting supplies are necessary. remaining funds will be used to address a mounting/accessioning backlog of several hundred tracheophytes that date to the 1960s and are currently bundled in newspaper. Most are from various regional (county) flora projects with no known duplicates, including several new county records of rare taxa. A qualified student has already been identified and is willing to begin work immediately, up to 180 hours at $9.50/hr (the standardized wage for student workers, including payroll tax), either 15 hours per week for 11 weeks during the summer, or 5 hours per week for the entire school year.
After specimens are properly curated and databased, we will travel to the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission herbarium in Little Rock, AR to use a designated imaging station (see timetable). This is more cost-effective than purchasing new equipment.
Specifically, the cryptogamic collection includes 157 identified bryophytes, dating to the 1930s, and 171 lichen, macrofungi, macroalgae, collections, and approximately 40 unidentified bryophytes, all with research-grade labels. The unmounted specimens, in newspaper, take up about half of a standard herbarium cabinet, with additional duplicates.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Adam Schneider
Applicant Last Name/s: