Oregon State's rich botanical and horticultural history is well represented in SCARC's archival, manuscript, rare book, and digital collections. This guide highlights archival and manuscript collections (including photographs and maps); rare books from the 16th to the 21st centuries; and digitized resources such photographs, films, and oral histories available across our different portals. Botany and Horticulture are broadly covered, and some specific subject strengths are explored in more detail. Collection descriptions highlight specific relevant portions of collections, with links to search results. Development of this guide is ongoing as newly processed or updated collections occur. Visit our Guide to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center for more about visiting for research.

Collections listed in this guide are identified by title and collection number, and are described in a brief statement on the relevant contents of the collection. Specific box and folder information has been included as appropriate.

All collections listed in this guide are open for research. Some collections, however, are not yet fully processed, arranged, or described. The titles of these collections have been marked with an asterisk, e.g. Avery Lodge Records, 1966-2014.*

This guide is not intended as a comprehensive review of all of SCARC's rich and diverse collections, content, and formats, but rather as an initial access point for SCARC collections related to broad history of botany and horticulture at Oregon State University and beyond .

At Oregon State University

Horticulture Research Guide by subject librarian Hannah Gascho Rempel
Use this guide for help searching and using books, articles, and other resources for research.

Botany and Plant Pathology Research Guide by subject librarian Hannah Gascho Rempel
Use this guide for help searching and locating Horticulture resources for research.

Oregon Food and Farming Research Guide by Tiah Edmunson-Morton and Anna Dvorak (SCARC)
This rich guide, especially the Home Gardening section, has significant overlap with these topics.

Oregon Hops and Brewing Archive Research Guide by Tiah Edmunson-Morton (SCARC)
This guide details collections covering botanical and horticultural history of hops and other brewing plants. Specifically, see the section on Hops.

Oregon State University History Research Guide by SCARC Staff
This guide can help point to collections that contextualize the larger history of OSU.

Oregon State University Campus Arboretum by Dan Blanchard
Dan has a wealth of knowledge about the horticultural history of Oregon State, and gives regular botanical history tours!

Oregon State University Press
See especially titles in sections on Natural History, Environmental Studies, Forestry and Agriculture, and Pacific Northwest.

Beyond OSU

Plant Humanities Initiative at Dumbarton Oaks
"The emerging, interdisciplinary field of plant humanities seeks to highlight the enduring significance of plants to human cultures. In dialogue with science, it advances the understanding of plant-human relationships through the methods and perspectives of humanities scholarship, to help address pressing human and environmental challenges in the Anthropocene." See especially the fascinating Plant Narratives.

Biodiversity Heritage Library
The vast Biodiversity Heritage Library "improves research methodology by collaboratively making biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community." See especially the blog and featured content sections.

Native American Ethnobotany
"A database of food, drugs, dyes, and fibers of Native American Peoples, derived from plants."

Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation
Hunt Institute specializes in the history of botany and all aspects of plant science and serves the international scientific community through research and documentation. A research division of Carnegie Mellon University.

The Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center (SCARC) maintains and makes available the University's unique collections of manuscripts, archives, photographs, and books. Subject strengths include:

• the historical records of OSU 
• the history of science and technology 
• cultural and ethnic groups in Oregon 
• experiences of LGBTQ+ people within the OSU and Corvallis communities
• hops and brewing in the Northwest 
• natural resources in the Pacific Northwest, especially agriculture and forestry. 

We acknowledge that materials in SCARC collections and the language that describes them may be harmful. We are actively working to address our descriptive practices; for more information please see our SCARC Anti-Racist Actions Statement.

The Special Collections and Archives Research Center public service point is located in the Reading Room on the 5th Floor of the Valley Library at Oregon State University. If you plan to visit us, please check our calendar.

See our Guide to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center for more on how to visit SCARC, find our collections, and research tips.

See our comprehensive Guide to SCARC for more information about visiting!

Your archivists are here to help!

Staff of the library’s Special Collections and Archives Research Center are available for virtual reference consultations. Please email us at scarc@oregonstate.edu if you have questions or would like to set up an appointment.