Harvard Forest Archives
Mission statement
For over a century, detailed records for all research and forestry operations on the Harvard Forest properties have been maintained in the form of extensive research files, maps, photographs, and other materials. Since 1988, the Harvard Forest, has begun the process of providing on-line access to many of these resources. The archives consists of:
- Quantitative, cartographic, photographic, and descriptive materials from Harvard Forest 100+-year history of field, laboratory, and controlled experiments;
- Historical and pre-historical records of ecological and cultural change centering on southern New England and the northeastern U.S.;
- 20,000 volumes on the history, ecology, conservation and environment of New England;
- A comprehensive information system of all research over the past 20 years;
- Real-time access to on-going observations and measurements of physical and biological processes in the 1200-ha Harvard Forest field laboratory and classroom.
- Repository for soils, tree cores, leaf litter, and other specimens collected during field research.
- Air photo interpretation and map transfer systems
Personnel
- Julie Pallant - Library and Archive Manager and Web Administrator, Harvard Forest
- Elaine Doughty – Research and Library Assistant, Harvard Forest
- Sheila Connor – Horticultural Research Archivist, Arnold Arboretum Horticultural Library and Harvard Forest Archivist
- Judy Warnement – Director, Harvard Univ. Botany Libraries and Harvard Forest Library
- David Foster - Director and Advisor, Harvard Forest
- Emery Boose - Information Manager and Researcher
The Harvard Forest Committment to Data Archival Preservation
| 1907 | Harvard Forest established with archive in the Athol Bank vault. |
| 1938 | Shaler Hall constructed with fire-proof archive vault. Spatially-explicit reference system for recording data. |
| 1975 | “Digital entry” of the Harvard Forest library, reprint, and archival collections initiated (via punch cards) |
| 1988 | Expansion of New England GIS, historical, and environmental databases with NSF funding and collaboration with public and private agencies and non-profit organizations |
| 1988 | Creation of the Harvard Forest Information Management System |
| 1988 | Consolidation and formal physical curation of the archival collections |
| 2000 | Web development for distribution of data, publications, and educational materials |
| 2000 | Strategic planning, programmatic assessment, and engineering evaluation for Shaler Hall and library renovation and expansion of the HF Archive |
| 2001 | Initiation of virtual field laboratory to provide real-time access to meteorological, hydrological, eddy flux, and other ecological data through wireless and sensornet technologies |
| 2004 | Library curation and addition of holdings to Harvard University’s electronic catalog (HOLLIS) |
| 2007 | Harvard University Library Digital Initiative Grant |
Current Facilities
The Archives include both electronic and physical records.
Physical records are housed in the Harvard Forest Archives, a climate-controlled four-room facility adjacent to Shaler Hall. The Archives holdings include research files, forest inventories, forest stand and plantation records, maps, climate records, student theses and dissertations, photographs, slides, aerial photographs, correspondence, property records, administrative files, course notes, and regional information relevant to research conducted at the Harvard Forest. Specimens such as tree cores, forest soils, and leaf litter are stored separately in the Sample Archive room. The archive facility includes tables and workspace for researchers, flatbed and slide scanners, a photocopier, wireless and wired network access, a zoom transfer scope for map analysis, and an aerial photograph stereoscope for aerial photo interpretation. The Archives are open to anyone with a valid scientific or educational purpose for their use.