Harvard Forest researchers have been collecting and maintaining extensive records of their research and of forestry operations since the establishment of the Harvard Forest in 1907. These materials are permanently housed in the Archives building, which is located directly behind the main headquarters building. The Archives consists of five main collections: Research Files (original research data and notes, publications and theses), Maps (local and regional), Visual Materials (photographs and slides), Research Samples (soils, leaf litter, pollen, tree cores, etc.), and Administrative Materials (correspondence and other documents related to management of the Forest and its properties). Learn about the history of the Harvard Forest Archives here.
Materials in the Harvard Forest Archives are available by permission to anyone with a valid scientific or educational purpose. Please contact the archivist at hflib@fas.harvard.edu for information.
Research Files
The research collection includes original research data and notes, publications and theses, comprehensive forestry and vegetation records of all Harvard Forest properties from 1907 to the present, and regional records such as historical soil and forest surveys and census data. These documents are permanently housed in the Archives. Parts of this collection have been scanned and are available digitally as downloadable files linked within the catalog record.
Scientific data collected by scientists working at Harvard Forest are available in the Harvard Forest Data Archive, which provides direct links to data and metadata for each project.
Maps
The map collection includes maps created by professional surveyors and Harvard Forest students of all Harvard Forest properties since 1907; local maps; atlases and historical maps; topographic maps; and building plans and maps created for research projects.
Much of Harvard Forest’s map collection is available online, thanks to a collaboration with Digital Commonwealth.
Historic GIS data for Harvard Forest properties since 1908, based on maps found in the Archives, is available for download.
Visual Materials
The image collection includes historical (late 1800s to late 1900s) and modern (from late 1900s to present) photographs and negatives taken primarily by Harvard Forest staff and researchers; research-related and Harvard Forest-area aerial photographs; scrapbooks and photograph albums; glass lantern slides; 35mm slides; and movie reels, VHS tapes, audio tapes and DVDs.
Some of Harvard Forest’s vast collection of photographs, negatives and slides have been digitized, or were created digitally, and can be found in an online digital image archive.
Research Samples
The Sample Archives contains soil, leaf litter, pollen, tree core and other specimens collected by Harvard Forest and affiliated researchers. Most of the samples were collected on Harvard Forest tracts; some were collected off-site. For more information, visit the Sample Archives page.
Administrative Materials
The Administrative Materials collection contains correspondence, files related to the management of the Harvard Forest, and files related to Harvard Forest properties. Access to some of these records may be restricted due to privacy policies.