Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation
A Research Division of Carnegie Mellon University

Hunt Institute Archives Text Discovery Platform

Search a large and growing portion of our online collections, including handwritten documents.
PROTOTYPE

This prototype uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, including a vision-language model (VLM) capable of reading handwritten documents as well as typed and printed text, to create searchable transcriptions of digitized materials in the Hunt Institute Archives. This makes it possible to search the textual contents of individual pages, including material that may not be described in the archival catalog.

Use Keyword search for specific words, names, dates, scientific names, or phrases. Try Semantic search (experimental) to describe a topic, question, or kind of material when you do not know the exact wording used in the documents.

About the AI-generated transcriptions

The transcriptions are generated automatically from page images and may contain errors, especially with difficult handwriting, unusual names, multiple languages, image-quality problems, or complex layouts. They are intended primarily as a discovery aid rather than authoritative transcriptions.

Each result provides the generated transcription and links to the original digitized material and associated archival description so that readings can be checked against the source. The transcription workflow uses AI models run locally by the Hunt Institute.

About Keyword and Semantic search

Keyword search is the default and matches the wording in the transcriptions. Results contain all your terms. Use quotes for an exact phrase. Substring matching is supported, so aceae can find plant-family names ending in -aceae.

Semantic search (experimental) is useful when you know what kind of material you are looking for but do not know the words used in the documents. It ranks transcribed passages by similarity of meaning, so relevant results may not contain the exact words in your query.

Semantic queries can be broad research topics, descriptions of activities or relationships, or natural-language questions. For example:

Semantic search is not a chatbot: a question is used as a search query, and the system returns archival passages that appear conceptually related to it rather than generating an answer or summary. Short descriptions and ordinary research questions generally work better than lists of disconnected keywords. Quotation marks have no special meaning in Semantic mode. Cross-language matching may work in some cases, but it should not be treated as translation.

Keyword and Semantic search are complementary. Keyword search lets you require particular wording; Semantic search can surface differently worded passages about the same subject. Depending on the research question, trying both can reveal different useful material.

Open a result: use the prominent page-and-transcription link to see the metadata, PDF, and full transcription. Keyword-search terms are highlighted in the transcription.

Archives Collections Database (ArchivesSpace): the Collection, Item/Folder, and Digital Object links open the corresponding archival records. Collection-level dates describe the collection as a whole, not necessarily the specific item or page.

If a PDF does not load: on the detail page, use the Digital Object link, click “Go to file” in ArchivesSpace, and navigate to the page number shown here.

Current limitations
  • Automated transcriptions can contain missing or incorrect text or unintended repetition. Difficult handwriting, image quality, unusual layouts, and multiple languages can reduce accuracy. Always consult the original page image when an exact reading matters.
  • Semantic search remains experimental. Its rankings are an additional discovery aid, not a complete or definitive set of relevant results, and highly ranked pages can sometimes be only broadly related.
  • This is an active prototype. Search coverage, transcriptions, functionality, and the interface may continue to change as additional archival material is processed and the system is improved.

← Back to results

Page 122 · DO #1190 · 39_Burgess_Bx1LectureNotebookr

Collection
Edward Sandford Burgess (1855–1928) papers
Item/Folder
Notebook, "Lectures on Botany", Undated
Digital Object
DO #1190, page 122
Collection-level dates
1889–1895, n.d.
Open PDF at page 122 ↗

Page transcription

MENTHA L. MINT All-Star; Here Are for you, Hot lavender fillats, Jersey, Maryjanes, Herbs, 1924-2
M. viridis, MINT, SPEAR-MINT, used as a sauce, x as aromatic condiment, in form of spearmint and
Spearmint Water Rhind 492
M. piperita PEPPERMINT most useful by, an aromatic stimulant, most pleasant of all the Mints in medicine used in
infusions only to expel flatulence, to cover the unpleasant taste of medicines, to relieve nausea & pains of abdomen canal,
while it is thin as an anticholerae, it flavors kilograpes. Rhind 492
M. citrata, oil extremely balsamic, in much the odor of oil of Bergamot
M. pulegium, M. aquatica, M. arvensis have similar qualities to Mints,
M. dolichia L. PENNYROYAL Rhind 482
HEDERA H. pulpoides, the commonest of them, hospital popular as convolvulus.
CUNILA C.Micrantha, DIMPANY, beneficially used in internal fevers, colds, to excite perspiration,
MARIGUBUM, M. vulgare, HORSEMINT, popular remedy for coughs in infusion or bitter sweet tincture, usually
more serviceable, resting time stomachache, subduing irritation when a remedy fails, as Camilia microphylla
Rhind 528
NEPETA N. Gladiolus, GROUND IVY, largely used by country people as a general remedy in dyspepsia.
N. Cataria, CATMINT, CAMEE, used to make Catmint Tea, famed as a feline apothecaries.
GALIOPSIS A ocreacea a pectoral medic
HELLEBAEA Arch M officinalis, BALM, a pectoral remedy, towards Mints AC52; Efficac22
M. Celosanatha, CALAMINT,
LEONURUS L. Cardica
SCANDULA L. O tebriques of Stewaleme, a debruge,
BASIL, man's sp eto Rhind 493
BRUNELLA 493 & vulgaris, SELF-HEAL, a herbicide,
LICEPOUS L. In Europe, a febrifuge, also yields a red dye by which pygees are colored to their faces
MONARDA L., except US being as more of its use known, the tea are in Mexico, Stephania is near it, no me alliegeement the
Excessive use here the steep, a container, oil in small tables, Dr Nicolas Hernandez 1687 but at Seville 1578, an oil + roots in medical
use could be got at New York, Rhind 493, Rhind 493
MORANDA L. In America, a forget-me-not, a febrifuge
M. punctata, yields (do Sage, Lavender, Savory, Hyssop) a stearpentive used Convulvus
M. didyma L., bred by Delaplane, 20 037820 000, so called Red-flush, in a pot, it has small white heads of the flower, being
red, u. by the OREGANEO "Flowers Flower", An old book, written says "The Oregano is certainly a very excellent plant in verdure, but the
scour of the luz is very relively a vegetable, except perhaps from very fond of the tea and the eye too". American poets listed it in
Song called it "Oregano", used by Peter Wilson (1747) held 100. Valight to culti, see its some leaves, in every what
a vase, Medicinal call to be cure colds in winter, the African, medicinal, being one thereby incense, but ped, be not get short up,
gets live prolonged. Janet Nye, date 16 in the, the seeds, and keeps in Algarve in Portugal can be a valuable.
ORGANUM O Dictionary DIARY OF CRETE, a herbicide
MARKORAND; the u. didyma confuses the genus by Mabirn,
Rhind 493
ROSEMARINUS R officinalis, ROSEMARY furnishes both the cough-like hemoptysis. Of great
repute, a strip decocted of box used to dry the heat of skin in erysip, used to headache & excoriating
vigorously, would be wanted me to except from the how cure baldness, it is what causes the red
color of almost punctures so used, an infusion of it prevents hair to uncurl in deep viole; it is one of
the pies (volunteer) used in only Celeste crates, & Hungary crates (the Ex Vinayre aux Loebert)
The advanced flavor of Narbonne honey is so due to bees feeding on flees of it.
Blanc 200-203 Sengt 493 Rhind 493