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:

plant collecting and fieldwork in South America medicinal, culinary, or other traditional uses of plants chromosomes and plant classification early herbals and botanical illustrations botanical institutions exchanging plants, seeds, and specimens microscopy and photomicrography in botanical research How did botanists and gardeners introduce plants from one region to another? grafting, budding, and propagation of tropical fruit crops

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 68 · DO #4164 · 182_Goodspeed_Bx1FF2_r

Collection
Thomas Harper Goodspeed (1887–1966) papers
Item/Folder
Angulo–Bardin, 1940–1957
Digital Object
DO #4164, page 68
Collection-level dates
1923–1963
Open PDF at page 68 ↗

Page transcription

T. H. Goodspeed, Ph.D., Doctor (hon.c.), Sc.D. (hon.c.)
Professor of Botany and Director of the Botanical Garden
University of California, Berkeley

South American experience and contacts
1935-36; 1938-39; 1942-43; 1946; 1948; 1952

In South America six times for periods of 3 to 15 months to survey the
character and distribution of the vegetation, principally of Peru,
Chile, Argentina and Colombia but also of Bolivia and Uruguay, and to
cooperate in educational and other programs.

Peru, Chile, Argentina, Colombia

Directed botanical exploration of little known areas leading to
discovery of new species of potential agricultural, industrial
or ornamental value.

As appointee of Committee for Inter-American Artistic and Intellectual
Relations of Co-ordinator of Inter-American Affairs (1922-
23) gave over 100 lectures (in Spanish) before universities,
scientific and other learned societies.

Cooperated and gave technical advice in research proposals in
universities.

Honorary, Associate of Foreign Member: Swedish Royal Academy of
Sciences; Linnean Society of London; Academy of Sciences of Buenos
Aires, Argentine Agronomical Society, Argentine Scientific Society,
Horticultural Society of Buenos Aires, Association Natura of Buenos
Aires, Argentine Anatomical Society; Chilean National Academy of
Sciences, Scientific Society of Valparaiso; Colombian National
Academy of Sciences, Colombian Agricultural Society, Medellin Society
Natural History "Caldas"; Peruvian National Academy of Sciences;
Biological Society of Montevideo. Member: American Society of
Naturalists, American Association Advancement of Science, International
Association Scientific Tobacco Research, Sigma Xi Society.

Peru
For Ministry of Agriculture redesigned and directed development of
a National Botanical Garden, Lima; made Honorary Director of same.
As Honorary Professor, Government College of Agriculture, La Molina,
gave courses of lectures there; also in the University of San Marcos,
Lima.

Chile
For Ministry of Agriculture designed and directed development of a
National Botanical Garden and Agricultural Research Station;
appointed Honorary Director.
Advised former Presidents Rios and Gonzales Videla on conservation
and similar legislation.
Assisted in reorganization of Botanical Section of the National
Museum.
As Visiting Professor gave course of lectures in the University of
Chile and in Catholic universities.
Decorated -- Orden Merito "Bernardo O'Higgins," Commander.