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 60 · DO #4184 · 182_Goodspeed_Bx1FF22_r

Collection
Thomas Harper Goodspeed (1887–1966) papers
Item/Folder
Just–Kerr, 1941–1959
Digital Object
DO #4184, page 60
Collection-level dates
1923–1963
Open PDF at page 60 ↗

Page transcription

other articles in preparation including one on a new species which, with your
permission, he wishes to name in your honor - Copiapoa kendrickiana. Enclosed
are photographs of this plant and of the terrain near Talca where it was
discovered. In addition to Cacti a variety of other types of plants of scientific
and also of potential ornamental value were obtained.

An area in southern Chile never before explored botanically was shown to be of
exprme importance scientifically and otherwise. This is the Sierra Nahuelbuta,
Prov. Malleco, somewhat west of Aggol. It consists of rugged coast range
terrain
on which are groves of the famous "Chilean Pine" (Araucaria araucana) otherwise
confined to a relatively small region in the Andes of southern Chile and
Argentina. The forest contains remarkable remnants of a previously existing
antarctic flora not to be seen elsewhere above a point 600 miles south. During
the parts of three days spent in Sierra Nahuelbuta many new or little known
species were seen, including a number of importance as ornamentals for California.

Because of a recent illness I was unable to engage in the collecting referred to
above. It was carried on, at my direction, by Mr. Hutchison and local assistants.
My three months (January to March 1952) in Chile were primarily devoted to
assisting the Ministerio de Agricultura in development of a Jardin Botanico
Nacional and agricultural research station near Vina del Mar, with my headquarters
in Valparaiso. I also cooperated with the local FAO and Point 4 officers and
with private individuals in a variety of ways. At the request of the then
President of Chile, I spent some time in La Serana and prepared for him a report
on the forestal potential of that region. At the invitation of universities and
scientific and other societies I gave 15 lectures on botanical topics in
Santiago and Valparaiso.

It is clear that this South American expedition for which you were in large part
responsible, although of relatively brief duration and somewhat confined in
extent of territory explored, made a distinct contribution to knowledge of the
vegetation of the other America. We were able to supply a variety of data of
basic importance to the development of Chilean agriculture in return for the
many governmental courtesies which we received. These data plus the cooperation
which I personally was responsible for made another, is small, contribution to
mutual understanding and goodwill between the Americas. A certain proportion of
the new or little known plants obtained will in the future enrich the ornamental
horticulture of California and profit the seedsmen and nurserymen of the state.

I hope that in the future it may be possible to go again to Chile and Peru. In
Chile I want very much to explore the Sierra Nahuelbuta referred to above and
other botanically unknown portions of the coastal mountains south to Valdivia and
also the northern coast from Talca to the Peruvian border not reached 1951-52.
In Peru it would be important to explore thoroughly the coast and Andean foothills
from Lima to the Chilean frontier. Thus, knowledge of the coastal vegetation of
Western South America over some 30° of south latitude would be gained, a project
never before attempted.

Separately I am sending a Peruvian example of Spanish Colonial religious art
which you and Mrs. Kendrick might like to have.

With renewed thanks for your interest and generous support and with all good
wishes

Cordially,

THG:T