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 19 · DO #4931 · 231_Rogers_Bx9FF13_r

Collection
David James Rogers (1918–2007) papers
Item/Folder
Manihot - "Specimens on Loan" Correspondence, 1964–1971
Digital Object
DO #4931, page 19
Collection-level dates
1948–1977
Open PDF at page 19 ↗

Page transcription

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW
REGULATIONS GOVERNING
LOANS FROM THE HERBARIUM

1. Specimens may be sent on loan to the head of an approved botanical establishment.
2. Requests for loans must be made to the Director by the head of a recognised botanical establishment, who will be expected to accept responsibility for the safe custody and return of the specimens.
3. Requests for loans should state the names of the workers on whose behalf they are made, together with the scope of the work contemplated.
4. Wherever possible, specimens required should be listed individually, to show (a) country of origin, (b) collector's name, (c) collection number.
5. Material preserved in liquid will be sent on loan only in exceptional circumstances; alternatively, reports of critical examinations of such material may be sent.
6. Specimens are normally sent on loan for a period of three to six months. It is requested, however, that loans be returned at the earliest opportunity, carefully packed to avoid damage in transit.
7. Specimens must not be removed from the establishment to which they were consigned.
8. Except during actual examination, type and other important specimens should remain in their red-bordered covers. Sheets must not be bent, folded or laid face downwards.
9. The dissection of portions of specimens is normally permitted. All dissected portions, including micro-preparations, must be placed in a suitable envelope attached to the herbarium sheet concerned.
10. If specimens be photographed, it is requested that a very small label, indicating the location and identification marks of the negative, be attached to the sheet.
11. Determinavit or Confirmavit slips, showing determination, signature and date, either printed or legibly written in ink, should be attached to every sheet before return to Kew. Relevant comments on such slips, in addition to the name of the plant, are welcomed, but colloquialisms such as "O.K." should be avoided. When specimens of more than one taxon or collection are mounted on one sheet, separate slips should be provided. Except for the distinction of the various elements of such mixtures, no marks should be made on the sheets and existing labels, notes, etc., must not be removed, covered or in any way defaced. Ball-point pens should not be used for annotations.
12. Under no circumstances should self-adhesive cellulose tape be used on any herbarium sheet.