The Orchid Herbarium today has nearly 130,000 specimens — 

 this number includes approximately 25,000 specimens on per- 

 manent loan from the joint herbaria of the Arnold Arboretum 

 and the Gray Herbarium — and a working library of some 5,000 

 titles, as well as a collection of over 25,000 glycerine slides of 

 dissected flowers. Moreover, it possesses a unique filing system 

 of some 150,000 cards, recording every described orchid name, 

 whether at the specific or infraspecific level. 



The collection itself contains over 10,000 type specimens or 

 type collections of species described by Allen, Ames, Blume, 

 Robert Brown, Correll, Garay, Kraenzlin, Lindley, Pabst, Qui- 

 sumbing, Reichenbach, Ridley, Rolfe, Schlechter, Schultes, 

 Schweinfurth, Seidenfaden, Sweet, J. J. Smith and L. O. 



Williams. 



The greatness of an institution does not depend upon its past 

 glory, but rather upon its current vitality. Since funds have 

 always been a major obstacle to progress at Harvard, the Cura- 

 tor for the past 25 years had to manage the Herbarium literally 

 single handed, without any technical and secretarial help. To 

 maintain a greater visibility among both scientific and horticul- 

 tural circles, as well as to enhance its international image, the 

 prestige of affiliation with the Ames Orchid Herarium has been 

 extended by invitation to renowned scientists and orchidophiles 

 to become research Associates in Orchidology. Such appoint- 

 ments also carry the prestige of being Officers of Harvard Uni- 

 versity for the duration of the appointment. Already listed 

 among "Adjunct Appointees" of the staff of the Botanical 

 Museum, these outstanding scientists and orchidologists through 

 their harmonious team work have constantly ensured a high 

 quality research. Although each and every one pursues inde- 

 pendent investigations, their mutual involvement in each other's 

 research, not through persuasion, but rather through scientific 

 curiosity and dedication, reflects a healthy and sound environ- 

 ment which is devoid of competition for continuous productivity. 



This productivity is clearly reflected in the number of books 

 and lengthy monographs (nearly 50 volumes) and other scien- 

 tific papers numbering in the hundreds, all of which were wholly 



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