History

     The University of Idaho Herbarium began over 120 years ago with the collections of Louis F. Henderson (1853-1942).  Henderson, who had been employed at the USDA experiment station here in Moscow, became the UI's first botanist and herbarium director in 1889 with the establishment of the University of Idaho. The initial collection, over 10,000 specimens, was housed in the UI Administration building, and was considered the best in the Pacific Northwest. Tragedy struck on March 30, 1906 when the Administration building was destroyed by fire and most of the collection, then totaling 85,000 specimens, was lost. Shortly thereafter, in 1911, Henderson left Moscow to work in Oregon.  Recognized for his extensive discoveries, Henderson is now referred to as “The Grand Old Man of Northwest Botany”.  Growth was slow following Henderson's departure.  Notable names such as William H. Baker and J.H. Christ continued to explore the flora of the area and by the mid-1900s the collection had grown to about 50,000 specimens.  The Charles R. Stillinger Trust was established in 1972, allowing funding for the procurement of specimens, and herbarium activity.  Under the directorship of Douglass M. Henderson from 1972-1996, the herbarium more than doubled in size.  

The collection now stands at over 133,000 accessioned specimens.  Today undergraduate and graduate students, under the direction of Pam Brunsfeld, help with plant collecting, specimen curation, loans and exchanges, the administration of the Stillinger library, and databasing activities.

Copyright © 2001, University of Idaho.