Overview The Division of Environmental Research (DER) was established as a department of the Academy of Natural Sciences in 1947 by botanist and limnologist, Dr. Ruth Patrick. Originally called the Department of Limnology, the department was envisioned by Patrick as a multidisciplinary team of scientists devoted to helping protect the quality of the environment. Not only was environmental research a novel idea for the time, but the multidisciplinary nature of the research was also innovative. The...

Scope and Contents

In order to accurately determine the presence of pollution in fresh water, Ruth Patrick invented the diatometer, a device that accurately determines the presence of pollution in fresh water. This diatometer is made from plastic, metal, glass, and styrofoam. Six glass slides sit inside of the diatometer. A metal label on the bottom of the diatometer reads: Catherwood Diatometer, Biological Survey, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, PA.

Scope and Contents

The Charles W. Reimer papers include correspondence and memos, administrative records, policies, publication drafts, reports, illustrations, photographs, and objects related to the operations of the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Academy’s Diatom Herbarium, the international diatom community, and Reimer’s publications.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains Charles W. Reimer's B&L microscope case. The actual microscope is not inside.

Scope and Contents This collection relates to the Academy's original Diatom Herbarium database created by consultant Hayden Rochester, and includes printouts of the keys to the codes, abbreviations, geographic headings, collection name headings, and other "database dictionaries" used in the database; printouts of duplicate records and other data irregularities; a copy of a proposal for renewal of the grant to fund the project; and tape backups of the database and SEM images relating to NSF-funded research of...

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the plates that were used in The Diatoms of the United States Exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii (1975), illustrated by Su-Ing Yong.