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The Botany of Nations: Re-collecting the Lewis and Clark Herbarium with Indigenous Perspectives

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Camas Root as depicted in Edwards's Botanical Register v.18, London, 1832. Image courtesy of the Academy of Natural Sciences. 
Camas Root as depicted in Edwards's Botanical Register v.18, London, 1832. Image courtesy of the Academy of Natural Sciences. 
Illustration of Camas Root as depicted in Edwards's Botanical Register v.18
Camas Root as depicted in Edwards's Botanical Register v.18, London, 1832. Image courtesy of the Academy of Natural Sciences.
Camassia quamash (Camas Root) at Leavenworth Ski Hill, Leavenworth, Washington.
Camassia quamash (Camas Root) at Leavenworth Ski Hill, Leavenworth, Washington. Photo by Thayne Tuason.

A new exhibition revisits the 200-plus carefully preserved North American plant specimens collected during the 1804–06 Lewis and Clark expedition. Designed in collaboration with Indigenous community advisors, the project counters narratives of colonial “discovery” and offers historical and contemporary perspectives on Indigenous culture and botanical scientific contributions. A film and interactive digital displays accompany the exhibition's exploration of heritage plant cultivation, biodiversity, and environmental justice. 

The total grant amount represents project funding plus an additional 20% in unrestricted general operating support.

Recipient
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the oldest natural history museum in North America. Founded in 1812, the museum is known for both its collections of natural specimens and its active research faculty. It has been affiliated with Drexel University since 2011. The Academy’s collections contain more than 18 million specimens and archival materials, many of which predate the institution’s founding and reflect the work of famous naturalists and scientists, including Thomas Jefferson, John James Audubon, Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark. 

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News

$9 Million From The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Supports 28 Philadelphia Organizations and 12 Artist Fellowships

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Eva Wu, 2021 Pew Fellow. Photo by Ryan Collerd.
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James Sprang, 2022 Pew Fellow. Photo by Neal Santos.

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Ahn Sekwon, Lights of Wolgok-dong, 2005, digital C-print, 70.8" x 94.5". Photo courtesy of the artist.
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Terence Nance, film still from Swimming in Your Skin Again, 2014. Courtesy of Terence Nance.
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Adebunmi Gbadebo and Odili Donald Odita, 2022 Pew Fellows.

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The Barnes Foundation, Returning to Before, performed as part of William Edmondson: A Monumental Vision exhibition, choreographed by Brendan Fernandes. Photo by Daniel Jackson for Embassy: Interactive.
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