The biological collections of the INHS are an invaluable and irreplaceable resource. First established in the mid-19th century for the purpose of documenting the flora and fauna of Illinois, the collections preserve some of the earliest natural history specimens collected in the Midwest. From their humble beginnings the INHS collections have grown into important, internationally known repositories of specimens and information. Although primarily used as tools for basic research in biological systematics, evolution, and ecology, the collections are also of crucial importance for education, applied biology, and conservation of natural resources. Through the ongoing efforts of INHS staff and improvements in information retrevial technology, the collections continue to become ever more accessible to researchers, conservationists, educators, policymakers, and the general public.