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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.
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