American Philosophical Society Museum

Title: Franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha, "Gordonia franklenia dicta")
Year: 1786-96
Material: Paper, ink, Franklinia specimens
Collector: André Michaux
Location: United States
Collection: Hunting for Trees


The American Philosophical Society Museum's current exhibition is titled "Of Elephants and Roses: Encounters with French Natural History 1790-1830." It focuses on post-Revolutionary French scientific study, and describes its effect on the science of natural history as we know it today. The jumping point is centered around two French gardens that served as menageries for flora and fauna from all over the world, thus becoming a hub for scientific research. These gardens are Jardin des Plantes and Malmaison. The exhibition is split into five small galleries: "Music for Elephants," "Hunting for Trees," "Black Swans for an Empress," "A Flower Blooms," and "Everything Giraffe." The above object is from the second gallery, "Hunting for Trees."


The object of this blog could not be featured here because it is on loan from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. About 70% of the objects on display in this exhibition were on loan (the APS did not have many objects that were relevant to the theme), especially from France. Many have never been shown in the United States before, or have never been shown at all. 

The object, however, was a page from an herbarium voucher much like the one featured (right). It consists of pressed samples from a Franklinia tree suspected to have been taken from either a visit to William Bartram's Phildelphia garden or from the species' native habitat in Georgia. 


The species is no longer extant in the wild, and so possessing pressed specimens from what may be a wild tree is a boon to the study of the species. The importance of this specimen is implied in the label included, and augmented by the objects around it such as the decorative ceramic upon which an image of Franklinia flowers have been painted. Overall, however, the labels and collection of objects succeeded in remaining fairly objective, despite the emphasis of the beauty and rarity of the tree.


Personally I found this object interesting not so much because of the subject, but because of the herbarium study itself. I am working on a collection of these at the moment for an institution and it was interesting to see that the way I was creating them was much the same as how they were created hundreds of years ago. The object has inspired me to delve further into my subjects and strive to create a beautiful, possibly antiqued journal to attract attention to it from those that are not drawn to purely scientific approaches.


Some people may find the subject more interesting, perhaps, if they are dendrologists or landscapers as the tree is beautiful and fragrant, and a popular shade tree for ornamental gardens.


As a conservationist, I can safely assume that others like me may instead of being awed at the beauty of the tree and its use by humans be upset knowing that it (like many other species of flora and fauna) have been driven extinct in the wild by the carelessness of human actions.


Personally, I would focus on the conservation aspect of the subject to further engage viewers. By including more information about the effects extensive collecting of the species, it may become apparent to readers of the effect humans can have on the environment. Knowledge that such a beautiful tree may never be seen in its natural habitat again could drive some people to become more proactive and knowledgeable about the subject of conservation.