Center for Biological Sciences Archives

Cell microscopy
Cell microscopy from the Keith Porter Collection

The mission of the Center for Biological Sciences Archives (CBSA) is to identify, preserve, and provide access to manuscripts, personal papers, and archives generated by individuals and institutions involved in the biological sciences. In addition the CBSA will encourage research, scholarship, and publication of writings on the history, policy implications, and social and cultural impact of the biological sciences. Public programs concerning the archives will be featured in the future as the archives and its activities are developed.

Archival Collections

Among the CBSA’s holdings are the archives of the American Society for Cell Biology, the Tissue Culture Association (now called the Society for Invitro Biology), Society for Developmental Biology, International Union of Immunological Societies, American Type Culture Collection, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Association of Immunologists, Society for Protozoologists, the Biophysical Society, the Society for Industrial Microbiology, the American Association of Anatomists, the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI), and archives of Keith R. Porter and R.D. Allen.

The Center for Biological Sciences Archives is now participating in the National Library of Medicine’s History of Medicine Finding Aids Consortium. (Learn more)

Finding aids

American Association of Anatomists records, Collection 21

American Association of Immunologists records, Collection 12

American Genetic Association records, Collection 30

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology records, Collection 11

American Society for Cell Biology records, Collection 8

American Type Culture Collection records, Collection 10

Biophysical Society records, Collection 14

Carl Baker oral history interviews, Collection 48

International Union of Immunological Societies records, Collection 9

Keith Porter papers, Collection 18

Margaret Lewis Reed microscope, Collection 87

R.D. Allen film and videotape collection, Collection 17

Rita Colwell papers, Collection 202

Society for Developmental Biology records, Collection 22

Society for Industrial Microbiology records, Collection 15

Society for Invertebrate Pathology records, Collection 105

Society of Protozoologists records, Collection 13

Tissue Culture Association records, Collection 16

University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute records, Collection 19

American Society for Microbiology Archives and Library

Also located at UMBC is the Center for History of Microbiology / American Society for Microbiology Archives and Library. The CHM/ASM Archives house the records of the Society from its founding in 1899 to the present and various collections relating to the history of microbiology. Finding aids and information about their holdings may be found on the ASM website. Other collections available include the International Union of Microbiological Societies, the Anne Sayre Collection of Rosalind Franklin materials, and the Rita Colwell papers.

Publications

The Special Collections General Rare Book collections contains important scholarship related to the history of the biological sciences. In the Library Catalog, use the “Location” menu on the results page to narrow your results to this collection. Journals, conference proceedings, and newsletters for the professional societies affiliated with the CBSA are located with their record collection.