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.