WEST CHESTER, PA — In recognition of Earth Day, West Chester University (WCU) is presenting “A Botanical Blueprint: Sustainable Roots & Environmentalism.” The educational display is housed on the sixth floor of the Francis Harvey Green Library and will serve patrons through early 2025.
The exhibit traces the evolution of environmental awareness and sustainability at WCU, describing the local study of natural history that began in the 18th century. It also showcases artifacts from the William Darlington Herbarium and other collections. Visitors can view historical botanical specimens, rare books, photographs, and ephemera that narrate the university’s ongoing dedication to environmentalism.
Jenna Falkenberg, a Special Collections technician and curator for the exhibition, curated the displays. She aimed to demonstrate how the university’s botanical studies influenced future generations’ interest in environmental causes such as land conservation and wildlife habitat preservation. Falkenberg emphasizes that the university’s commitment to environmental conservation is not new but has been an integral part of its past and continues to shape its story.
The highlight of the exhibition is the Darlington Herbarium, originally belonging to William Darlington (1782-1863), a native of West Chester. Darlington, a physician, U.S. Congressman and botanist, was recognized for his thorough collection of dried plant specimens, each thoughtfully labeled with collection details and its Latin name.
Housed at West Chester University, the Darlington Herbarium is an institutional treasure, boasting over 20,000 plant specimens. It is one of the oldest institutional collections in the United States, initially held by the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and later donated to West Chester State Teachers College in the 1870s.
Falkenberg expresses that during the mid-20th century, the herbarium was regularly used in classes to engage students in the sciences. The herbarium served as a solid foundation for students’ involvement in environmental causes over the years.
Just last summer, WCU joined forces with Morris Arboretum and Garden to digitize the herbarium collection and transcribe Darlington’s letters. Falkenberg states that understanding the region’s past engagement with natural history led her to see how Darlington’s work and that of other naturalists became the blueprint for WCU’s current focus on sustainability.
Falkenberg hopes to illuminate how students, faculty, and staff members’ understanding of sustainability and environmental stewardship has evolved over time, through the exhibition.
The Darlington Herbarium is also accessible online through the Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortia for those who can’t make it to the physical exhibition.
The exhibition wouldn’t have been made possible without the joint efforts of Ron McColl, an assistant professor and the herbarium’s curator, and Bridget Voltz, a library communication technician. McColl served as the exhibition editor, and Voltz designed the exhibit.
The public is invited to visit the “A Botanical Blueprint: Sustainable Roots & Environmentalism” exhibition during regular library hours at the WCU Francis Harvey Green Library, located at 25 West Rosedale Avenue.
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