03/06/2026
On display in the Bata Library Atrium and Archives, March-April 2026
Reading and Writing Nature: Local Naturalists and the Literary and Archival Record
From field notes scribbled along riverbanks to carefully illustrated species lists, local naturalists have long transformed close observation into enduring record. Drawing on the holdings of the Trent University Archives, this exhibition explores how amateur and professional observers documented the plants, animals, and landscapes of their region, and shaped how nature was understood, valued, and protected.
The exhibit highlights the history of the Peterborough Field Naturalists and other organizations through the lens of three individuals: Frank Morris, Douglas Sadler, and Hazel Bird. Letters, logs, sketches, manuscripts, photos, and publications reveal that for these naturalists, the study of nature was inseparable from writing and photography. Their work was collaborative: they collected specimens, shared findings, and corresponded with scientists and fellow enthusiasts in their communities and beyond.
These materials trace a culture of sustained curiosity and exchange, where fieldwork met storytelling and personal commitment became part of the historical record. They invite us to see archives not only as repositories of the past, but as living records of how knowledge about the natural world is created, shared, and preserved.
[Photograph of wild orchids by Frank Morris]
