Research Training Program

Laurie Klingensmith
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM

Alice Tangerini, Ph.D.
Project Advisor
Department of Botany

"My project was successful because it gave me the satisfaction of working with art of exquisite detail and technique. I was pleased to have contributed by ensuring its archival storage."

Botanical Illustration

This project involved research on the original watercolor figures by M.E. Eaton of Cactaceae and the correlation of them with plate and volume number of Brittany Rose's Cactaceae volume. The figures are in several different forms besides the odd-sized pieces of loose, original watercolors. There were about one dozen glued-up plates, six large folio paintings, about one dozen black/white mock-up plates, and 18-24 figures located in frames in various offices in the Botany Department and at MSC. The whereabouts of all figures was listed, as well as a missing list. All original figures were mounted on acid-free board with archival corners. Work was also done on a database program to enter information on these and all botanical illustrations held by the department. About 18 entries were made while debugging this program which will give access to information on all illustrations the department holds by artist, collector, taxonomy, province, etc. Plans for storage of the mounted figures need further work--the department will have to purchase filing drawers.

This research was supported by a grant from the Educational Outreach Fund.