About the Collections
The Vertebrate Osteology Collection is a teaching & research archive of over 500 vertebrate skeletal specimens. Spanning 36 taxonomic orders, this collections offers a hands on approach to learned about comparative anatomy, evolutionary biology, and mammalogy. These bones have been collected and donated by past Swarthmore professors and student researchers adding to the vast resources of the biology department special collections.
The Biology Teaching Collections holds a diverse range of natural history specimens, artwork, and historical materials collected and cared for by Swarthmore faculty, students, and researchers over the years. These collections serve as valuable resources for teaching, research, and exploring the natural world. The following collections are stored here in addition to the Osteology Collection.
The Bird Collection features over 800 study skins representing 403 species across 20 taxonomic orders, showcasing avian diversity, morphology, and natural history.
The Herbarium Collection houses more than 3,000 preserved plant specimens, documenting plant diversity and supporting botanical research and education.
The Historical Artwork Collection includes over 1,000 works by Samuel Palmer and Joseph Leidy, including botanical and zoological illustrations that highlight the intersection of art, natural history, and science.
The department also maintains a variety of other natural history specimens, including insects, shells, fossils, and sponges.
Housed on the first floor of Singer Hall, the Biology Teaching Collections are available for students, faculty, researchers, and visitors to explore. The Teaching Collections are currently managed under the supervision of Jessica Morales Valenzuela.
Credits
Project Manager and Photographer
- Anna Savolainen, Biology + Sociology Anthropology 28'
Swarthmore College Libraries, Digital Scholarship Team
- Roberto Vargas, Head, Research & Instructional Services
Faculty Advisor, Swarthmore College Biology Department
- Jessica Morales Valenzuela, Collection Manager and Biology Lab Instructor
Questions?
For questions about the collection, contact the Swarthmore Biology Collection team at biologyspcollection@swarthmore.edu if you have any questions. For technical questions about the site or collection builder, contact digitalscholarship@swarthmore.edu
Rights and Reuse
Photographs in this collection are © Swarthmore College and licensed for reuse as follows:
Swarthmore College Osteology Collection © 2026 by Anna Savolainen is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
You are free to share and adapt these images for non-commercial purposes as long as you credit “Swarthmore College Osteology Collection” and link to the license. For commercial licensing or high-resolution files, please contact Anna Savolainen at biologyspcollection@swarthmore.edu.