{"id":10993,"date":"2024-06-14T09:50:04","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T13:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=10993"},"modified":"2024-06-14T08:01:30","modified_gmt":"2024-06-14T12:01:30","slug":"fungi-lichen-and-algae-oh-my-exploring-the-william-webster-diehl-rare-book-collection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vault217.gmu.edu\/?p=10993","title":{"rendered":"Fungi, Lichen, and Algae, Oh My!: Exploring the William Webster Diehl Rare Book Collection\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As Research Services Coordinator, I\u2019ve found it’s not uncommon to repeatedly receive multiple requests for the same collections. These collections can be likened to the slide at the park, in high use and demand. On the flip side, many collections in our stacks are not utilized to the same extent, despite the unique perspective they may provide (think: see-saw). For this blog post, I wanted to showcase a lesser-used rare book collection that caught my interest as a lover of nature and the world of fungi.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The William Webster Diehl rare book collection reflects the interests and life work of W.W. Diehl (1891 – 1978), a Virginian botanist and plant pathologist. Diehl spent nearly 40 years as a scientist, specifically: a fungus taxonomist, for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland. During his time there, <\/span>he worked alongside colleagues, Flora Wambaugh Patterson and Edith Katherine Cash, to create the <\/span>exsiccata<\/a>-like<\/b><\/span>\u00a0series Mycological Exchange of 1921, with specimens distributed by the USDA, and identified specimens for a WW2-related plant disease survey. <\/span>Diehl was also the president of the Botanical Society of Washington in 1935 and President of the Mycological Society of America from 1950 – 1958.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rare book collection comprises 161 volumes dating from 1753 to 1959, <\/span>encompassing a wide array of botanical subjects, such as fungi, lichen, slime molds, and grasses. These volumes have been published in various countries, including the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.<\/p>\n

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In examining a portion of Diehl\u2019s collection, it becomes clear that the literature of the late 19th century to early 20th century aimed to consolidate information through comprehensive indexes, catalogs, and histories. This was necessary because a lot of the literature at the time was scattered. At the same time, there was a distinct subset of literature that focused on fungi outside of academic circles, covering topics such as foraging, edible mushrooms, and mushroom cultivation. Although these topics intersect with academic knowledge, the language used in these books is free from academic jargon and instead provides clear and concise details and illustrations for identification.<\/div>\n
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