natural history
Organism and specimen scholarship
Natural history is the study of animals, plants, and other natural objects, especially through observation rather than experiment.
The term evokes an older, broader approach to science—before biology, geology, and ecology became separate disciplines.
A natural history museum displays specimens of wildlife, fossils, and minerals.
Someone's natural history of a place describes its flora, fauna, and landscape: She wrote a natural history of the Maine coast.
Study of ancient organisms
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- botanyScience of flora
- zoologyStudy of fauna
- geologyStudy of Earth's composition
ecology · evolution · biodiversity · ornithology · entomology · herpetology · ichthyology · mammalogy
British naturalist, species theorist
- LinnaeusFather of modern taxonomy
- HumboldtGerman naturalist-geographer
- WallaceAnglo-Norman given name
- cabinet of curiositiesCollection of rare oddities
Audubon · Victorian · Enlightenment · exploration · voyages · Beagle · naturalists · colonial expeditions
Representative items for examination
- fossilsPreserved ancient organism traces
- cabinetsEnclosed storage furniture
- dioramasMiniature scenic displays
- taxidermyPreserving animal skins lifelike
herbarium · pressed flowers · shells · minerals · curiosities · catalogues · drawers · labels
Organized journeys for exploration
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- field guidesBooks for identifying species
- journalingRegular personal writing practice
- sketchingMaking rough drawings
binoculars · nets · traps · surveys · documentation · wildlife tracking
Federally funded museum network
- exhibitionPublic display of items
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- docentTrained museum tour leader
- curatorCollection overseer
archive · educational programs · dinosaur bones · interactive exhibits · school trips
paleontology
Study of ancient organisms
geology · ecology · evolution · biodiversity · ornithology · entomology · herpetology · ichthyology · mammalogy · phylogeny
Darwin
British naturalist, species theorist
Audubon · cabinet of curiosities · Victorian · Enlightenment · exploration · voyages · Beagle · naturalists · colonial expeditions
specimens
Representative items for examination
- fossilsPreserved ancient organism traces
- cabinetsEnclosed storage furniture
- dioramasMiniature scenic displays
taxidermy · herbarium · pressed flowers · shells · minerals · curiosities · catalogues · drawers · labels · preservation
expeditions
Organized journeys for exploration
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- field guidesBooks for identifying species
- journalingRegular personal writing practice
sketching · binoculars · nets · traps · surveys · documentation · wildlife tracking
Smithsonian
Federally funded museum network
- exhibitionPublic display of items
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- docentTrained museum tour leader
curator · archive · educational programs · dinosaur bones · interactive exhibits · school trips
- museum collectionsart collections, art collection, paintings, antiquities, historical artifacts
- museum subjectsart, science, dinosaurs, fossils, ancient Egypt
- nonfictionbiography, autobiography, biographies, memoir, documentary
- trivia categoriestrivia, facts, science, geography, literature
- museumart gallery, art museum, collection, curator, exhibitions
- evolutionevolution, mutation, adaptation, speciation, fitness
natural historytheoretical physics
Nature explained through equations
particle physics · quantum mechanics · physics · chemistry · mathematics
natural historyindustrial history
Study of manufacturing development
cultural history · human history · art history · architectural history · synthetic
natural, nature, history, unnatural, supernatural, naturalist, histrionic, naturalize, preternatural