John Innes Historical Collections

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant science, genetics, and microbiology, and home to the John Innes Historical Collections, owned by the John Innes Foundation. The collections preserve and promote the history of scientific knowledge, in support of bioscience research, engagement and learning.

The Archive of records capture the development of genetics and plant sciences from the late 19th Century to the present day. It contains the records of the organisation since it’s first days as the John Innes Horticultural Institute in 1910, as well as from significant organisations and individuals in the areas of plant science and genetics.

The Archive is complemented by two book collections. The botanic Rare Book Library contains works on botany, natural sciences, horticulture and gardening. Spanning over 500 years of knowledge about plants and the natural world, this collection features extremely rare texts and unique examples of hand finished botanical art. The History of Genetics Library holds more than 4,000 books and pamphlets dating from the late 19th Century onwards.

Contact details: 

We are interested in partnering on research and engagement projects, and welcome enquiries from potential partners and researchers.

You can learn more about access and use, including how to make an appointment, on the John Innes Centre’s website.

Related collections at the John Innes Centre:  

The Germplasm Resources Unit (GRU) is an internationally recognised repository for the long-term curation and provision of UK strategic crop and crop-wild-relative germplasm resources. The GRU host some of the most comprehensive wheat, barley, oat and pea collections in the world, which form part of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.