New Herbarium and Plant Analysis (with drawings)

East Stroudsburg, PA, 1903. Half cloth folio with ties, 11.5 x 9 inches. Containing 26 specimens mounted on individual folded leaves, and 6 watercolor drawings on specialty stamped paper, supplied as part of the workbook. In Very Good condition with minor rubbing and wear to the portfolio; contents neatly preserved, still crisp and square. Compiled by L. Pearle McKeeby in 1905, with specimens from the Poconos region of Pennsylvania. Records show that McKeeby became a teacher and married in 1913 at the age of 26, making her about 15 when she made this. The album was designed by East Stroudsburg native John Milton Yetter, who earned a Doctorate from New York University School of Pedagogy in 1901 and taught physical science and botany at the Pennsylvania State Normal School. Yetter specifies in his introduction that 6-12 plants should be completed for the study, ideally more. This example has 26 total specimens, the first 6 with watercolor drawings and all but the last 5 with completed Plant Analysis worksheets.

Yetter prioritizes developing the student's observational skills. "It is just as important that the pupils acquire the habit of distinguishing the color of flowers as their size or form. This is a departure from the Herbarium commonly used, but we are convinced that this is justifiable." In addition to creating a reference for the future, he also suggests that the student benefits from having a physical product to show for the work they've done.