Carl F. Chuey Herbarium, Youngstown State University

The Carl F. Chuey Herbarium is housed in Ward Beecher Hall at Youngstown State University (YSU). Originally established as the YUO Herbarium, it was renamed in 2015 to honor the late Professor Carl F. Chuey, who devoted nearly five decades of his career to building and curating the collection.

 

Collection

• Scale: Today, the herbarium holds over 115,000 plant specimens, making it the fourth largest herbarium in Ohio.

• Geographic Scope: The specimens represent all 50 U.S. states and more than 90 countries across six continents, with a strong emphasis on the flora of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

• Diversity: The collection includes rare and notable specimens, some linked to the description of new species—such as Asarum chueyi, a wild ginger named in honor of Chuey by one of his former students.

• Digitization: As of 2024, the herbarium’s holdings are being digitized, expanding global access to its resources.

 

Visiting and Purpose

The herbarium supports a wide range of scientific and educational endeavors, from species identification and taxonomy to conservation biology and ecological research. Located at the heart of the YSU campus, it continues to serve as a valuable resource for faculty, students, and the wider research community.

 

Future Research Avenues

The Carl F. Chuey Herbarium is not only a historical archive but also a living research resource. I welcome and encourage future projects that leverage its specimens for:

• Climate change and phenology studies – analyzing shifts in flowering and fruiting times over decades.

• Genomic and phylogenomic research – using DNA from herbarium specimens to study plant evolution and adaptation.

• Conservation planning – identifying vulnerable species and habitats for protection.

• Biogeography and invasion biology – tracing the spread of native and non-native species across regions.

• Digitization and data science – advancing open access biodiversity data for education and global collaborations.

 

The Carl F. Chuey Herbarium remains a cornerstone of botanical research and education at YSU and continues to inspire new discoveries, collaborations, and conservation initiatives.