Academy Publications

The Academy's scientific publications represent America's longest-running serial publishing program devoted to natural history. Since 1817, much of the research by this institution's scientists, as well as the work of researchers around the world, has been published in its serial publications, including the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences and Special Publications. Go to Scientific Publications for more information on these and the other serials published by the Academy.

For a list of the most recent scientific publications, download the 2010 Publications List.

Academy scientists have also authored or edited technical publications for the scientific community, while others, including Robert McCracken Peck, have authored books for more general audiences. A partial listing of works by Academy authors is presented below.

In addition, the Academy has significantly contributed to publications by other authors through access to its more than 17 million biological specimens, its imaging services, and the archival and library resources of the Ewell Sale Stewart Library.

Featured Publications

front cover for Perry's Arcana

Perry's Arcana: A Facsimile Edition with a Collation and Systematic Review

English naturalist George Perry published a lavish natural history magazine, Arcana, from 1810 to 1811. This neglected gem has been revived thanks to the scholarship of Richard E. Petit and the digital imaging at the Academy of a rare complete copy, one of only 13 known to exist. This book is jointly published by the Academy and Temple University Press. You can purchase Perry's Arcana at Amazon.com.

front cover for All in the Bones

All in the Bones: A Biography of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins

All In The Bones is the first full-length biography of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, one of the most versatile and prolific natural history artists of the Victorian age.

Available for purchase online.

Selected publications by Academy authors

  • Goulden, Clyde E., T. Sitnikova, Jon Gelhaus and B. Boldgiv (Editors). 2006. The Geology, Biodiversity and Ecology of Lake Hövsgöl (Mongolia). Leiden: Backhuys Publishers BV. ISBN: 90-5782-162-1. [Available at NHBS Environment Bookstore.]
  • Otte, Daniel and Daniel Perez-Gelabert. 2009. Caribbean Crickets. Publications on Orthopteran Diversity. Philadelphia: The Orthopterists’ Society. ISBN: 1929014104.
  • Otte, Daniel. The Crickets of Hawaii: Origin, Systematics and Evolution. Philadelphia: The Orthopterists' Society. ISBN: 0964010100.
  • Otte, Daniel and John, A. Endler (editors). 1989. Speciation and Its Consequences. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates. ISBN: 0878936580.
  • Bramwell, Valerie and Robert McCracken Peck. 2006. All in the Bones: a biography of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins. Special Publication no. 23. Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences. ISBN 9780910006651. [purchase online]
  • Peck, Robert McCracken. 1990. Land of the Eagle: a natural history of North America. New York: Summit Books ISBN10 067175596X.
  • Rosenberg, Gary. 1993. The Encyclopedia of Seashells. New York: Michael Friedman Publishing. ISBN10: 0709050925. [Available at NHBS Environment Bookstore.]

Selected publications using Academy services

  • Petit. Richard, E. 2009. Perry's Arcana: A Facsimile Edition with a Collation and Systematic Review. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN: 9781439901953. [available at Amazon.com]
  • Thomson, Keith Stewart. 2008. The Legacy of the Mastodon: the Golden Age of Fossils in America. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN: 9780300117042.
  • Warren, Leonard. 1998. Josephy Leidy: the Last Man who Knew Everything. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN: 0300073593.