Collecting Nature: Practices, Styles, and Narratives.

The article discusses narrative in the history of life sciences as of 2012. The author attempts to reexamine the focus on the history of life sciences that concentrated upon experimentalism since the 19th century and the decline of natural history. The article discusses the proliferation of databases and their use. The author argues that if science historians wish to remain relevant, intellectual frameworks must be offered that can bring changes into historical perspective, present new questions and challenge prior views. The article discusses science histories written by historians William Coleman and Garland Allen as well as an overview of collections in natural history from the Renaissance until 1900, including the history "Cultures of Natural History."