Researcher Resources for Specimen Collections

Specimen preparation

NPS photo

Templates and Instructions for the Transfer of Collections Data

Templates are available to assist researchers in meeting permit requirements and submitting completed catalog records for permanently retained specimens in the park museum collection. Researchers should coordinate with the park curator before using these templates as the park may modify them to meet park-specific needs.

The NPS is transitioning from Interior Collections Management System (ICMS) to the Museum Collections Management System (MCMS). There are different templates to use depending on the status of the park’s transition. During this transition period coordinate with the park curator on their preferred templates.

For ICMS: To submit specimen data for ICMS, use the Biological Template (12 KB XLS), Geological Template (12 KB XLS), or Paleontological Template (12 KB XLS), as appropriate. Follow the Instructions on Preparing and Submitting Natural History Specimen Data (231 KB PDF).

For MCMS:Template and instructions for the MCMS Import-Update Tool (IUT) coming soon.

Repository Agreements

General Agreement between the National Park Service and the American Museum of Natural History on Management of NPS Animal Tissue Collections

AMNH-NPS Agreement – Procedures to implement the Agreement are addressed in the Guide to Collect and Deposit below. First Amendment, Second Amendment, Third Amendment, Fourth Amendment.

Procedures and Requirements for Animal Tissue Samples to be Collected in Parks and Deposited at AMNH-AMCC

If you propose or are permitted to collect animal tissue samples in parks and deposit them at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)-Ambrose Monell Cryo Collection (AMCC), the following links provide special guidance that you will need.

• Researchers' FAQs - For researchers collecting animal tissue samples for deposit at AMNH-AMCC, these Frequently Asked Questions are the quickest introduction to the procedures. The FAQs include contact information for assistance.
• Guide to Collect and Deposit - Guidance for Collection and Deposit of NPS Animal Tissue Samples in the Ambrose Monell Cryo Collection, American Museum of Natural History. This guidance provides detailed instructions and contact information to facilitate the management of animal tissue samples (including samples from federally listed threatened and endangered species) that are collected in units of the National Park System and managed under an agreement between the National Park Service (NPS) and the American Museum of Natural History, Ambrose Monell Cryo Collection (AMCC). The instructions are for individuals collecting samples, NPS permit coordinators, NPS curators, and the AMCC curator.
• AMNH-AMCC NPS Deposit Form - AMNH/AMCC NPS Specimen Deposit Form, required to deposit animal tissue samples collected in parks at AMCC.

General Agreement between National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution for Custodianship of National Park Service Natural History Collections

NPS-SI Agreement - Parks may offer selected specimens to the Smithsonian Institution. If the Smithsonian accepts the offer, the Smithsonian will gain permanent custodial responsibility for the specimens, while NPS retains ownership responsibility.

Agreement between National Park Service and Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona, On Behalf of its Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research on Management of NPS Specimens Collected for Tree-Ring Analysis

NPS-Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research - This agreement covers natural history and cultural collections made on national park system lands for the purposes of tree-ring analysis and loaned to and stored and managed by the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona. It also covers associated records. All past collections and future collections that NPS offers and LTRR accepts will be covered. First Amendment.

Agreement between the National Park Service and the American Type Culture Collection

NPS-ATCC Agreement - This agreement covers living NPS biological collections (such as microorganisms) from parks that ATCC maintains as cultures in its "National Park Service Special Collection" and distributes upon request to the scientific community. Procedures for deposit and distribution to third parties are on the ATCC website. First Amendment , Second Amendment, Third Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment.

General Agreement between National Park Service and the Culture Collection of Switzerland

CCOS-NPS Agreement - This agreement covers microogranisms collected in NPS units pursuant to permits and material derived from such collected specimens that NPS deposits in the U.S. National Park Service Special Collection at CCOS and that CCOS distributes upon request to the scientific community. Procedures for deposit and distribution to third parties are on the CCOS website and available by contacting CCOS directly.

Repository Agreement between the National Park Service and the University of Texas Medical Branch, World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses

NPS-UTMB/WRCEVA Agreement - This agreement covers specimens collected in NPS units pursuant to NPS permits and material derived from such collected specimens that NPS deposits in the NPS Special Collection at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses (WRCEVA) and that WRCEVA distributes upon request to the scientific community. Procedures for deposit and distribution to third parties are on the UTMB/WRCEVA website and available by contacting WRCEVA directly.