Digitization connects scattered specimens and enables new historical research: Plants from the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition (1881–1884)

Societal Impact Statement Widespread museum digitization initiatives have made the world's herbaria more accessible than ever, launching a renaissance of specimen use. We highlight the value of digitization to bolster both scientific and historical research using the specimens from the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition (1881–1884) to the Canadian arctic, remembered for its tragedy. Over 140 years later, digitization has made it possible to search for specimens from the expedition, reconnecting lost specimens across multiple herbaria. New discoveries await as digitization continues, and we call for integrative goals that connect specimens with associated information across disciplines.