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Primary sourcePhotographbefore 1909

Mendel's Beehouse

Unknown · before 1909

A photograph from before 1909 of the beehouse Mendel built at the abbey, where he carried out breeding experiments with bees.

This building, used by Mendel for bee-breeding experiments, shows the practical, hands-on side of his scientific curiosity.

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Black-and-white photograph of a long, low wooden building with a corrugated metal roof and a row of small-paned windows, partly overgrown with shrubs and climbing plants. A brick base is visible at right. A printed caption at the bottom reads: Abb. 16 Mendels Bienenstock im Altbrünner Klostergarten.
Unknown photographer, Mendel's beehouse, before 1909.

About this source

What it is

This photograph, taken before 1909, shows a long wooden building with a corrugated roof standing in the garden of the old Brno monastery. A printed caption identifies it as Mendel's beehive in the old Brno cloister garden.

Why it matters

Besides his famous pea experiments, Mendel also bred bees, which he reportedly called 'my dearest little animals.' This building is physical evidence of that lesser-known side of his scientific curiosity, showing he applied his interest in heredity to more than one kind of organism.

Look closer

  • What does the condition of the building in the photo tell you about how much time had passed since Mendel used it?
  • Why might someone studying inheritance in plants also be interested in bees?
  • What questions does this photo leave unanswered about Mendel's bee experiments?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Gregor Mendel on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Scan of the first text page of Gregor Mendel's 'Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden', with the title, author name, presentation date note, and the opening section 'Einleitende Bemerkungen' in German black-letter-style print on aged paper.Book

Primary source

Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden

Gregor Mendel · 1866 (read 1865)

Black-and-white portrait of a man with short wavy hair, wire-rimmed spectacles, and a dark high-collared coat with a white clerical collar, facing the camera against a white background.Photograph

Primary source

Gregor Mendel

Unknown

Black-and-white group photograph of ten monks in long dark robes posed together, with a caption below naming them, including Gregor Mendel, and the title 'Plate III. Gregor Johann Mendel among his Fellow-Monks'.Photograph

Primary source

Mendel with other monks

Unknown

Black handwritten cursive signature on white background, reading 'Gregor Mendel' with a smaller abbreviated mark ('Ohh' or similar) written beneath it.Document

Primary source

Signature of Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel

Black and white studio portrait of a man with short, wavy hair and thin round wire-rimmed glasses, wearing a dark clerical cassock buttoned to the neck with a white collar. A long chain with a cross pendant hangs on his chest. He faces left against a plain grey background.Photograph

Primary source

Gregor Mendel with Cross

Unknown

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