Hunt Institute specializes in the history of botany and all aspects of plant science and serves the international scientific community through research and documentation. To this end, the Institute acquires and maintains authoritative collections of books, plant images, manuscripts, portraits and data files, and provides publications and other modes of information service. The Institute meets the reference needs of biologists, historians, conservationists, librarians, bibliographers and the public at large, especially those concerned with any aspect of the North American flora.

The Institute was dedicated in 1961 as the Rachel McMasters Miller Hunt Botanical Library, an international center for bibliographical research and service in the interests of botany and horticulture, as well as a center for the study of all aspects of the history of the plant sciences. By 1971 the Hunt Botanical Library's activities had so diversified that the name was changed to Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. Growth in collections and research projects led to the establishment of four programmatic departments: Archives, Art, Bibliography and the Library. The current collections include approximately 29,000 books; 30,000 portraits; 30,000 watercolors, drawings and prints; and 2,000 autograph letters and manuscripts.

The Institute's collections, holdings and staff expertise are of value not only for the study of botany and its history but also for investigations of the following topics:

• Art history
• Botanical art and illustration
• History of science
• Horticulture, botanic gardens and gardening
• Manuscripts
• Medicine
• Printers and publishing
• Rare books
• Scientific education
• Social and cultural commentary
• Travel and scientific expeditions and exploration