Smithsonian Institution Archives

4/26/2012, 9:58 am by Jennifer Wright

There is no one path to becoming an archivist, but you will likely need a combination of archival experience from internships and volunteer opportunities and a graduate degree in Library Science (or similar degree), Public History, or Museum Studies. You will also likely need a strong background in writing, research, and computer skills. For additional information on this and related topics, please see the blog post, “Some Archival Career Advice”:

http://siarchives.si.edu/blog/some-archival-career-advice

9/2/2011, 10:17 am by

I have an object that I would like to have appraised by the Smithsonian. Can you tell me how much my object is worth?

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Refitting Hands of the Castle Clock, North Face, Flag Tower, Smithsonian Institution Building

Creator:: Long, Eric
Title:: Refitting Hands of the Castle Clock, North Face, Flag Tower, Smithsonian Institution Building
Summary:: National Museum of American History's David Todd lends his clockmaker's art to the tricky job of refitting the newly gold-leafed hands to the clock on the north face of the Flag Tower of the Smithsonian Institution Building. Scaffolding has been erected. The National Museum of American History can be seen across the National Mall
Restrictions:: For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
Topics:: Clocks and watches, Conservation and restoration, Scaffolding, Smithsonian Institution--Employees
Subjects:: Todd, David, National Museum of American History (U.S.) (NMAH), Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.), Smithsonian Institution Building Flag Tower
Category:: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Place:: Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)
Form/Genre:: Photographic print, Exterior
Local Number:: SIA2011-1452 or 91-13640-37
Physical Description:: Number of Images: 1 Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Exterior; Medium: Photographic print
Full Record:: http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!7180~!0#focus

Using the Archives' Collections

The Smithsonian Institution Archives welcomes personal and educational use of its collections unless otherwise noted. Please cite the Smithsonian Institution Archives as the source of the content, and when possible, link to the Smithsonian Archives website (siarchives.si.edu). Please let us know how you are using our collections for your projects. For information on commercial licensing or other uses, visit Rights and Reproductions. More information available within the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use policy.

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Repairing the Smithsonian Institution Building Tower

Creator:: Unknown
Title:: Repairing the Smithsonian Institution Building Tower
Summary:: Workmen on scaffolding repair the Northwest Tower of the Smithsonian Institution Building. The Mall and the Washington Monument are visible in the background and the United States Department of Agriculture Building is to the left
Restrictions:: For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
Topics:: Buildings--Repair and reconstruction, Roofs, Scaffolding, Smithsonian Institution--Employees, Towers, Washington Monument (Washington, D.C.), Workmen
Subjects:: Smithsonian Institution Building Towers, United States Dept. of Agriculture Building
Category:: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Place:: Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)
Form/Genre:: Photographic print, Exterior
Local Number:: 15103-B or MAH-15103B
Physical Description:: Color: Black and White; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Exterior; Medium: Photographic print
Full Record:: http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!9954~!0#focus

Using the Archives' Collections

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Smithsonian Institution Building Across the National Mall

Creator:: Unknown
Title:: Smithsonian Institution Building Across the National Mall
Summary:: View of the Smithsonian Institution Building and the National Mall from the roof of the Natural History Building, now the National Museum of Natural History. The Mall is seen shortly before it is cleared of trees and leveled. On the street are parked 1920s automobiles
Restrictions:: For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
Topic:: Automobiles
Subject:: Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)
Category:: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Place:: Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)
Form/Genre:: Photographic print, Landscape
Local Number:: SIA2011-1460 or 31274A
Physical Description:: Number of Images: 1 ; Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Landscape; Medium: Photographic print
Full Record:: http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!7110~!0#focus

Using the Archives' Collections

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Star-Spangled Banner

Creator:: Unknown
Title:: Star-Spangled Banner
Notes:: The original of this negative was altered at some point. The Smithsonian Institution Building was whited out, and the partial "A" on the flag was whited out. A copy print was made of the original print, which has not been altered, see negative number 99-1583; "Real Star-Spangled Banner," the Washington Post, July 21, 1907, page E8, contains a cropped version of this picture that still shows a small part of the Smithsonian Institution Building behind it
Summary:: This image shows the Star-Spangled Banner as it was originally hung on the exterior of the Smithsonian Institution Building shortly after it was acquired for the National Museum. The flag was made during the summer of 1813 as a simple garrison flag, but after the British attacked Baltimore in 1814, it gained recognition as the "Star Spangled Banner". The flag became a valued keepsake of Major George Armistead, the commander of Baltimore's Fort McHenry, and was retained by his descendants. Eventually the family came to believe that the Star Spangled Banner belonged in a museum as an artifact of national heritage. Armistead's grandson, Eben Appleton, made inquires and corresponded with Smithsonian Secretary Charles D. Walcott. In 1907 Appleton loaned the flag to the Smithsonian Institution and later in 1912 he converted the loan to a gift. The flag was restored by the Smithsonian Institution in 1914. This negative has been altered, please see the note field; Packed in the wooden crate that Commodore George Preble had made for it in 1876, the flag was shipped from New York by Adams Express on July 5, 1907, and arrived at the Smithsonian the next day. Secretary Walcott was out of town, but Assistant Secretary Richard Rathbun had it hung on the exterior wall of the Castle and photographed. The flag was then placed in a case in the Arts and Industries Building's Hall of History, next to cases holding military artifacts that had belonged to George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant
Restrictions:: For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
Topics:: Buildings, Flags, Gifts, Loans, United States Flag
Subjects:: Appleton, Eben, Armistead, George 1780-1818, Walcott, Charles D (Charles Doolittle) 1850-1927, Rathbun, Richard 1852-1918, Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.), Star-Spangled Banner (Flag)
Category:: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Form/Genre:: Photographic print, Object
Local Number:: 19703A or MAH-19703A
Physical Description:: Color: Cyano type; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Object; Medium: Photographic print
Full Record:: http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!9732~!0#focus

Using the Archives' Collections

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Smithsonian Institution Building

Creator:: Unknown
Title:: Smithsonian Institution Building
Date:: 1903
Summary:: View of the Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle, after a snow fall in 1903. The statue of Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian, facing the west end of the building, is visible in the foreground. Six cars are parked on a road in front of the Smithsonian Institution building
Restrictions:: For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
Topics:: Automobiles, Joseph Henry Statue, Secretaries, Snow, Statues
Subject:: Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)
Category:: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Place:: United States of America, District of Columbia, Washington, Southwest, Smithsonian Institution Building
Form/Genre:: Photographic print, Exterior
Local Number:: 94-12566
Physical Description:: Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Exterior; Medium: Photographic print
Full Record:: http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!8154~!0#focus

Using the Archives' Collections

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Smithsonian Park from North Carriage Porch of Smithsonian Institution Building

Creator:: Unknown
Title:: Smithsonian Park from North Carriage Porch of Smithsonian Institution Building
Summary:: View is looking out at the section of The Mall known as "Smithsonian Park," from the North Carriage Porch of the Smithsonian Institution Building, late 19th century
Restrictions:: For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
Topic:: Carriage Porch
Subjects:: Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.), Smithsonian Park
Category:: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Place:: Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)
Form/Genre:: Photographic print, Exterior
Local Number:: 1255 or MAH-1255
Physical Description:: Color: Black and White; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Exterior; Medium: Photographic print
Full Record:: http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!10228~!0#focus

Using the Archives' Collections

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North and Flag Towers of the Smithsonian Institution Building

Creator:: Unknown
Title:: North and Flag Towers of the Smithsonian Institution Building
Date:: c. 1870
Notes:: Similar view but including East Wing and Campanile Tower: neg # 72-1968
Summary:: View of the North Tower, the Flag Tower and the Carriage Porch of the Smithsonian Institution Building from across the National Mall in the late 19th century. Trees and tall grass are in the foreground
Restrictions:: For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
Topics:: Carriage Porch, Smithsonian Institution Building--North Entrance, Smithsonian Institution Building--North Front
Subjects:: Smithsonian Institution Building North Towers, Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.), Smithsonian Institution Building Flag Tower
Category:: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Place:: Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)
Form/Genre:: Photographic print, Exterior
Local Number:: 72-1970
Physical Description:: Color: Black and White; Size: 8w x 10h; Type of Image: Exterior; Medium: Photographic print
Full Record:: http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!10227~!0#focus

Using the Archives' Collections

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South Facade of the Smithsonian Institution Building

Creator:: Unknown
Title:: South Facade of the Smithsonian Institution Building
Summary:: Few changes had occurred on the south facade of the Smithsonian Institution Building by 1885 except for the wooden shed to the right of the south door and the alteration of the entrance on the south side of the east wing into a freight loading platform ( removed in 1971). Benches have been placed along paths in the South Yard
Restrictions:: For permission to reproduce or publish, contact osiaref@si.edu or call 202-633-5870. To order reproductions, call 202-633-1933 or contact photos@si.edu
Topic:: Smithsonian Institution Building--South Front
Subjects:: Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.), South Yard
Category:: Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Form/Genre:: Photographic print, Exterior
Local Number:: 45963 or 2889 or nhb-2889
Physical Description:: Color: Black and White; Size: 10w x 8h; Type of Image: Exterior; Medium: Photographic print
Full Record:: http://siris-sihistory.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!sichronology&uri=full=3100001~!10226~!0#focus