Reference Request
Finding Aids to Oral Histories in the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Record Unit 9634
History of the Smithsonian Associates Oral History Interviews, 2013
Historical Note
The Smithsonian Associates interviewees include Michael E. Alin, Robert H. Angle, Brigitte Blachere, Carol A. Bogash, Joseph M. Carper, Michael W. Cassidy, Prudence Clendening, Neill Heath, James M. Hobbins, Amy Kotkin, Richard Kurin, Thomas E. Lovejoy, Mara Mayor, David T. Parry, Steve Pike, Ann Post, Crystal Fleary Pruitt, Dennis Smoot, William A. Stewart, Katharine F. Stewart, Abby Whiteneck, Edmund Worthy, and Abby Yochelson.
Introduction
The Smithsonian Institution Archives (SIA) began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives' record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also reminiscences and interviews recorded by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
The Smithsonian Resident Associates was founded in 1965 to provide its local members a wide range of educational and cultural activities, including classes in the arts, sciences, humanities, and crafts, as well as tours and opportunities for domestic travel. The program was expanded in 1970 with creation of the National Associates along with publication of Smithsonian magazine. From 2005 to 2013, Barbara Tuceling served as director of The Smithsonian Associates (TSA). As she retired in 2013, Tuceling conducted a series of oral history interviews with a wide range of TSA staff members and Smithsonian administrators to document the history of TSA.
Descriptive Entry
These interviews discuss their careers at TSA, new programs, relationship to the rest of the Smithsonian Institution, notable programs, significant challenges, reminiscences of colleagues, and interaction with the public and staff.
The Smithsonian Associates Oral History Interviews collection is comprised of 22 interview sessions, totaling approximately 19.1 hours of recordings and no transcripts.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Alin, Michael E.
- Angle, Robert H.
- Blachere, Brigitte
- Bogash, Carol A.
- Carper, Joseph M.
- Cassidy, Michael W.
- Clendening, Prudence
- Heath, Neill
- Hobbins, James M.
- Kotkin, Amy
- Kurin, Richard, 1950-
- Lovejoy, Thomas E.
- Mayor, Mara
- Parry, David T.
- Pike, Steve
- Post, Ann
- Pruitt, Crystal Fleary
- Smoot, Dennis
- Stewart, Katharine F.
- Stewart, William A.
- Whiteneck, Abby
- Worthy, Edmund
- Yochelson, Abby
- Tuceling, Barbara
- Smithsonian Associates. Resident Associate Program
- Smithsonian National Associates Program
- Smithsonian Associates
- Smithsonian Magazine
Subject
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9634, History of the Smithsonian Associates Oral History Interviews