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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 356

National Air and Space Museum. Albert Einstein Planetarium

Development and Operation Records, circa 1957-1989

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:National Air and Space Museum. Albert Einstein Planetarium
Title:Development and Operation Records
Dates:circa 1957-1989
Quantity:14 cu. ft. (14 record storage boxes)
Collection:Record Unit 356
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This record unit consists of administrative records, such as reports, correspondence, and attendance records, in addition to records concerning each show, including scripts, correspondence, and proposals. The actual audio and video tapes are in Record Unit 520. Material from the 1950s and 1960s concerns a proposed Washington Planetarium.

Historical Note

In 1974 the Presentation and Education Division at the National Air and Space Museum was organized to develop and implement educational programs and operate the theater and planetarium planned for the new museum, then being built. A thirty-foot domed planetarium, called the Experimentarium, went into operation in the Arts and Industries Building to serve as a trial ground for the seventy-foot structure being planned. In 1975 the Federal Republic of Germany gave the United States, as a Bicentennial gift, a Zeiss planetarium projector for the planetarium. The planetarium was dedicated as the Albert Einstein Spacearium and opened in July 1976.

Von Del Chamberlain served as Chief of the Presentation and Education Division, 1974-1978, and Charles G. Barbely was Planetarium Officer, 1976-1978. In 1978, Presentation and Education was divided, with the Planetarium remaining with Presentation under Von Del Chamberlain until 1980. In that year the Planetarium became independent and the position of chief was vacant. In 1981 the Planetarium was placed under the Exhibits and Presentation Division, with Richard D. Crawford as Chief and Thomas H. Callen, II, as Chief of the Planetarium Unit. James H. Sharp served as Chief of the unit, 1983- . Since 1983, the Planetarium has been moved around the administrative hierarchy a number of times, from Space Science and Exploration, to Museum Operations, to Exhibits and Production Operations, and finally to Interpretive Programs, 1989- .

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Descriptive Entry

This record unit consists of administrative records, such as reports, correspondence, and attendance records, in addition to records concerning each show, such as scripts, correspondence, and proposals. The actual audio and video tapes are in Record Unit 520. Material from the 1950s and 1960s concerns a proposed Washington Planetarium.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 356, National Air and Space Museum. Albert Einstein Planetarium, Development and Operation Records

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Container List

Box 1

Weekly Reports

Box 1 of 14

Incoming correspondence

Box 1 of 14

Inquiries

Box 1 of 14

General Correspondence

Box 1 of 14

FY 1979 Budget

Box 1 of 14

Heavy Water Light Show

Box 1 of 14

Worlds of Tomorrow

Box 1 of 14

Exploring Space With Astronauts

Box 1 of 14

Box 2

Guggenheim Lectures

Box 2 of 14

IPS Conference

Box 2 of 14

Worlds of Tomorrow

Box 2 of 14

ISPE 1978 Correspondence

Box 2 of 14

Attendance Reports (for the Spacearium)

Box 2 of 14

Whitcomb Lecture

Box 2 of 14

Loan Agreements

Box 2 of 14

GAT-1 Rides

Box 2 of 14

Weekly Reports

Box 2 of 14

Annual Report

Box 2 of 14

Budget

Box 2 of 14

Attendance Reports

Box 2 of 14

General Correspondence

Box 2 of 14

Federal Budget

Box 2 of 14

Proposed Shows

Box 2 of 14

Program Review

Box 2 of 14

Iteration of ZBB

Box 2 of 14

Martin Communications

Box 2 of 14

Goto Planetarium Instrument

Box 2 of 14

Incoming Correspondence

Box 2 of 14

SI Year 1979

Box 2 of 14

Guggenheim Lectures 1979

Box 2 of 14

Audiotapes of the Opening, Gilbane Tapes, and Unknown (from box 5)

Box 2 of 14

Box 3

Visitors' Reactions to the National Air and Space Museum and the Individual Exhibits, Volume I: Management Summary, November 1977

Box 3 of 14

Visitors' Reactions to the National Air and Space Museum and the Individual Exhibits, Volume II: Detailed Findings, November 1977

Box 3 of 14

Slides

Box 3 of 14

Contract/Construction Information: 1 PL SYS

Box 3 of 14

Contract/Construction Information: 2 Pack re: Viewflex

Box 3 of 14

Contract/Construction Information: 3 Spitz Laboratories

Box 3 of 14

AV Production Officer

Box 3 of 14

Contract/Construction Information: 4 Viewflex Resposibility to Ad for Bids

Box 3 of 14

Contract/Construction Information: 6 Spitz Response to Ad for Bids (abridged)

Box 3 of 14

Contract/Construction Information: 7 Experimentarium Dome

Box 3 of 14

Personal Contracts

Box 3 of 14

Spitz Laboratories

Box 3 of 14

Contract/Construction Information: 8 Miscellaneous

Box 3 of 14

Barbely, Charles G.

Box 3 of 14

Sky Projection System

Box 3 of 14

Pay Invoices

Box 3 of 14

Associates

Box 3 of 14

Planetarium Literature

Box 3 of 14

Albert Einstein Planetarium Brochures

Box 3 of 14

Electrosonic

Box 3 of 14

Spitz Laboratories

Box 3 of 14

Lovelight: A Laser Musical (includes audio cassettes)

Box 3 of 14

Laser Show Information

Box 3 of 14

Model Juno/Saturn Automatic Planetarium Instrument

Box 3 of 14

Model Juno/Saturn Automatic Planetarium Expressly Designed for Museum of Natural History

Box 3 of 14

Laser Show and Planetarium Show Information

Box 3 of 14

Laser Show Information

Box 3 of 14

Deutsches Museum Brochure

Box 3 of 14

Stationary for Washington Planetarium and Space Center

Box 3 of 14

Washington Planetarium and Space Center Brochure

Box 3 of 14

Laserium Information

Box 3 of 14

Washington Building Congress Bulletin, 1966

Box 3 of 14

Albert Einstein Spacearium Equipment Information

Box 3 of 14

Pre-Experimentarium: Viewflex Drawings and Blueprints, 1971

Box 3 of 14

Pre-Experimentarium: Spitz Drawings and Blueprints, 1971

Box 3 of 14

Manuscript: Man and Cosmos, 1974

Box 3 of 14

Zeiss Planetarium Projector Model VI

Box 3 of 14

Box 4

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1957, 1960

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1961

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, January to June 1962

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1962

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1963

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, January to April 1964

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, May to December 1964

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, January to July 1965

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, August to December 1965

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1966

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1967

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1968

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1969

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1970

Box 4 of 14

Pre-Spacearium Material, 1971

Box 4 of 14

Information from Other Planetariums

Box 4 of 14

Drawings: Experimentarium

Box 4 of 14

Experimentarium/Spacearium: Correspondence and Planning Information

Box 4 of 14

Experimentarium/Spacearium: Brochures

Box 4 of 14

Cosmic Windows Forms

Box 4 of 14

Lectures and Plans for Shows

Box 4 of 14

Contract/Construction Information: 5 Finished Zoom

Box 4 of 14

Noise Control in Planetarium

Box 4 of 14

Harold Durgin NASM Telescope

Box 4 of 14

Monthly Sky Lectures

Box 4 of 14

Einstein Film

Box 4 of 14

Experimentarium/Spacearium: Brochures

Box 4 of 14

A. L. Weisbrich N2 Dome, Balloon Generator, DRS

Box 4 of 14

Negatives of Zeiss Installation, Gyrosystems Installation, Stockhausen Concert, Spaceareium Charter Document

Box 4 of 14

Box 5

Administrative Files of the NASM (National Air and Space Museum) Planetarium, FY 1985

Box 5 of 14

Box 6

Consists of an addition to the records of the Planetarium, NASM, mainly administrative files.

Box 6 of 14

Boxes 7-11

Records document the following projects: Copernicus Symposium, Outlook for Space, United States in the World, Kin and Communities, and the Einstein Centennial. Materials include correspondence with participants; information on the ceremonies, planning, budget; publications, articles, papers, newspaper clippings, and transcripts; photographs and color slides.

Boxes 7-11 of 14

Box 12

Worlds of Tomorrow

Box 12 of 14

Worlds of Tomorrow Automation I & II

Box 12 of 14

Worlds of Tomorrow Sound-Music

Box 12 of 14

Son of Cosmic Awakening

Box 12 of 14

Worlds of Tomorrow Narration

Box 12 of 14

Worlds of Tomorrow Production

Box 12 of 14

Cosmic Awakening II

Box 12 of 14

Cosmic Awakening Computer Cues

Box 12 of 14

Cosmic Awakening Contracts

Box 12 of 14

Cosmic Awakening

Box 12 of 14

Cosmic Awakening

Box 12 of 14

Cosmic Awakening Narration

Box 12 of 14

Cosmic Awakening Music

Box 12 of 14

Cosmic Awakening Sound

Box 12 of 14

Symphony of the Satellites

Box 12 of 14

Moon Journeys

Box 12 of 14

Moon Journeys - Symphony of the Satellites - Film Dupes

Box 12 of 14

Box 13

New Eyes Other Languages

Box 13 of 14

New Eyes Timing

Box 13 of 14

New Eyes Automation Milestones Sheets

Box 13 of 14

Image Placement Data Sheets - Photo & Tech Data Sheets

Box 13 of 14

Cosmic Windows - Third Production Narration

Box 13 of 14

New Eyes on the Universe Narration

Box 13 of 14

New Eyes Automation

Box 13 of 14

Cosmic Windows Narration

Box 13 of 14

Cary Ratcliff

Box 13 of 14

Sounds Reasonable, Inc.

Box 13 of 14

CSE Studios

Box 13 of 14

Cosmic Windows Sound Effects

Box 13 of 14

General Spacearium Soundtrack Information

Box 13 of 14

Cosmic Windows Music

Box 13 of 14

NASM Completed Release Forms New Eyes Musicians

Box 13 of 14

Automation Milestones Sheets Automation Notes

Box 13 of 14

Automation Command Sheets

Box 13 of 14

Automation System

Box 13 of 14

NASM "Probe" Performers' Releases (originals)

Box 13 of 14

Spacearium IV Sound Studio

Box 13 of 14

Spacearium IV Narration

Box 13 of 14

Spacearium IV Composition

Box 13 of 14

Voyager Record

Box 13 of 14

Box 14

Barbely Timings

Box 14 of 14

Cosmic Awakening Japanese

Box 14 of 14

Cosmic Awakening German

Box 14 of 14

Cosmic Awakening Spanish

Box 14 of 14

Probe

Box 14 of 14

Probe Voyager Record Materials: Greetings

Box 14 of 14

Probe Voyager Record Materials: Sound Effects

Box 14 of 14

Probe Voyager Record Materials: Music

Box 14 of 14

Probe Voyager Record Materials: Images

Box 14 of 14

Probe Timing Sheets; Some SFX Sheets; & Dummy Console Pictures

Box 14 of 14

Cosmic Windows - Third Show: Outline

Box 14 of 14

Cosmic Windows - Storyboard

Box 14 of 14

1979 Show

Box 14 of 14

Probe: Automation Milestones Sheets

Box 14 of 14

Cosmic Awakening; Moon Journeys; Symphony of the Satellites (black binder)

Box 14 of 14