Recent Topics
- I've got mold in my files
- How does the Smithsonian Institution Archives determine which records to keep and which to discard?
- How do I become an Archivist?
- Photograph stuck to glass?
- Stabilization of crumbling materials in archive of DC volunteer organization
- How do I preserve my newspaper?
- How do I preserve my collection of historic 16mm film, audiotape or videotape?
- Should I laminate an old document, like a photo or birth certificate?
- A laminated old Official document
- Why does paper yellow?
The Smithsonian Institution Archives collects the official records of the Smithsonian’s nineteen museums, nine research centers, and the National Zoo that document Smithsonian staff, artifacts, benefactors, events, exhibits, buildings, and research. Personal papers, special collections, records of professional societies, and oral/video histories supplement these records.
The collections, which are roughly 35,000 cubic feet (46,800 feet, or 8.8 miles), are comprised of documents, diaries, field notebooks, photographs, architectural drawings, oral and videohistories, and much more. The majority of the collections have finding aids which can be accessed online.