Evolution of the Memo

While technological advances have caused an evolution in the methods in which we communicate, the message and purpose of these communications remain constant. In practically every collection of Smithsonian records I acquire and accession, I can expect to find the humble memorandum. Primarily used to communicate within an organization, the memorandum plays a role in documenting the history of the Smithsonian. As you will see from the following tour of memoranda found in our collections, their form has changed over the years, but the information they contain can be both mundane as well as enlightening.