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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 366

National Museum of Natural History. Exhibits Committee

Exhibits Committee Records, 1961-1991

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:National Museum of Natural History. Exhibits Committee
Title:Exhibits Committee Records
Dates:1961-1991
Quantity:7 cu. ft. (7 record storage boxes)
Collection:Record Unit 366
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

These records consist of memoranda, correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, and plans and photographs of exhibitions and exhibition halls. Also included are some scripts of label text from various NMNH exhibitions. The bulk of the records are from the years 1970-1985, with a few items from 1987 and 1989.

Historical Note

The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) Exhibits Committee was formed in 1970 in order to advise the Director of NMNH on a number of matters concerning both temporary and permanent exhibitions at the museum. The Committee, which included one representative from each of the scientific departments in the museum, was responsible for advising in the selection of temporary exhibitions and the selection, support, and approval of the development and production of new exhibition halls. The Committee also assisted in the development of a long-range plan for the museum's exhibition program, and was responsible for the establishment of priorities for the upkeep and improvement of existing exhibitions.

The Exhibits Committee was headed by a Chairman who would serve for roughly two years. The Chairmen represented by these records are as follows: Ronald S. Goor (1970-1972), Leo J. Hickey (1973-1975), Douglas H. Ubelaker (1975-1977), Richard Sewell Fiske (1977-1979), Robert W. Read (1980-1981), Bruce D. Smith (1981-1983), and Richard S. Boardman (1983-1985).

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Descriptive Entry

These records consist of memoranda, correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, and plans and photographs of exhibitions and exhibition halls. Also included are some scripts of label text from various NMNH exhibitions. The bulk of the records are from the years 1970-1985, with a few items from 1987 and 1989.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 366, National Museum of Natural History. Exhibits Committee, Exhibits Committee Records

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Container List

Box 1

Exhibits Committee, 1973

Box 1 of 7

Ancient Ecuador, 1975-1976

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits, 1974

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits, 1975 (2 folders)

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits, 1976

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits, 1977

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits, 1978

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits, 1979

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits, 1980

Box 1 of 7

Old World Archeology - Hall 26, 1975-1976

Box 1 of 7

Review Bicentennial Hall, 1973-1979

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits - Miscellaneous, 1975-1977

Box 1 of 7

Bicentennial, 1973-1976

Box 1 of 7

Hall 6 - Labels, 1974

Box 1 of 7

Gem Hall, 1977

Box 1 of 7

Mexican Masks, 1978

Box 1 of 7

Rotunda Development, 1974-1975

Box 1 of 7

Ambulatory Birds, 1982

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits Committee, 1973-1976

Box 1 of 7

Hall 23, 1973-1975

Box 1 of 7

Lunar Geology, 1975-1976

Box 1 of 7

Hall 12 - Mammals, 1975

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits Evaluation Seminars, 1976

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits Committee, 1977

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits Committee, 1978

Box 1 of 7

Exhibits Committee, 1979

Box 1 of 7

Ice Age Mammals - Hall 6, undated

Box 1 of 7

Brazilian Feather Art, 1980

Box 1 of 7

Basket Show Labrador, 1982

Box 1 of 7

Nelson Show, 1981-1982

Box 1 of 7

Related Activities Committee, 1981

Box 1 of 7

Naturalists Center, 1981

Box 1 of 7

M. Stoller - National Associates Exhibit - Volcanoes and Plate Tectonics, 1979

Box 1 of 7

Halls 18-19 - Gems and Minerals, 1978

Box 1 of 7

Hall P-20 - Physical Geology, 1975-1979

Box 1 of 7

Box 2

Hall 23 - South America, 1974-1975

Box 2 of 7

Hall 25 - Physical Anthropology, 1978-1979

Box 2 of 7

Hall 26 - Western Civilization, 1975-1978

Box 2 of 7

Hall 28 - Amphibians and Reptiles, 1977

Box 2 of 7

Hall 29 - Insect Zoo, 1976-1978

Box 2 of 7

Splendors of Nature - Beautiful Things, 1976-1977

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Committee Meetings, 1973-1976 (2 folders)

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Committee Meetings, 1977-1979

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Committee Meetings, 1970-1973

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Committee Meetings, 1973-1976

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Committee Meetings, 1978

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Committee Charter, 1975-1976

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Committee Trip, 1978

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits - Miscellaneous, 1977-1979

Box 2 of 7

Handicapped Visitors, 1975-1977

Box 2 of 7

Wolf and Tymitz Evaluation - Hall "0," 1978

Box 2 of 7

Wolf and Tymitz Evaluation - Hall 6, 1978

Box 2 of 7

Museum Evaluators, November 1977

Box 2 of 7

Lakota Report, 1976

Box 2 of 7

Long Range Plan, 1978

Box 2 of 7

Long Range Plan, 1975

Box 2 of 7

Byword, 1977-1979

Box 2 of 7

Natural History Museums, 1970s

Box 2 of 7

Science and the SEM, 1978

Box 2 of 7

Folklife Festival, 1978

Box 2 of 7

Lakota Report, 1973 (includes audiocassette)

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Committee - General, 1976

Box 2 of 7

Museum Surveys, 1975-1976

Box 2 of 7

Simkin "Bile File," 1974-1976

Box 2 of 7

Byword, 1976

Box 2 of 7

Old Exhibits, undated

Box 2 of 7

Other Museums, 1970s

Box 2 of 7

Exhibits Philosophy, 1974-1976

Box 2 of 7

Ambulatory, 1977-1979

Box 2 of 7

Temporary Exhibits, 1973-1979

Box 2 of 7

Box 3

Foyer Exhibit, 1977-1978

Box 3 of 7

Cultural Dynamics Hall, 1975

Box 3 of 7

Hall "0" - Bicentennial, 1974-1979

Box 3 of 7

Halls 2-5 - Paleontology, 1973-1979

Box 3 of 7

Hall 6 - Ice Age, 1973

Box 3 of 7

Hall 10 - Evolution, 1976-1978

Box 3 of 7

Hall 10 - Mexican Show, 1978

Box 3 of 7

Hall 10 - It All Depends, 1972

Box 3 of 7

Hall 12, 1975

Box 3 of 7

Hall 15 - Mammals, 1979

Box 3 of 7

Hall 16 - Coral Reef, 1978

Box 3 of 7

Visitor Survey (IBR), 1974

Box 3 of 7

Other Museums, 1972-1974

Box 3 of 7

Floor Plans, undated

Box 3 of 7

Exhibits - Miscellaneous (mostly Long Range Plan), 1974-1978

Box 3 of 7

Exhibits Committee (Pre-1973), 1971-1972

Box 3 of 7

Hall 2, 1980-1981

Box 3 of 7

Hall 4, 1979

Box 3 of 7

Exhibits - Miscellaneous, 1975-1976

Box 3 of 7

Smithsonian Visitor Study, 1976

Box 3 of 7

The Smithsonian Grasshopper, c. 1972

Box 3 of 7

Paleontology Hall Theme Statement, 1977

Box 3 of 7

Exhibits Committee, 1975-1978 (2 folders)

Box 3 of 7

International Subcommittee for Natural History Museums (ICOM), 1974

Box 3 of 7

Himba Photoportraits Opening, 1976 (photographs)

Box 3 of 7

Bicentennial, 1968-1974

Box 3 of 7

Noise Control, 1972-1973

Box 3 of 7

Exhibits - Miscellaneous, 1971-1974

Box 3 of 7

Exhibits Committee - Miscellaneous Business, 1973

Box 3 of 7

Visitor Orientation and Survey, 1973

Box 3 of 7

Exhibits - Miscellaneous, 1974-1977 (2 folders)

Box 3 of 7

ICOM (International Council on Museums) International Committee for Natural History Museums, 1974

Box 3 of 7

Exhibits - Miscellaneous, 1970-1975

Box 3 of 7

Box 4

Exhibits - Miscellaneous, 1974-1975

Box 4 of 7

American Museum of Natural History, 1974

Box 4 of 7

Other Museums, undated

Box 4 of 7

General, 1973-1977

Box 4 of 7

Minutes of Meetings, 1981-1983

Box 4 of 7

Minutes of Meetings, 1979-1980

Box 4 of 7

Minutes of Meetings, 1977-1978

Box 4 of 7

Minutes of Meetings, 1975-1976

Box 4 of 7

Minutes of Meetings, 1973-1974

Box 4 of 7

Procedures, 1976

Box 4 of 7

Long Range Planning, 1973-1975

Box 4 of 7

Orientation Areas (Rotunda, Portico, etc.) and Related Matters (Maps, Banners, Elephant), 1973-1975

Box 4 of 7

Auditors' Report, 1974

Box 4 of 7

Budget Statements, 1976

Box 4 of 7

Permanent Exhibits, 1975

Box 4 of 7

Bicentennial - Our Changing Land, 1971-1976 (2 folders)

Box 4 of 7

Halls 2-5 - Paleontology Halls, 1977

Box 4 of 7

Hall 4 - Fossil Plants and Invertebrate Animals, 1973-1975

Box 4 of 7

Hall 6 - Ice Age Mammals and the Emergence of Man, 1973-1975

Box 4 of 7

Hall 6 - Ice Age Mammals and the Emergence of Man - Script, 1974

Box 4 of 7

Hall 6 - Ice Age Mammals and the Emergence of Man - Pamphlet Text, undated

Box 4 of 7

Hall 7 - Cultures of Africa and Asia and Hall 8 - Cultures of the Pacific and Asia, 1974

Box 4 of 7

Splendors of Nature, 1976-1977

Box 4 of 7

Hall 10 - Evolution Hall, 1976-1977

Box 4 of 7

Hall 10 - It All Depends, 1972-1974

Box 4 of 7

Halls 12-15 - Mammals, 1973-1975

Box 4 of 7

Hall 16 - Life in the Sea, 1974-1975

Box 4 of 7

Halls 18-19 - Gems and Minerals, 1974-1977

Box 4 of 7

Hall 20 - Moon Rock (Lunar Geology), 1973-1976

Box 4 of 7

Hall 20 - Physical Geology, 1971-1975

Box 4 of 7

Box 5

Hall 23 - South America: A Continent and Its Cultures, 1973-1975

Box 5 of 7

Hall 23 - South America: A Continent and Its Cultures - Proposal, undated

Box 5 of 7

Hall 26 - Origins of Western Civilization, 1975-1978

Box 5 of 7

Hall 26 - Origins of Western Civilization, Slide Set E2, 1978 (Accession 16-348)

Box 5 of 7

Hall 29 - Insects and Other Arthropods, 1975

Box 5 of 7

Open Season, 1974-1975

Box 5 of 7

Hall 10, 1975-1976

Box 5 of 7

Discovery Room, 1972-1974

Box 5 of 7

Miscellaneous, 1971-1974

Box 5 of 7

Museum Exhibits and the Handicapped, 1974-1975

Box 5 of 7

Exhibits Maintenance and Modifications, 1974-1975

Box 5 of 7

SITES (Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service), 1973

Box 5 of 7

Three Museums Exhibition Exchange Program, 1973-1974

Box 5 of 7

Surveys, undated

Box 5 of 7

Other Museums, 1970s (3 folders)

Box 5 of 7

Philbrook, 1986

Box 5 of 7

Wilkes, 1985-1986

Box 5 of 7

Aditi, 1985

Box 5 of 7

Elba to Damascus, 1985

Box 5 of 7

Maximillian-Bodmer, 1985

Box 5 of 7

Shanghai, 1984

Box 5 of 7

Israel Archeology, 1984

Box 5 of 7

Art of the Camaroons, 1984

Box 5 of 7

Ban Chang, 1983-1984

Box 5 of 7

Jewish Museum of Prague Sites, 1983

Box 5 of 7

Islam 14, 1983

Box 5 of 7

Silk Route and Diamond Path, 1983

Box 5 of 7

Special Exhibits, 1982

Box 5 of 7

Halls Report, Spring 1982

Box 5 of 7

Committee Responsibilities, 1974

Box 5 of 7

Biological Diversity Subcommittee, 1981

Box 5 of 7

Script Production, 1976

Box 5 of 7

Miscellaneous Rules, 1983

Box 5 of 7

Long Range Plan, 1974-1976

Box 5 of 7

Bryce-Laporte, 1981-1982

Box 5 of 7

Red Lounge Area, 1982

Box 5 of 7

Rotunda Shows, 1982-1984

Box 5 of 7

Exhibit - Research Case, 1982

Box 5 of 7

Master Plan, 1984

Box 5 of 7

Box 6

Rotunda Shows, 1984-1985

Box 6 of 7

Hall 5 - Dismountment, undated (photographs)

Box 6 of 7

Exhibits Programs Report, 1978

Box 6 of 7

Improvements, 1981-1982

Box 6 of 7

Comments/Letters/Temporary Shows for Carl Alexander, 1987-1988

Box 6 of 7

Long Range Plans - Latest, 1976-1984

Box 6 of 7

Cosmic Laws, 1981

Box 6 of 7

Simkin Sunday Survey, undated

Box 6 of 7

Reviewing Halls, 1977-1983

Box 6 of 7

Wager, J. Alan - Evaluating Interpretation and Interpretive Media, 1972

Box 6 of 7

Wolf - Alvin and Natural Resources Review, 1982-1983

Box 6 of 7

Lakota Survey, 1975

Box 6 of 7

Docents' Review (Evolution Hall and Dinosaur Hall), 1977-1982

Box 6 of 7

Evans Hall Schedules - General, 1981

Box 6 of 7

SEM Show, 1984

Box 6 of 7

Peterson-Bateman, 1983

Box 6 of 7

Hall 10 Review, 1981-1982

Box 6 of 7

Splendors of Nature, 1976-1977

Box 6 of 7

Insect Zoo, 1976

Box 6 of 7

Coral Reef, 1976-1982

Box 6 of 7

Hall 16 - Sea Life Hall, 1975-1981

Box 6 of 7

Human Evolution, 1982

Box 6 of 7

Marine Hall, 1983

Box 6 of 7

Invertebrates (3C), undated

Box 6 of 7

Changing Earth (3D) and Return to Sea (3E), 1982

Box 6 of 7

Mammals (4), 1982-1983

Box 6 of 7

Exhibits Transition Review Committee, 1983-1984

Box 6 of 7

Minutes, 1980-1985

Box 6 of 7

Committee Membership, 1975-1981

Box 6 of 7

Fumigation, 1978-1982

Box 6 of 7

Budgets, 1982

Box 6 of 7

Maintenance Program, 1983

Box 6 of 7

Maintenance Program (Paleobiology, Pleistocene), 1982

Box 6 of 7

Maintenance Review, Fall 1982

Box 6 of 7

Exhibits Maintenance and Improvement, 1982

Box 6 of 7

Maintenance Review - Scraps, Spring 1982

Box 6 of 7

Hall Maintenance, Fall 1981

Box 6 of 7

Maintenance Program (Old), 1975-1982

Box 6 of 7

Elephant, 1982

Box 6 of 7

Fumigation Report, 1982

Box 6 of 7

Paleontology Halls, 1977

Box 6 of 7

Miscellaneous, 1961-1987

Box 6 of 7

Installation of Exhibits, Etc., 1978-1980

Box 6 of 7

World Bank Exhibit, 1980

Box 6 of 7

Miscellaneous, 1981-1982

Box 6 of 7

Box 7

Sturtevants Exhibit, 1980

Box 7 of 7

Dalai Lama, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Mask Exhibition, 1980-1982

Box 7 of 7

Exhibits Committee Minutes, 1981-1982

Box 7 of 7

Field Trips, 1977-1984

Box 7 of 7

Biology Diversity Concept Committee, 1985

Box 7 of 7

Labrador Exhibits - Fitzhugh, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Public Relations Problems, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Philippines Photographs, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Failure to Act on Requests, 1975-1976

Box 7 of 7

Lucy, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Hall 8 - Kaeppler, 1977-1981

Box 7 of 7

Foyer Temporary Cases - Performing Arts, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Merrill-Redding Hopi Case, 197-1981

Box 7 of 7

Hall 7 - Gibson/Trousdale, 1973-1982

Box 7 of 7

Hall 6 - Sanford, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Sacred Objects - Human Remains, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Mural or Map? 1977

Box 7 of 7

Anthropology Specimens on Display in Birds, 1978

Box 7 of 7

Hopi Photographs, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Intro Paragraph - Halls 9 and 11, 1977

Box 7 of 7

Hall 26 - Van Beek, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Hall 25 - Angel, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Hall 11 - Merrill/Laughlin/Crocker, undated

Box 7 of 7

Hall 22 - Smith/Stanford/Fitzhugh, undated

Box 7 of 7

Hall 23 - Crocker, 1973-1980

Box 7 of 7

Hall 24, 1980-1982

Box 7 of 7

Hall 21 - Stanford/Fitzhugh/Smith, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Hall 9 - Merrill/Sturtevant, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Assistant Director Hiring, 1983

Box 7 of 7

Ancient Arts of the Southwest, 1980

Box 7 of 7

Celebration, 1980

Box 7 of 7

Ancient Egypt and the Origins of Agriculture, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Jordan Arched, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Curtis Show, 1978-1982

Box 7 of 7

Merovingians, 1981-1982

Box 7 of 7

Roosevelt Show, 1982

Box 7 of 7

ASTC Exhibits, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Pueblo Show - Jeremy Iowa, 1980

Box 7 of 7

Korean Exhibit, 1980-1981

Box 7 of 7

House Screens, 1977-1981

Box 7 of 7

Totem Poles, 1977-1981

Box 7 of 7

Guatemala Case, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Northwest Coast Masks, 1974-1982

Box 7 of 7

Kachina Exhibit, 1978-1980

Box 7 of 7

The Egyptian Mummy, 1981

Box 7 of 7

British Museum, c. 1981

Box 7 of 7

Examples, 1976-1978

Box 7 of 7

London Museum Report, 1980

Box 7 of 7

Process of Hall Development, 1975-1979

Box 7 of 7

Tiahuanaco, 1981

Box 7 of 7

Man, Music, and Motion, 1986-1987

Box 7 of 7

Evans Gallery Schedules, 1982-1991

Box 7 of 7

Treasures of Mexico, Spring 1978

Box 7 of 7

Hall 2 - Mural Painting, 1980

Box 7 of 7

Exhibits Maintenance - Reports, 1982-1983

Box 7 of 7

Maine Coast Tank - Hall 6 (Walter Adey), 1983

Box 7 of 7

Native Peoples of America - Halls 9 and 11, 1973

Box 7 of 7

Hall 19 Photographs, undated

Box 7 of 7

Evolution Hall Modifications, 1981-1983

Box 7 of 7

Enter Life (3A), 1982-1983

Box 7 of 7

Burgess Shale (3B), 1982-1983

Box 7 of 7

Pepper's Ghost, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Dinosaur Hall 2, 1982

Box 7 of 7

Conquest of Land I, 1973-1982

Box 7 of 7

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