Reference Request
Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Record Unit 375
National Museum of American History. Department of the History of Science and Technology
Records, circa 1925-1937, 1954-1985
Collection Overview
| General Information About This Collection | |
|---|---|
| Repository: | Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu. |
| Creator: | National Museum of American History. Department of the History of Science and Technology |
| Title: | Records |
| Dates: | circa 1925-1937, 1954-1985 |
| Quantity: | 5.5 cu. ft. (5 record storage boxes) (1 document box) |
| Collection: | Record Unit 375 |
| Language of Materials: | English |
| Summary: | These records document administrative operations and exhibition programs of the Department of the History of Science and Technology and its predecessors, chiefly from 1958 to 1985. Some records pertain to technological exhibitions and other activities of curatorial divisions located in the Arts and Industries Building in the 1920s and 1930s. Records consist of correspondence and memoranda between Museum staff and chairmen of the Department, including Frank A. Taylor, Head Curator of the Department of Engineering and Industries through 1956; Robert P. Multhauf, Acting Head Curator, 1957, Head Curator of the Department of Science and Technology, 1958-1963, and Chairman, 1964-1966; Susan Faye Cannon (prior to 1976, Walter F. Cannon) 1966-1968; Bernard S. Finn, 1969-1972, Robert M. Vogel, 1973-1975; Otto Mayr, 1976-1977; Finn, Chairman of the Department of the History of Science, 1978-1980, and of the Department of the History of Science and Technology, 1980-1982; and Arthur P. Molella, 1983- . Also included in the records is documentation about the Hall of Physics and the Hall of Chemistry; script for the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial Exhibition; exhibition floor plans and drawings; agreements for incoming loans of artifacts from private collectors and other museums; photographs of the architect's drawing for the Museum building; photographs of Museum exhibitions and special events; photographs of exhibitions located in the Arts and Industries Building; curatorial travel reports; budgetary records; patent specifications; conservation requirements for artifacts; information on the Museum's collection inventory project; and minutes of meetings. |
Historical Note
The Department of the History of Science and Technology was established in 1980, when the Department of the History of Technology and the Department of the History of Science were consolidated.
Descriptive Entry
These records document administrative operations and exhibition programs of the Department of the History of Science and Technology and its predecessors, chiefly from 1958 to 1985. A small amount of the records pertain to technological exhibitions and other activities of curatorial divisions located in the Arts and Industries Building in the 1920s and 1930s.
Records consists of correspondence and memoranda between Museum staff and chairmen of the Department, including Robert P. Multhauf, Head Curator, 1958-1963, Chairman, 1964-1965; Walter F. Cannon, 1966-1968; Bernard S. Finn, 1969-1972, 1978-1982; Otto Mayr, 1976-1977; John T. Schlebecker, Jr., 1975-1979; and Arthur P. Molella, 1983- .
Also included in the records is documentation about the Hall of Physics and Hall of Chemistry; script for the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial Exhibition; exhibition floor plans and drawings; agreements for incoming loans of artifacts from private collectors or other museums; photographs of the architect's drawing for the Museum building; photographs of Museum exhibitions and special events; photographs of exhibitions located in the Arts and Industries Building; curatorial travel reports; budgetary records; patent specifications; conservation; requirements for artifacts; information on the Museum's collection inventory project; and minutes of meetings.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.)
- Building Brooklyn Bridge: The Design and Construction, 1867-1883 (Exhibition) (1983: Washington, D.C.)
- Cannon, Susan Faye, 1925-1981
- Finn, Bernard S., 1932-
- Mayr, Otto
- Molella, Arthur P., 1944-
- Multhauf, Robert P.
- National Museum of American History (U.S.). Hall of Chemistry
- National Museum of American History (U.S.). Hall of Physics
- Taylor, Frank A. (Frank Augustus), 1903-2007
- Vogel, Robert M.
Subject
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 375, National Museum of American History. Department of the History of Science and Technology, Records
Container List
Box 1
Rappaport Models
Knight, J. L. - Model Maker
Industrial Models, Wilmington
Science Fair Exhibit, 1956 - 1957
Washington Futurama Display at Hecht Co., 1954
Goddard Rocket
Planning Exhibit Halls, Museum of History and Technology
Civil Service Exhibit on Science and Engineering
Storage Units - Museum of History and Technology (MHT)
Storage Area - MHT
Arts and Industries Building: History
Museum Planning
Operation "Treasure Chest" Receipts, 1946
Exhibits, 1970 - 1976
Commercial Exhibits
New Museum [NMHT]
Exhibits: Materials Lost for Lack of Space
Missing Specimens
Case-of-the Month, December 1979 - January 1980 (Math Models)
Scheme of Classification for a Museum of Engineering and Industry, 1934 (Mitman)
Case-of-the Month: September 1979, Warner, "Recent Accessions-Astronomy & Surveying"
Case-of-the Month: May 1979, Surgical Staplers
Case-of-the Month: Christmas 1978, (Not Done)
Counters and Chambers, May - August 1977 (Meo/Forman)
Case-of-the Month: "A Young Engineer's Christmas," December 1976
Baekeland and Bakelite, September - October 1976
Experimental Psychology Apparatus, May 1976
Case-of-the Month: Recent Accessions (February - April 1976)
Special Exhibit Case-Ron's
Case-of-the Month: December 1973, Physical Sciences
Case-of-the Month: November 1973, Medical Sciences
Case-of-the Month: October 1973, Electricity
Case-of-the Month: September 1973, Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Case-of-the Month: August 1973, Section of Mathematics
Case-of-the Month: May 1973, New Accessions
Case-of-the Month: April 1973, Copernicus Century
Case-of-the Month: February 1973, New Accessions
Case-of-the Month: January 1973, Medical Sciences
Case-of-the Month: January - November 1972 (11 folders)
Case-of-the Month: December 1974, Whatsit
Case-of-the Month: October/November 1974, Finn
Case-of-the Month: September/October 1974, Mayr
Case-of-the Month: June 1974, Eklund
Case-of-the Month: April/May 1974, 10th Anniversary, General
Case-of-the Month: February 1974, M & C E (Watches)
Case-of-the Month: January 1974, New Accessions
Case-of-the Month: September 1975, Botanical Models
Case-of-the Month: July-August 1975, Orthoptics (Harris-Medical Sciences)
Case-of-the Month: June 1975 (Mayr)
Case-of-the Month: March 1975 (Hearing Aids)
Case-of-the Month: February 1975, Psychological Testing (Sokal)
Case-of-the Month: July - August and October - December 1971 (5 folders)
Case-of-the Month: Whatsit Replies
Case-of-the Month: January - June 1971 (6 folders)
Case-of-the Month: November - December 1970 (2 folders)
Exhibits: Special - The Textile Industry: New England, 1800-1920
Exhibit:-19th Century Steam Engine Art
Case - Oddities
Material Requested by Robert P. Multhauf, April 1, 1970, from files of Chairman, S & T
Schedule for Opening of MHT Exhibition Halls, June 1964 - April 1968
Exhibits - Improvements
Schedule for Forthcoming MHT Exhibits
Temporary Exhibits, etc.
Sultner Fund
Division of Photographic History
Budget FY 1980, Department of the History of Technology
Box 2
Research Awards Program
Jackson, Edward (Memos)
Finn, Bernard S. (Memos)
Ezell, Edward C. (Memos)
Evelyn, Doug (Memos)
Blitzer, Charles (Memos)
White, Roger (Memos)
Ripley, S. Dillon (Memos)
Perrot, Paul (Memos)
Molella, Art (Memos)
Mayr, Otto (Memos)
Lundeberg, Philip K. (Memos)
Langley, Harold D. (Memos)
Kennedy, Roger (Memos)
Correspondence, 1982 - 1983
Chronologic File, 1982 - Chairman's Office, Department of the History of Science and Technology
Department of the History of Science and Technology-Trust Funds
Audit - Collections Management, June 1983
Computer Services Center, September 1983
Information Systems - Computers
Radio-Active Materials, February 1983
Computer Considerations
Word Processor (Guide to Safer Use)
Wang Processing, March 1983
Conservation
Museum Support Center
Visitor Statistics, NMAH (National Museum of American History)
NMAH Storage Committee
Department of the History of Science and Technology, Staff Publications
SI (Smithsonian Institution) Telephone Directory, 1981
Special Events, NMAH
James Smithson Society
Security
Security in Exhibit Halls
Secretary's Program Report
Special Events FY 1981, Department of the History of Science and Technology
Public Affairs Office
Special Events for 1982
Public Inquiries
Parking
Patent Specifications, FY 1978 - Requests
Instruction - Request for Patent Specifications
Patent Specifications, FY 1979
OPLANTS (Office of Plant Services - Support Services)
Guidelines for Reference Areas
Office Space, NMAH
Objects Processing Facility
Interagency Translations Requests, December 1978
Library
NMHT Reorganization, March 1980
Possible Departmental Structure (Eliminating Divisions)
NMHT - Possible Four Department Organization and Four Department Organization, 1977
GSA Supplies
NMAH Shelf Inventory
Museum Advisory Committee
Inventory - Silver Hill, 1981-1982
NAFMAB (National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board)
Bernard S. Finn, Chron File, 1981
Cyclical Inventories
Bernard S. Finn, Chron File, 1980
SI Council
Internships at NMAH
Smithsonian Fellows, 1983
SI Fellows, 1981-1982
Applications/Fellowships and Grants
Fellowship Applications Science and Technology, 1982
SI Fellows, 1983
NMAH Division of Education 1982
Evaluations - Attic and Clockwork
Doubleday Lecture Series
Decter's Organization Plans, 1979
Emergency Plan Wardens
Memos to and from Barney Finn, 1980
Department of the History of Science and Technology-Department Staff Meetings
Department of the History of Science (General)
Transportation-Pullman Negative List
Department Emblems
Reference Collections-Memos by B. Finn
Agriculture and Forest Products: Section of Forest Products
Museum Specialists-Department of History of Technology
Living Historical Farms (General)
Extractive Industries-Inter-departmental Transfer of Specimens (Ahlborn to Schlebecker)
Department of Industries-General
An Historical Agricultural Experiment Stations, 12/26/1974
Dismantling the Petroleum Hall, 1978
Department of the History of Technology, Accountable Officer, 1979
Hand Tool Collection, 1979
Collections Manager Search 1979
Proposed Degree Program in Historical Agricultural, 1979
Harry Abrams Book on NMHT, 1979
Hull at 175 Water Street (Underwater Archaeology)
Radioactive Specimens, Department of History of Science and Technology
Box 3
Division of Transportation
Hugh R. Hughes Notebooks (Naval Interest)
Division of Physical Sciences
Division of Naval History
Division of Military History
Division of Medical Sciences
Division of Mechanisms
Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
CBA Collection
Division of Mathematics
Extractive Industries
Bernard S. Finn, Chron File 1981
Organization and Methods Memos
Correspondence to and from Director, 1980 (2 folders)
Correspondence to and from Director, 1981
Copyright Clause for use in purchase of artifacts for Collections
Memos to and from Director, 1982
Memos to and from Deputy Director, 1981
Memos to and from Deputy Director, 1980
Collection Management Policy
Conservation Lab
97th Congress-Smithsonian Related Members
Care of Collection Series, 1982
Collections Management/Care, Transportation, Equipment, etc., 1982
NMAH Collections Committee: Procedures and Forms
Budget, 1981
Seidell Endowment Fund
Guidelines Imposed During Appropriation Process
Special Events (1983 Budget)
Audits of NMHT, 1980 Budget, FY 1983
1984 Budget Call
History of Science and Technology, Base Level Budget, FY 1982
Budget FY 1982, Department of the History of Science and Technology
Smithsonian Year 1980, Department of the History of Science and Technology
Annual Report 1979
Forward Planning, 1979-1983, Department of the History of Technology
Smithsonian Year 1981
Smithsonian Year 1982, Department of the History of Science and Technology
Department Archives, 1981, Robert Harding
Archival Facility, NMAH
Significant Accessions, FY 1982
FY 1982 Accession Statistics
NMAH's "Education" Operation, 1980
Staff Work Schedules, Department of the History of Science and Technology, 1980
Inventories of Collections, 1972
Old Exhibit Files
National Academy of Engineering Query, October 1984
Case-of-the Month: Schedule
Case-of-the Month: October - November 1981
Dental Articulators, 1981
Case-of-the Month Season's Greetings (Hoffman), 1980/1981
Rubidium Atomic Clock, (Geiger), 1981
Glass Insulators (Hutt/Greenwald), 1981
Smallpox Zero (Kondratas), 1980
Case-of-the Month: History of Technology Department, 1979-1980
Case-of-the Month: History of Technology Department, March 1976 - September 1977
Case-of-the Month: Homeopathic Medicine (Kondratas), 1980
Case-of-the Month: Cables, 1980
NMAH Exhibition Schedule, February - September 1981
Dibner Exhibit Area
Orwell Symposium
The Peace of 1783
World As a Clock, Clockwork Universe (Mayr and Maurice)
Marconi Exhibit
Knoxville International Exposition, 1982
Warner-Perfect in Her Place Exhibit
Refitting of Ptolmaic Observatory
Exhibit Classification: Hall of Petroleum
Changing American Farm
The Workers' World
The George Washington Study Group 1980
Loan Papers - "Jefferson & Science"
Box 4
Jefferson Exhibit
Jefferson
Trees of Christmas
Bond Clock Exhibit
Atomic Clock Exhibit
Star Spangled Banner Exhibition
Yorktown Exhibit
ACEC Exhibit [American Consulting Engineers Council]
Iron and Steel Hall Models, January 1983- Pete Daniels and Francis Gadson
Brooklyn Bridge Exhibit
Brooklyn Bridge Exhibit Script - Jo Hatch, 12/82
Parity Exhibit
NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) - Materials regarding payments, reimbursements, etc.: "Jefferson and Science"
Independence with the Help of France
Gum Prints & Carbon
Exhibit on Fire Prevention
Clock Hall
Ciphers
Burrow of Manhattan
Steel Navy
Standard Time
The New Steel Navy
"Futures" (Visions of the American Future)
"Fashioned in Steel" - Lundeberg, - March 1983
America's Cup
Yankee Enterprise in the Computer Age (Proposal), David Noble, February 1983
Patent Model Exhibit Show, May 1983
Messenger Series, May 1983
NMAH Exhibition Schedules
Audio Visual Needs, Department of the History of Science and Technology
Exhibit Maintenance, January 1983
Exhibit Proposals, Department of the History of Science and Technology, 1981 - 1982
Exhibit Proposals, Department of the History of Science and Technology, October 1983
Proposals, 1985
Office of Symposia and Seminars (outreach program)
Accession Files not Received
Symposium on the American Farmer
Project Management Training Course, 1982
Move Inventory Summary
Pharmaceutical History, Revised January 31, 1958
Growth of the United States
Dedication and Opening of MHT, January 21-22, 1964
Photographs-Museum of History and Technology (architect's drawings)
Rooms and Telephone Numbers, MHT
Newspaper Article on MHT, May 1962
Special Exhibitions
Specifications for Dioramas
Script for Exhibits-Outline for Preparing and Memos regarding Editing of Labels
S & T (Science and Technology) Office Space in MHT
Misc. Memos to Staff regarding MHT
Laboratories for MHT
Case-of-the Month
Exhibits, 1958 - 1969
Math Hall
Revolutionary War Bicentennial (Exhibits)
Dibner Symposium, 1978
Dibner Library
Script for Exhibits
Box 5
Benjamin Banneker, 1980 - 1981
Discovery Corner, 1974 - 1984
18th Century Royal Spanish Armada, 1983
Energy Exhibit, 1980 - 1982
History of Magic in America, 1982
History of Science Exhibit Plans, 1977 - 1979
Ideal Images, 1981 - 1982
Labor/Capital Exhibit, 1982
Niagara Bridges of, 1983 - 1984
National Radio Drama Festival, 1982
National Treasures Exhibit, 1982 - 1984
Outdoor Auto Event, 1981
Saw Mill, 1982
Soil Conservation Exhibit, 1982
Solar Energy Exhibit, 1981
Spanish Naval Exhibit, 1983
The Vatican & Science Exhibit, 1981 - 1983
Vietnam Exhibit, 1982
Volunteerism Exhibit, 1981
World Communication Year 1983, 1982
Various financial records for other objects and travel for 1982 & for Dept of S & T (not transferred)
Asbestos exposure, 1982 - 1985
Nation's Attic, evaluation of, 1980
Photographic survey project, 1984
Reaccreditation of NMAH, 1984
Field Trips to New York-New Jersey
Field Trips to Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia
Field trips to St. Louis and the South
New England Field Trips
Field Trips to Baltimore
Official Trips, 1957-1958, Derek J. Price, Consultant
Field Trips to Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland
Field Trips, West of Chicago
Across the Border Trips
Europe
Travel Reports to be Filed
Finn: New York City & Rhode Island, 3-22-1971
Finn: Moscow, 1971
Finn: Schenectady, NY, February 1971
Finn: New York City, 12/27-30/1971, 1/12/1972
Finn & Multhauf: Atlantic City, 5/6-17/1972
Finn: Mass, Rhode Island, 4/20-21/1972
Finn: New York City, March 20-21, 1972
Finn: New York City, July 21-23, 1972, FY 1973
Finn: Europe, August 10 thru September 10, 1968
Finn: New Orleans, Mass, 6/30-7/5/1972
Finn: Europe, April 28 - May 12, 1970
Physical Sciences
Henry Fitz, Telescope Maker's Shop
Surveying Instruments Case
Computer, Electronic
Census Exhibit
Foucault Pendulum
Special Exhibit, 35 Years with Electrons as Waves, December 1962
Davisson-Germer Exhibit, December 7, 1962. 35 Years of Electrons as Waves
Physics, Preliminary (5 folders)
Chemistry, Revised 2-21-1958
Chemistry, Preliminary
Chemistry, 2-21-1958
Chemistry, 2-21-1958
Hall of Chemistry (2 folders)
Box 6
Hall of Physics
Hall of Physics and Early Science
Hall of Physics - Script
Atlas Guidance Computer Presentation, Air Force, 1965
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