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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 378

Anacostia Museum. Exhibits Department

Records, 1967-1984, 1987

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Anacostia Museum. Exhibits Department
Title:Records
Dates:1967-1984, 1987
Quantity:14 cu. ft. (14 record storage boxes)
Collection:Record Unit 378
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This record unit documents the administration of the Exhibits Design and Production Laboratory for approximately its first ten years of operation, and describes the mission, philosophy, planning, and construction of the facility. The records contain planning materials for many of the Museum's early exhibitions, which reflect the involvement of community organizations as well as museum professionals. The materials also document the Exhibits Training Program in some detail.

Historical Note

The exhibits program of the museum began in December 1967 when the Director appointed Larry Erskine Thomas as Research and Design Coordinator. After the program was divided into the Exhibit Branch and the Anacostia Studies Branch in January 1969, the two branches together were designated the Research and Design Department, and Thomas became Supervisory Program Manager. In 1974 construction began on the Exhibits Design and Production Laboratory, also known as the Exhibits Center, and it was occupied by the Exhibit Branch in October of that year. At the same time, Charles W. Mickens took charge of the Exhibit Branch and the Laboratory as Exhibits Program Manager.

In 1975 the two branches of the Research and Design Department were administratively separated, and two new subdivisions of the Exhibit Branch were formed: Design and Installation, supervised by Larry Thomas, and Exhibit Production, managed by James E. Mayo. Mickens was made responsible to the Director for the entire branch, and under his supervision the Laboratory became fully operational in October 1975. By 1982, the branch was called the Exhibits Department. Mickens retired as Exhibits Program Manager in 1977, and the position was left vacant until the appointment of Victor Govier in 1979. After Govier's departure in May 1984, the position remained vacant through 1987.

An Exhibits Training Program was implemented with a group of eleven students in September 1976. The program was originally intended to play a central role in the function of the Laboratory, with the goal of increasing the representation of minorities in the museum professions. After the training of the first class of students was completed, however, the program was discontinued in May 1978.

Charles W. Mickens managed the Exhibits Training Program as part of his duties until Ronald Wildy was hired as Training Coordinator in November 1976. Wildy resigned in January 1977, and James Mayo supervised the program until John Bradshaw was hired as Training Officer in April of that year. Bradshaw remained in the position until the program was terminated.

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Descriptive Entry

This record unit documents the administration of the Exhibits Design and Production Laboratory for approximately first ten years of operation, and describes the mission, philosophy, planning, and construction of the facility. The records contain planning materials for many of the museum's early exhibitions, which reflect the involvement of community organizations as well as museum professionals. The materials also document the Exhibits Training Program in some detail.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 378, Anacostia Museum. Exhibits Department, Records

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Container List

Box 1

Administrative Files

Memoranda from Audrey Archer, 1976-1979

Box 1 of 14

Landscaping, 1974

Box 1 of 14

Kinard correspondence, 1975-1978

Box 1 of 14

Exhibits reports, 1976-1977

Box 1 of 14

SI Press, 1975

Box 1 of 14

Meeting minutes, 1975-1977

Box 1 of 14

Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (ANM) correspondence, 1975-1978

Box 1 of 14

Audit, 1977

Box 1 of 14

Building maintenance, 1978

Box 1 of 14

Budget, 1973-1977

Box 1 of 14

Project work orders

Box 1 of 14

Security, 1976-1978

Box 1 of 14

Photo requests, 1975-1978

Box 1 of 14

Read files, FY 1975, 1977, 1978

Box 1 of 14

Box 2

Correspondence, 1977-1980

Box 2 of 14

Hoffman, Elzie

Box 2 of 14

Tenth Anniversary Information on Anacostia Museum

Box 2 of 14

V. Grovier, correspondence (1982)

Box 2 of 14

Quarterly Reports

Box 2 of 14

Correspondence, 1981-1982

Box 2 of 14

"Blacks in Government" conference (1979)

Box 2 of 14

Quarterly Summation

Box 2 of 14

Herbert Ward Collection

Box 2 of 14

Kinard, correspondence (1980-1983)

Box 2 of 14

Budget Information: FY 1984

Box 2 of 14

Budget for FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) Exhibition

Box 2 of 14

SI Annual Report (1982-1983)

Box 2 of 14

Anacostia Museum Mission Statements

Box 2 of 14

Anacostia Museum Policy and Procedures

Box 2 of 14

Anacostia Museum Schedule (1983-1984)

Box 2 of 14

Anacostia Museum - Memos, Announcements and Correspondence

Box 2 of 14

Archeological Investigation

Box 2 of 14

Afro-American Album, 1860-1960

Box 2 of 14

Administration: Audio Visual/Video Disc Information

Box 2 of 14

Administration: Study of School Age Deaf Visitors (March 1982)

Box 2 of 14

Memoranda, 1981-1983

Box 2 of 14

Correspondence, 1984

Box 2 of 14

Box 3

Exhibits Department Subject Files

Publications and announcements, 1968-1977

Box 3 of 14

Exhibits Department subject files, A-B

Box 3 of 14

Box 4

Exhibits Department subject files, C-S

Box 4 of 14

Box 5

Exhibits Department subject files, S-Z

Box 5 of 14

"Black Patriots" exhibit, 1970

Box 5 of 14

"Blacks in the Westward Movement" educational book draft, 1975

Box 5 of 14

"Black Patriots" exhibit

Box 5 of 14

Exhibit bibliographies

Box 5 of 14

Brochure: Introduction to the Negro in America

Box 5 of 14

Contracts and bids

Box 5 of 14

Cosanti Foundation and Anacosanti

Box 5 of 14

"Crisis in the Nation: White Racism" - James Baldwin, 1968

Box 5 of 14

Consulting, 1970

Box 5 of 14

REDE contract

Box 5 of 14

Flag exhibit, 1976-1977

Box 5 of 14

Commission on the Arts - Guide, 1973

Box 5 of 14

Purchase orders pending, 1973

Box 5 of 14

Exhibit list, 1967-1970

Box 5 of 14

Supervisory staff meeting, 1975

Box 5 of 14

DCAA invitation mailers, 1974-1975

Box 5 of 14

Essence magazine

Box 5 of 14

D.C. Commission of the Arts and Humanities

Box 5 of 14

Lobby shows

Box 5 of 14

D.C. public schools

Box 5 of 14

Local artists' correspondence, 1971-1974

Box 5 of 14

Grants seminar

Box 5 of 14

"Blacks in the Westward Movement" - SITES (Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service)

Box 5 of 14

Charles A. Bowles, local artist, 1974

Box 5 of 14

Consumer exhibit, 1973

Box 5 of 14

Places to Go

Box 5 of 14

Bara photographers

Box 5 of 14

Ontario Science Center

Box 5 of 14

Northeastern University

Box 5 of 14

Bicentennial 1976 - General information

Box 5 of 14

Systems buildings

Box 5 of 14

Communications courses

Box 5 of 14

WTI registration forms

Box 5 of 14

Consumer survey/invoices

Box 5 of 14

Day care center - Meeting/exhibits

Box 5 of 14

Box 6

Exhibits Department subject files, A-S

Box 6 of 14

"Blacks in the Westward Movement" exhibit

Box 6 of 14

Supplies and materials, 1975-1976

Box 6 of 14

ABC exhibit

Box 6 of 14

NCA, 1975-1976

Box 6 of 14

"Douglass Years" supplies

Box 6 of 14

BIWM exhibit purchases

Box 6 of 14

SI Press schedule, 1975-1976

Box 6 of 14

"Douglass Years" missing graphics

Box 6 of 14

"Douglass Years" contracts

Box 6 of 14

"The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction" exhibit

Visitors at the "The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction" exhibit at the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. The exhibit was on display from November 16, 1969 to January 31, 1970. [Image number 2004-63044]
Box 6 of 14

Dozier, Richard K. - American Institute of Architects

Box 6 of 14

Materials - exhibit construction

Box 6 of 14

Martin Library King Library exhibit hall plan

Box 6 of 14

"Anacostia Story" artifacts

Box 6 of 14

AFRAM Exposition, 1977

Box 6 of 14

Box 7

Research schedule, 1975-1976

Box 7 of 14

ANM exhibits schedule, FY 1975-FY 1976

Box 7 of 14

Man hour report, 1974

Box 7 of 14

Budget, FY 1974

Box 7 of 14

Byron D. Rushing paper, 1973

Box 7 of 14

Dunlop receipts, 1976

Box 7 of 14

Exhibits schedule, 1975-1976

Box 7 of 14

Exhibits projects

Box 7 of 14

"John Robinson" exhibit, 1976

Box 7 of 14

"Barnett-Aden" mailing list

Box 7 of 14

"Barnett-Aden" correspondence

Box 7 of 14

"Hey, Look at Me"

Box 7 of 14

Afro-American Culture Foundation

Box 7 of 14

Expo 1974

Box 7 of 14

Exhibit cab. training projects

Box 7 of 14

Artifacts - "Blacks in West...," 1975

Box 7 of 14

BIWM panels corrected, 1975

Box 7 of 14

BIWM page layout

Box 7 of 14

Supervisory staff meeting minutes, 1975

Box 7 of 14

Distribution list - SI

Box 7 of 14

"Black Inventors" exhibit, J. Daniels memo, 1975

Box 7 of 14

BIWM exhibit contract - Showtell, 1975

Box 7 of 14

Addressograph multigraph, 1976

Box 7 of 14

"Eastbank Artist" letter - Early form

Box 7 of 14

Institute on (Harpers Ferry) Environmental Interpretation

Box 7 of 14

Migration/slide show - B. Fellows

Box 7 of 14

Candlemaking

Box 7 of 14

Projects pending

Box 7 of 14

"East Bank Artist" insurance, 1975

Box 7 of 14

"East Bank Artist"

Box 7 of 14

UNESCO conference, Atlanta, 1971

Box 7 of 14

Travel, 1968

Box 7 of 14

Stock requisitions

Box 7 of 14

Purchase orders, 1971-1972

Box 7 of 14

"Evolution" exhibit, part II

Box 7 of 14

Exhibit text, 1972

Box 7 of 14

Materials to purchase, 1972

Box 7 of 14

HUD (Housing and Urban Development) contract - Mrs. Fellows

Box 7 of 14

VTR street interview - "Evolution Part II"

Box 7 of 14

Information and description forms for paintings

Box 7 of 14

Price list - Photo work

Box 7 of 14

Supply requisitions, 1972

Box 7 of 14

Box 8

Exhibits Department subject files, F-Z, 1968-1973

Box 8 of 14

D.C. Art Association annual art exhibit, 1971, 1974

Box 8 of 14

Children's art exhibit labels

Box 8 of 14

Box 9

"D.C. Art Association 2nd Art Exhibition," 1970

Box 9 of 14

Exhibits Department subject files, A-C, 1967-1975

Box 9 of 14

Box 10

Exhibits Department subject files, D-V, 1967-1975

Box 10 of 14

Exhibits Department subject files, A-C, N-Z, 1967-1973

Box 10 of 14

Box 11

Exhibits Department subject files, A-W, 1967-1974

Box 11 of 14

Box 12

Non-SI museums, A-Z, 1968-1971

Box 12 of 14

Miscellaneous art subjects, A-Z, 1968-1971

Box 12 of 14

Non-SI exhibits, A-Z, 1968-1971

Box 12 of 14

Box 13

Exhibits Training Program

Curriculum suggestions

Box 13 of 14

Training and curriculum writing

Box 13 of 14

ANM Training Advisory Board

Box 13 of 14

Afro-American Museums Association, correspondence

Box 13 of 14

American University

Box 13 of 14

Briefing memorandum

Box 13 of 14

Center for Inquiry and Discovery/Capital Children's Museum

Box 13 of 14

CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act)

Box 13 of 14

Civil Service

Box 13 of 14

Cross-training

Box 13 of 14

Correspondence (arranged alphabetically)

Box 13 of 14

Exhibits Design and Production Apprenticeship Training Program Curriculum

Box 13 of 14

Photo/AV curriculum

Box 13 of 14

Graphics/Design curriculum

Box 13 of 14

Exhibit Production curriculum

Box 13 of 14

Paper Mounting curriculum

Box 13 of 14

Plastics curriculum

Box 13 of 14

Silkscreening curriculum

Box 13 of 14

Textiles curriculum

Box 13 of 14

External evaluation proposals and report

Box 13 of 14

Ford Foundation

Box 13 of 14

Box 14

Annual Ford report

Box 14 of 14

Ford Foundation budget proposal

Box 14 of 14

Funding and grants - General

Box 14 of 14

George Washington University

Box 14 of 14

HEW (Department of Health, Education, and Welfare)

Box 14 of 14

Department of Labor

Box 14 of 14

Survey for positions

Box 14 of 14

Mobil Oil

Box 14 of 14

Training program monthly reports

Box 14 of 14

National Children's Island

Box 14 of 14

Museum training programs

Box 14 of 14

OIC (Opportunity Industrialization Center)

Box 14 of 14

Pacific Consultants

Box 14 of 14

Philosophy of Program

Box 14 of 14

Proposals - General

Box 14 of 14

Proposals

Box 14 of 14

Reference materials

Box 14 of 14

Reports - General

Box 14 of 14

Schedule

Box 14 of 14

Tenth Anniversary

Box 14 of 14

Trainees' weekly reports

Box 14 of 14

Personnel

Box 14 of 14

Trainees correspondence

Box 14 of 14

University of the District of Columbia

Box 14 of 14

Vincennes University

Box 14 of 14

WMAL Radio

Box 14 of 14

Correspondence

Box 14 of 14

Workshops and tours

Box 14 of 14

Training program read files: October 1976 - September 1978

Box 14 of 14

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