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Finding Aids to Oral Histories in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 9502

Multhauf, Robert P., interviewee

Robert P. Multhauf Oral History Interviews, 1974

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Multhauf, Robert P., interviewee
Title:Robert P. Multhauf Oral History Interviews
Dates:1974
Quantity:3 audiotapes (Reference copies). 6 digital .mp3 files (Reference copies).
Collection:Record Unit 9502
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

Multhauf was interviewed on May 29 and July 23, 1974, by Miriam S. Freilicher and Pamela M. Henson. The interviews cover his education, career as Curator of Engineering, work on the development of the National Museum of History and Technology, and his role as an administrator in the Museum. They include reminiscences of colleagues such as Leonard Carmichael, Howard I. Chapelle, and Frank A. Taylor.

Historical Note

Robert P. Multhauf (1919-2004), a historian of science, received his Ph.D. in 1953 from the University of California at Berkeley. After postdoctoral work at The Johns Hopkins University, he was appointed Curator of Engineering at the U.S. National Museum in 1955. In 1957, he was appointed head Curator of the Department of Science and Technology. From 1966 to 1969, Multhauf served as Director of the new National Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, and in 1969 he was appointed Senior Historian of Science. Multhauf also served as editor of Isis from 1964 to 1978.

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Introduction

The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives' record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program staff conducts interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Multhauf was interviewed for the Oral History Project because he made significant scholarly and administrative contributions to the Smithsonian during his career.

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Descriptive Entry

Multhauf was interviewed on May 29 and July 23, 1974, by Miriam S. Freilicher and Pamela M. Henson. The interviews cover his education, career as Curator of Engineering, work on the development of the National Museum of History and Technology, and his role as an administrator in the Museum. They include reminiscences of colleagues such as Leonard Carmichael, Howard I. Chapelle, and Frank A. Taylor.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9502, Robert P. Multhauf Oral History Interviews

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Container List

Interviews

Interview 1: May 29, 1974

Interviews

Interview of Multhauf by Freilicher covers his educational background, career as Curator of Engineering, work in the development of the Museum of History and Technology and exhibits modernization, and philosophy of administration, curatorial functions and exhibits, c. 1919-1974.

Interviews

Transcript, pp. 1-43, of audio recording, 1.0 hour.

Interviews

Recording of Interview: Total Recording Time: 1 hour

Interviews
Original Master: 1 5" reel-to-reel audiotape
Preservation Masters: 2 digital .wav files
Reference Copies: 1 cassette audiotape; 2 digital .mp3 files.

Interview 2: July 23, 1974

Interviews

Interview of Multhauf by Freilicher and Henson discusses the historical background of the Museum of History and Technology, the museum's collections management, exhibits, and staffing, the history of science, and Smithsonian administration, c. 1876-1974.

Interviews

Transcript, pp. 44-109, of audio recording, 2.0 hours.

Interviews

Recording of Interview: Total Recording Time: 2 hours

Interviews
Original Masters: 2 5" reel-to-reel audiotapes
Preservation Masters: 4 digital .wav files
Reference Copies: 2 audiocassettes; 4 digital .mp3 files.

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