Reference Request
Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Accession 02-132
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications
Productions, 1979-1989
Descriptive Entry
This accession consists of video elements (1 inch magnetic, 3/4 inch U-matic, VHS), 1/4 inch audiotape, and 16mm film documenting seven productions. The 1986 production "Looking at Earth" (also known as the "Radar Show") was a companion show to the National Air and Space Museum exhibition with the same name. The exhibit was concerned with shuttle radar imaging, and looked at the history of aerial and orbital views of the Earth, from camera-carrying pigeons to aircraft to satellites. "The Reel Jungle," 1988, was a companion film to the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service Exhibition, "Tropical Rainforests: A Disappearing Treasure," which showed the myths and misconceptions that artists and filmmakers have created about tropical rainforests. The film won a 1989 CINE Golden Eagle Award. "Mirrors on the Universe: The MMT Story," 1979, documented the construction of the Multiple Mirror Telescope and its potential for scientific discovery. "Museums and Community," 1988, was a video released by the Office of Museum Programs, which was produced by the Smithsonian Kellogg Project in Museum Education to show how museums can become more involved in their communities. "Enter Life," a 1986 animated film, accompanied the National Museum of Natural History exhibition "The Earliest Traces of Life." The exhibition and film showed the critical stages thought to be involved in the establishment of living things on our planet based on Kenneth McCarn Towe's assessment of possible scenarios and probable hazards early life on Earth may have encountered. "Communication: It's More Than Sound," 1982, was a training film for guards, information desk personnel, and docents for assisting hearing-impaired visitors. "Phone Philm," 1976, was a companion film to the National Museum of American History exhibition "Person to Person" in the Electricity Hall that marked the 100th anniversary of the telephone.
Restrictions
Access RestrictionRestrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- Communication: It's More Than Sound (Motion picture : 1982)
- Enter Life (Motion picture : 1986)
- Looking at Earth (Documentary film : 1986)
- Looking at Earth (Exhibition) (1986: Washington, D.C.)
- Mirrors on the Universe: The MMT story (Motion picture : 1979)
- Multiple Mirror Telescope Observatory
- Museums and community (Video recording : 1988)
- National Air and Space Museum (U.S.) -- Exhibitions
- National Museum of American History (U.S.) -- Exhibitions
- National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) -- Exhibitions
- Person to Person (Exhibition) (1976: Washington, D.C.)
- Phone Philm (Motion picture : 1976)
- Reel Jungle (Video recording : 1988)
- Smithsonian Institution. Office of Museum Programs
- Smithsonian Institution. Traveling Exhibition Service -- Exhibitions
- Space Shuttle Program (U.S.)
- The Earliest Traces of Life (Exhibition) (1986: Washington, D.C.)
- Towe, Kenneth McCarn
- Tropical Rainforests: A Disappearing Treasure (Traveling exhibition) (1988-1994)
Subject
- Documentary films
- Documentary videos
- Hearing impaired
- Motion pictures -- Production and direction
- Museum exhibits
- Radar
- Rain forests
- Smithsonian Kellogg Project
- Telephone
- Telescopes
- Video recordings -- Production and direction
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 02-132, Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications, Productions