Reference Request
Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Accession 14-100
National Air and Space Museum
Enola Gay Exhibition Records, 1968, 1970, 1981-2006
Collection Overview
| General Information About This Collection | |
|---|---|
| Repository: | Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu. |
| Creator: | National Air and Space Museum |
| Title: | Enola Gay Exhibition Records |
| Dates: | 1968, 1970, 1981-2006 |
| Quantity: | 7.3 cu. ft. (7 record storage boxes) (2 3x5 boxes) |
| Collection: | Accession 14-100 |
| Language of Materials: | English |
| Summary: | This accession consists of records created and maintained by Martin Harwit, Director of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), 1987-1995, documenting plans to exhibit the "Enola Gay" and the resulting controversy. A script for "The Crossroads: The End of World War II, the Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War" was released for comment in January 1994. The exhibition was retitled "The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II" and the script underwent several major revisions through January 1995. Each version of the script was met with controversy, particularly from veterans groups. On January 30, the exhibition was cancelled and Harwit resigned as Director on May 2, 1995. Prior to his resignation, Harwit had collected copies of all of NASM's current and historical documents related to the "Enola Gay" in order to prepare for his testimony during Congressional hearings on the matter; however, the hearings occurred shortly after his resignation and Harwit was not asked to testify. On June 28, 1995, "Enola Gay" was presented as a fact-based exhibition with little interpretation and significant emphasis on the aircraft's restoration. After his resignation, Harwit continued to collect clippings, journal articles, and television coverage related to the "Enola Gay" and its exhibition and received related materials from veterans groups. He also spoke on the subject in a variety of settings. In 1996, Harwit published the book "An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay." A Japanese translation was published in 1997. Materials include correspondence and memoranda; exhibition scripts (some annotated); Congressional hearing transcripts; journal articles, preprints, and book reviews; copies of "An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay" in English and Japanese; Director's calendars, notes, and Rolodex; chronology of the "Enola Gay's" restoration and exhibition; lecture scripts and slide presentations; newspaper clippings and videotaped news stories and television programs; radio interviews with Harwit on audiotape; video elements created during the production of exhibition videos; and related materials. This accession also includes several compilations of documents related to the "Enola Gay" that served different purposes. Some materials document projects and professional activities undertaken by Harwit after his resignation. |
Descriptive Entry
This accession consists of records created and maintained by Martin Harwit, Director of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), 1987-1995, documenting plans to exhibit the Enola Gay and the resulting controversy. A script for The Crossroads: The End of World War II, the Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War was released for comment in January 1994. The exhibition was retitled The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II and the script underwent several major revisions through January 1995. Each version of the script was met with controversy, particularly from veterans groups. On January 30, the exhibition was cancelled and Harwit resigned as Director on May 2, 1995. Prior to his resignation, Harwit had collected copies of all of NASM's current and historical documents related to the Enola Gay in order to prepare for his testimony during Congressional hearings on the matter; however, the hearings occurred shortly after his resignation and Harwit was not asked to testify. On June 28, 1995, Enola Gay was presented as a fact-based exhibition with little interpretation and significant emphasis on the aircraft's restoration.
After his resignation, Harwit continued to collect clippings, journal articles, and television coverage related to the Enola Gay and its exhibition and received related materials from veterans groups. He also spoke on the subject in a variety of settings. In 1996, Harwit published the book An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay. A Japanese translation was published in 1997.
Materials include correspondence and memoranda; exhibition scripts (some annotated); Congressional hearing transcripts; journal articles, preprints, and book reviews; copies of An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay in English and Japanese; Director's calendars, notes, and Rolodex; chronology of the Enola Gay's restoration and exhibition; lecture scripts and slide presentations; newspaper clippings and videotaped news stories and television programs; radio interviews with Harwit on audiotape; video elements created during the production of exhibition videos; and related materials. This accession also includes several compilations of documents related to the Enola Gay that served different purposes. Some materials document projects and professional activities undertaken by Harwit after his resignation.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay (Monograph : 1966)
- Enola Gay (Bomber)
- Enola Gay (Exhibition) (1995-1998: Washington, D.C.)
- Harwit, Martin, 1931-
- National Air and Space Museum (U.S.). Office of the Director
- The Crossroads: The End of World War II, the Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War (Proposed exhibition)
- The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II (Proposed exhibition)
Subject
- Aeronautical museums
- Atomic bomb
- Legislative hearings -- United States
- Museum directors
- Museum exhibits
- World War, 1939-1945
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 14-100, National Air and Space Museum, Enola Gay Exhibition Records
Container List
Box 1
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, December 1968, May-June 1986 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, July-November 1987 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, December 1987 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, January-March 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, April 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, May 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, June 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, July 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, August 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, September 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, October 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, November-December 1988 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, January-April 1989 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, May-June 1989 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, August-December 1989 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, 1990 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, February-June 1991 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, July-September 1991 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, October-November 1991 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, January-July 1992 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, August-December 1992 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, January-February 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, March 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, April 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, May 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, June 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, July 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, August 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, September 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, October 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, November 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, December 1993 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, January 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, February 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, March 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, April 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, May 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, June 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, July 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, August 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, September 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, October 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, November 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, December 1994 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Box 2
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, January 1995 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, February 1995 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents, March-May 1995 (compiled in preparation for Congressional testimony)
Enola Gay and Its Exhibition - Correspondence and Other Documents (Aftermath), 1995-1997
Exhibition Script #1 - The Crossroads: The End of World War II, the Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War, January 1994 (this script was sent to the Air Force Association with a request for comments - not included in this accession - but was not initially sent to the Veterans of Foreign Wars) (3 folders)
Exhibition Script #2 - The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II, May 1994 (annotated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with Robert D. Manhan as the primary contact and given to Harwit after the exhibition was cancelled) (3 folders)
Exhibition Script #3 - The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II, August 1994 (annotated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with Robert D. Manhan as the primary contact and given to Harwit after the exhibition was cancelled) (3 folders)
Exhibition Script #4 - The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II, October 1994 (annotated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with Robert D. Manhan as the primary contact and given to Harwit after the exhibition was cancelled) (3 folders)
Box 3
Exhibition Script #5 - The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II, October 1994 (annotated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with Robert D. Manhan as the primary contact and given to Harwit after the exhibition was cancelled) (3 folders)
Exhibition Script #2 - The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II, Section 000, December 1994 (annotated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with Robert D. Manhan as the primary contact and given to Harwit after the exhibition was cancelled) (3 folders)
Exhibition Script (Unnumbered) - The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II, January 1995 (2 folders)
Documentation of the Enola Gay Exhibit Annotated by Martin Harwit for Use in His Book An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay (5 folders)
"The Enola Gay Debate, August 1993-May 1995" - Chronology, Correspondence, Script Analyses, and Other Key Documents Issued by the Air Force Association to the Press
"Enola Gay Coverage, 1994" - Media Report and Clippings Issued by the Air Force Association
Box 4
"Enola Gay Coverage, 1995" - Media Report and Clippings Issued by the Air Force Association
"Enola Gay Coverage, 1995" - Media Report and Clippings Issued by the Air Force Association in 1996 (expanded from 1995 issue)
"Hearings Before the Committee on Rules and Administration, United States Senate, One Hundred and Fourth Congress, First Session on the Smithsonian Institution Management Guidelines for the Future, May 11-18, 1995"
Reactions to the Cancellation of The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II Exhibition in "Technology and Culture: The International Quarterly of the Society for the History of Technology," Volume 39, Number 3, July 1998
Reactions to the Cancellation of The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II Exhibition in "Technology and Culture: The International Quarterly of the Society for the History of Technology," Volume 45, Number 2, April 2004
Reactions to the Cancellation of The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II Exhibition in "The Journal of American History," Volume 82, Number 3, December 1995
Preprints and Notices of Future Publications Related to the Exhibition of the Enola Gay, 1996-2005
An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay by Martin Harwit, Published by Copernicus (Springer-Verlag), 1996 - Annotated by Harwit to Mark Sections to Be Dropped from Japanese Translation
Japanese Translation of An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay by Martin Harwit, Published by Misuzu Shobo, 1997
An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay Book Reviews, 1996-1998
Miscellaneous Talks by Martin Harwit on the Cancellation of the Enola Gay Exhibition, c. 1995-1996
Director's Calendars, 1987-1994
Director's Calendars, 1991-1995
Martin Harwit's Calendars, 1997-1998
Box 5
Director's Daily Activity Schedule, August 17, 1987-August 14, 1992 (index cards)
Box 6
Director's Daily Activity Schedule, August 17, 1992-May 1, 1995 (index cards)
Director's Rolodex (index cards)
Box 7
Notes and Reminders, May 23, 1988-June 10, 1992
Notes and Reminders, June 24, 1992-April 16, 1995
Notes and Reminders, undated
Compilation of Letters and Other Documents Related to the History, Restoration, and Exhibition of the Enola Gay, 1968, 1981-1991
"Log on Enola Gay Restoration and Exhibition and Some Related Military Public Programs, 1987-1995, (and a Prior Chronology from 1945-1987)" (3 folders)
"General Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Library and Memorials of the Committee on House Administration, House of Representatives, 91st Congress, Second Session, July 1970 - Smithsonian Institution: General Background - Policies, Purposes, and Goals from 1846-present"
Talks - World Conference of Mayors for Peace through Inter-City Solidarity, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the International Astronomical Union General Assembly, Kyoto, August 1997
Talks - University of Chicago and Loyola University, January 1997
Talks - Deutsches Historiches Museum, November 1995, and Manuscript, 1996
Talks - Virginia Association of Museums, March 1996
Talks - Philosophical Society of Washington, February 1998
Projects - Proposed Participation in NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation Cyber Exhibit and Documentary, 1997
Talks - Tokyo University, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science Conference in Kanagaw Prefecture, and Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, November 1996
Talks - New York University, April 1998
Talks - Bell Labs and WFMU, New Jersey, January 1997
Talks - New York Academy of Sciences, January 1995
Museum Visit - Museum fur Verkehr und Technik Berlin, May 1995
Talks - Various Events in Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne, Australia, April-May 1999
Talks - Cornell University, October 1996
Talks - Infrared Process and Analysis Center (IPAC), California Institute of Technology, October 1997
Talks - Lockheed, April 1997
Talks - Slide Presentation on the Restoration of the Enola Gay, Its Exhibition, and the History of World War II for the American Legion, Minneapolis, Labor Day Weekend, 1994
Talks - Miscellaneous (4 folders)
Box 8
Clippings, 1988
Clippings, 1991-1992
Clippings, March 1994
Clippings, April 1994
Clippings, May 1994
Clippings, June 1994
Clippings, July 1994
Clippings, August 1994
Clippings, September 1994
Clippings, October 1994
Clippings, November 1994
Clippings, December 1994
Clippings, January 1995
Clippings, February 1995
Clippings, March 1995
Clippings, April 1995
Clippings, May 1995
Clippings, June 1995
Clippings, July 1995
Clippings, August 1995
Clippings, September 1995
Clippings, October 1995
Clippings, December 1995
Clippings, 1996
Clippings, 1997
Clippings, 1998
Clippings, 1999
Clippings, 2000, 2001, 2006
Clippings, undated
Clippings - Editorial Cartoons, 1994-1995
Clippings - Japanese Coverage, 1996-1998
Clippings - Selection of New Director (Donald Engen), 1996
Clippings - Enola Gay Exhibit Opening Day Protests, June 28, 1995
Martin Harwit Letter of Resignation, May 2, 1995
Artwork for An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay
"Skimming Over the Mushroom Clouds: The Saga of the Atomic Bomb Exhibit," by Saito Michio in "Japan" Magazine, Summer 1995
"Statement Offered by Brigadier General Paul W. Tibbets (United States Air Force, Retired) at the Airmen Memorial Museum on June 8, 1994 Upon Acceptance of the Air Force Sergeants Association's Freedom Award"
Letters from Public and Colleagues Related to the Enola Gay, Its Exhibition, and the End of World War II, 1994-1995
ABC/NHK Poll of Japanese and Americans, December 1991
Miyo Morikawa Hayashi, Origami Instruction and Philosophy - Writings, Clippings, and Event Notices, 1995
Martin Harwit on "We the People with Jerry Brown," 59 minutes, March 5, 1997, audiocassette
Martin Harwit on "1370 Connection," WXXI Radio Rochester, New York, November 25, 1996, audiocassette
Martin Harwit and "An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History" on Derek McGinty, March 19, 1997, 2 audiocassettes
Enola Gay/Dr. Harwit on "The Doug Wilder Show," May 8, 1995, 2 audiocassettes
Martin Harwit on "The Green Room with Dorian," WFMU East Orange, New Jersey/WXHD Mount Hope, New York, 88 minutes, January 20, 1997, audiocassette
Box 9
Video Recording - Enola Gay Opening Press Conference, June 28, 1995, VHS
Video Recording - Secretary Michael Heyman's Press Conference, January 30, 1995, VHS
Exhibition Video - "The Last Act," Rough Cut, January 26, 1995, VHS
Exhibition Video - "The Last Act" Presentations, Work-in-Progress, VHS
Exhibition Video - "Enola Gay: In Their Own Words," Looped Master, Straight Transfer from Betacam SP, 14 minutes, June 19, 1995, VHS
Video Recording - Forum on Enola Gay, American University, VHS
Public Service Announcement - Air and Space Heritage Council, Copy, VHS
Video Recording - University of Michigan Conference Organized by Michael Heyman, Tape 1 of 2, April 1995, VHS
Video Recording - University of Michigan Conference Organized by Michael Heyman, Tape 2 of 2, April 1995, VHS
Television Coverage - Opera, Fox TV, McNeil-Lehrer, NBC News, etc., VHS
Television Coverage - "What about Bob?," "Hiroshima" (Peter Jennings), "Sunday Morning" (CBS, Terrence Smith, July 30, 1995), VHS
Television Coverage - "Enola Gay," Die Zeit-TV Magazine, July 13, 1995, VHS
Television Coverage - Enola Gay Exhibit, Time Warner Communications, VHS
Television Coverage ("Downwinders" and Nuclear Contamination) - "America's Nuclear Shame" (July 3, 1994), "Turning Point - Atomic Exposure" (February 2, 1994), "Atomic Guinea Pigs" (NOW, January 5, 1994), "Bombs Lethal Legacy" (NOVA, February 13, 1990), "Secrets of a Bomb Factory - Rocky Flats" (October 26, 1993), "Nightmare Next Door" (48 Hours), "Atomic Towns" (CNN), VHS
Television Coverage - Martin Harwit on CNN (August 21, 1994), Martin Harwit on ABC (September 21, 1994), Martin Harwit on CBS (September 25, 1994), Martin Harwit on "Nightline" (October 25, 1994), Martin Harwit on "MacNeil/Lehrer" (November 23, 1994), VHS
Television Coverage - Martin Harwit, "CNN Profiles in Government," January 10, 1989, VHS
Television Coverage - "This is America" with Dennis Wholey, Show #287, Guests: Harwit/Pritchard/Boaz/Cochran/O'Leary/Nissenson, May 9, 1997, VHS
Japanese Coverage - August 6, VHS
Japanese Coverage - NHK-BS1, August 2, 1997
Japanese Coverage - Martin Harwit, NHK TSS Home HTV RCC (August 5, 1997), NHK BS (August 6, 1997), NHK (August 15, 1997), VHS
Japanese Coverage - NHK, June 11, 1996, VHS
Japanese Coverage - August 6, 1995, VHS
Japanese Movie - "The Lunch Box," VHS
Documentary - "The Men Who Brought the Dawn: The Atomic Missions of Enola Gay and Bock's Car," Greenwich Workshop, 64 minutes, 1995, VHS
Documentary - "Atomic Bomb Survivors Uncensored," by Tania Mathias, c. 2003, VHS
- Finding Aid encoded on: 3-6-2019
- Contact us at osiaref@si.edu