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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Accession 14-272

National Museum of American History. Office of Curatorial Affairs

Exhibition and Program Records, 1983-2014

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:National Museum of American History. Office of Curatorial Affairs
Title:Exhibition and Program Records
Dates:1983-2014
Quantity:2.5 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Collection:Accession 14-272
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This accession consists of records that document the work of the Office of Curatorial Affairs (OCA) in coordinating and planning exhibitions and programs. A program documented was the colloquium co-sponsored by the National Museum of American History and the American Association of Museums (now American Alliance of Museums) on collections planning. The colloquium was a forum for representatives from a variety of museums to come together to discuss a profession-wide set of standards and best practices for collections planning. A group of 35 museums were selected from across the United States, representing both large and small institutions, with different governing authorities, at different stages in the planning process, and represented history, art, natural science, and other disciplines. Also documented are the exhibition review process, including records from the Committee on Exhibitions and Programs (CEP), Project Review Committee (PRC), and Focus Forward. Additionally, there are records documenting the collecting plans from various departments and divisions under the purview of the Office of Curatorial Affairs. Lastly, included are the records of James B. Gardner, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs, which document his work on exhibitions, collecting, and management. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, policies, collection plans, meeting agendas and notes, and proposals. Some materials are in electronic format.

Descriptive Entry

nsists of records that document the work of the Office of Curatorial Affairs (OCA) in coordinating and planning exhibitions and programs. A program documented was the colloquium co-sponsored by the National Museum of American History and the American Association of Museums (now American Alliance of Museums) on collections planning. The colloquium was a forum for representatives from a variety of museums to come together to discuss a profession-wide set of standards and best practices for collections planning. A group of 35 museums were selected from across the United States, representing both large and small institutions, with different governing authorities, at different stages in the planning process, and represented history, art, natural science, and other disciplines.

Also documented are the exhibition review process, including records from the Committee on Exhibitions and Programs (CEP), Project Review Committee (PRC), and Focus Forward. Additionally, there are records documenting the collecting plans from various departments and divisions under the purview of the Office of Curatorial Affairs. Lastly, included are the records of James B. Gardner, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs, which document his work on exhibitions, collecting, and management.

Materials include correspondence, memoranda, policies, collection plans, meeting agendas and notes, and proposals. Some materials are in electronic format.

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Use Restriction

Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2030; Transferring office; 05/30/2013 memorandum, Toda to Henderson; Contact reference staff for details.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 14-272, National Museum of American History. Office of Curatorial Affairs, Exhibition and Program Records

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Container List

Box 1

Smithsonian Institution and American Association of Museums Collections Planning Colloquium - November 15-16, 2002

Accepted Applications, 2002 (4 folders)

Box 1 of 3

Agenda, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Correspondence, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Collections Conversation, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Collections Planning Initiative, 2001-2002

Box 1 of 3

Collections Planning Next Steps, October 2005

Box 1 of 3

Collections Planning Initiative - Jim Gardner, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Collections Planning Process, 2005-2006

Box 1 of 3

Collections Planning Return, 2005-2009

Box 1 of 3

Collections Policies, 1983-1990

Box 1 of 3

Collections Assessment - Stacey Kluck, 2003

Box 1 of 3

Cross Unit Collecting - Peter Liebhold, 2003

Box 1 of 3

Intellectual Framework - John Fleckner, 2003

Box 1 of 3

Planning Process - David K. Allison, 2003

Box 1 of 3

Collections Planning - Steering Committee, 2003-2004

Box 1 of 3

Colloquium Content/Agenda/Facilitators, 2001-2002

Box 1 of 3

Colloquium Invitation Letter, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Colloquium Participants from all museums and NMAH and facilitators, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Colloquium Task Force, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Part One - Transcript Summaries, Creating an Intellectual Framework for Collections Planning, Collections Planning: Strategies for Planning and Implementation, Outline for a Collections Plan, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Part Two - Transcript, Seating Charts and Plans Discussed, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Evaluations, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Jim Gardner - American Association of Museums (AAM) article - Crossroads, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Office of Policy and Analysis, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Participant letters, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Planning notes, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Promotional Materials - Application and Web, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Thematic Framework Document, 2002

Box 1 of 3

Exhibitions

Concept Statements for exhibits in Transforming the National Museum of American History, 2001

Box 1 of 3

Exhibition concepts, 2001

Box 1 of 3

The Blueprint Plan

Box 1 of 3

Exhibition Concepts and Ideas, 2001 (2 folders)

Box 1 of 3

Exhibit Review Process, 1998

Box 1 of 3

Committee on Exhibitions and Programs (CEP) - Agendas and Notes, 2011

Box 1 of 3

Project Review Committee (PRC) - Agendas and Notes, 2011

Box 1 of 3

CEP, PRC, and Focus Forward - Agendas, minutes, proposals, notes, and charts, 2011-2014 (electronic records)

Box 1 of 3

Collecting Plans

Division of Computers, Information and Society Collections Policy Statement, 1988

Box 1 of 3

Museum of American History (MAH) - Collecting Profile

Box 1 of 3

Policy and Procedure for Collecting Plans, 1990

Box 1 of 3

Division of Cultural History - Collecting plans - Musical History, 1991; Community Life, 1987; and Musical Instruments, 1984

Box 1 of 3

Division of Social History - Collecting plan - Costume, 1991

Box 1 of 3

Division of Social History - Collecting plan - Ceramics & Glass, 1992

Box 1 of 3

Division of Social History - Collecting plan - Domestic Life, 1992

Box 1 of 3

Box 2

Division of Social History - Collecting plan - Political History, 1992

Box 2 of 3

Division of Social History - Collecting plan - Textiles, 1992

Box 2 of 3

Archives Center - Collections Development Statement Draft, 1997

Box 2 of 3

Department of the History of Science and Technology - Collecting Plans, 1991 - 1993

Box 2 of 3

Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Collection plan, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Armed Forces - Collection plan, 1993; National Firearms Collection - Collecting plan, 1985

Box 2 of 3

Division of Biological Sciences - Collecting plan, 1990

Box 2 of 3

Division of Computers, Information and Society - Collecting plan, 1992

Box 2 of 3

Division of Electricity and Modern Physics - Collecting plan, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Engineering and Industry - Civil and Mechanical Engineering collecting plan, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Medical Sciences - Collecting plan, 1990

Box 2 of 3

Division of Physical Sciences - Collecting plan

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Collecting plans - Road (includes Motorsports and Firefighting), Maritime, Rail, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Computers, Information and Society - Collecting plan, 1995

Box 2 of 3

Division of Engineering and Industry - Civil and Mechanical Engineering Section - Collecting plan, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Engineering and Industry - Collections Policy Summary; Production Section, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Competition Automobiles, Competition Motorcycles, Experimental Automobiles Post-1950, Competition Auto/Motorcycle Clothing and Protective Equipment - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Firefighting Equipment, Road Transportation: Animal-drawn vehicles; Passenger automobiles; Trucks; Buses, Cycles; Motorcycles - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Roads: Pavement Samples; Signs; Tollbooth; Vehicle Parts and Accessories (see categories); Models; Railroad Structures; Right-of-Way; Labor; Travel/Passenger - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Illustrative Materials, Archival, and Reference - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Maritime history: Seamen's crafts, small craft, patent models, the National Watercraft Collection, ship carvings, lifesaving, and navigation - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Maritime history: Tableware, whaling, maritime paintings, design plans - Merchant ships - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Maritime history: Archival materials, prints and photographs, machinery, furniture and furnishings, tools, propellers, souvenirs, rigging, ship architectural component parts - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of Transportation - Locomotives, railroad cars - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Ordinance collecting plan for the Military History Collection of the Division of Technology, 1995

Box 2 of 3

Division of Armed Forces History - Collecting plans, 1993

Box 2 of 3

Division of the History of Technology (Mechanisms) - Timekeepers, Mechanical, American; Timekeepers, electric and other miscellaneous types, American; Timekeepers, Non-American; Non-mechanical Timekeepers; Miscellaneous Mechanisms - Time Related - Collecting plans, 1991

Box 2 of 3

Division of the History of Technology (Mechanisms) - Hand Tools, Machinery and Material; Patent Models; For the Business Office; Watches and Watch Related; Phonographs and Phonograph Records; Locks and Related Security Devices - Collecting plans,

Box 2 of 3

Collecting Plans Steering Group, 1990 (2 folders)

Box 2 of 3

James B. Gardner, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs - Records

Proposed exhibition - American Dreams, 2006-2008 (3 folders)

Box 2 of 3

Department of History, 2005-2009 (3 folders)

Box 2 of 3

Video documentation of exhibitions, 2002-2003

Box 2 of 3

Explore American History - Introductory exhibition to NMAH, 2006-2008

Box 2 of 3

NMAH Sessions at Professional Meetings, 2003

Box 2 of 3

Object of History project, 2006-2007

Box 2 of 3

OCA Senior Managers Meetings, 1999-2004

Box 2 of 3

Box 3

Professional Accomplishments Evaluation Committee (PAEC) administration, 1989-2009

Box 3 of 3

Rosa Parks Collection, 2009

Box 3 of 3

Interpretive exhibitions workshop, 2004

Box 3 of 3

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