Description: At SPI, we were sad to learn that Jessie Cohen died earlier this week. Jessie was one of the photographic mainstays at the Smithsonian; she started working at the Smithsonian National Zoo in 1979, photographing animals, their living quarters, and behind-the-scenes events for exhibition, education, and marketing purposes. In addition, Jessie also managed the Zoo’s exhibition
Description: Just two days ago, the Smithsonian celebrated the one-year anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). It seems like just yesterday that we were all waiting for the doors to open; yet, so much has happened in the past year. Since President Barack Obama rang the bell that opened the museum, long lines and happy faces are
Description: Curator Keith E. Melder's efforts to create the first permanent exhibit on African American history at the National Museum of American History was successful, but its journey faced difficulties and hatred from the public.
Description: Some refer to the Smithsonian as "America's Attic." It probably earned this nickname because throughout its history, the Smithsonian has acquired artifacts, relics, paintings, personal collections, and even hair samples related to the Commander in Chief (yes, the National Museum of American History has a collection of presidential hairs!).With Presidents' Day coming up on
Description: A new exhibit and publication from the National Air and Space Museum looks at the architectural beauty of airport towers with photos by Carolyn Russo. [via Weather.com]“The government must take the lead in reinvesting in the arts and humanities,” according to Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton. [via Washington Post]The Smithsonian made a 3D scan of Apollo 11 from the National
Description: Librarians at the White House Historical Association have digitized 25,000 previously uncatalogued slides! [via CNN]In case you missed it, the blog, Missing Scientists' Faces, shared 28 days of African American female scientists during Black History Month. [via @MissingSciFaces]Check out some of the Digital Public Library of America's primary source sets for Women's History
Description: The comical infographic of the week that's hitting a nerve with electronic records archivists! [via xkcd]Our National Museum of the American Indian is asking the public to submit design ideas for a memorial honoring American Indian military service. [via Navy Times] The oldest museum of African American culture, the DuSable Museum, was founded by Margaret Taylor-Burroughs in
Description: This post originally appeared on the National Museum of Natural History's blog, Unearthed.Who would think that behind the west wall of NMNH's paleontology hall is a painting of a goddess that created a sensation when installed in 1910? Some of you who visited the museum fifty years ago may remember the captivating Diana of the Tides as she surveyed the hall.Diana was painted