Description: [edan-image:id=siris_arc_383399,size=180,right]Vicarious research is one of the great joys of the reference desk at the Smithsonian Institution Archives. From our front-row (well, only-row) seat outside the reading room, we catch tantalizing glimpses of our patrons’ manifold research topics.The reference team fields around 6,000 queries per year. Ask us what people have been
Description: Why would a fashion video appear on an environmental blog? That’s the question I found myself asking while performing web quality assurance (aka web QA) on the blog for the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), which has more to do with fish than it does with fashion. As an intern in the Digital Services Division at the Smithsonian Institution Archives, my work in
Description: We are pleased to announce a new mobile experience produced by the Archives, Castle of Curiosities. The Smithsonian's first building, the Castle, opened its doors in 1855. While the Norman architectural style evoked "learned university," it was bordered by fetid canals and rather isolated from the rest of Washington D.C. Check out an app about iconic stories in the history of
Description: Meet the newest (and adorable) member of our National Zoo's family. She sparked an epic cute battle on Twitter! [via WTOP]Maybe not so adorable, a prehistoric "badger otter." [via Smithsonian Magazine]The National Museum of American History's political curators were busy last weekend collecting artifacts from the Inauguration and Women's March. [via Voice of America]Speaking
Description: In celebration of our friends at the National Archives’ #ElectionCollection campaign, we are sharing some unique photos of U.S. Presidents in our collection.