Description: Today, James Smithson’s bequest to found the Smithsonian is considered a wonderful event, but in 1835 when it was announced, many Americans responded negatively. Why did they look his gift horse in the mouth?
Description: Investigating digital files from the 1980s turns up software that let people play matchmaker–for endangered species. Let’s see where this leads.
Description: A clause in the last will and testament of English scientist James Smithson eventually led to his estate being left to the United States "to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” There was much debate as to what constituted such an establishment, but many of the proposals
Description: This National Preparedness Month, collections care professionals might consider joining their local Alliance for Response initiative to improve their organizations, practices, and programs.
Description: [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="Untitled, by Unidentified photographer, c. 1905, Smithsonian Institution Archives"][/caption] In keeping with our summer travel theme, I began to investigate some of the ways in which photographers were first able to travel with their cameras. To give a brief background, the invention of photography in 1839 coincided with
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="326" caption="Taimi Toffer Anderson (1937- ), 1956, by Science Service, Black-and-white photograph, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Acc. 90-105 - Science Service, Records, 1920s-1970s, Local number: SIA Acc. 90-105 (SIA2010-0105)."][/caption] The wealth of interesting stories in the Science Service collection never ceases to surprise
Description: Many of us read, write and send emails every day, but when did it all start at the Smithsonian? In 1980 Smithsonian staff had typewriters and telephones on their desk, with one or two FAX machines per office. The Smithsonian operated a single general purpose computer, the Honeywell mainframe, for all Smithsonian data processing applications and which did not include an email
Description: As a teenager, Robert Ridgway was tapped by the Smithsonian’s Assistant Secretary to be an expedition zoologist. In 1881, when the US National Museum opened its doors, he was the curator of Birds. Download and reuse some of bird illustrations today through Smithsonian Open Access.
Showing results 3421 - 3432 of 3753 for Archives of American Art. Southwest Project