Description: In 1864, Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth sparked people’s imagination, but have you heard that before the novel was published, the Smithsonian attempted a journey of its own.
Description: How the projects are selected for inclusion in the Smithsonian Transcription Center and how the digital volunteers who contribute their work help make collections accessible.
Description: Exactly 165 years ago today, legislation establishing the Smithsonian Institution was passed by the US Congress and signed into law by President James K. Polk. From today’s perspective, it seems like a “no-brainer” to accept a generous bequest from a little-known Englishman named James Smithson and create an institution in his name. But from the perspective of that era, the
Description: Couldn’t we all use a little more warmth and kindness in the world? For World Kindness Day, we’re highlighting acts of kindness by Smithsonian employees that were featured in the staff newsletter, "The Torch."
Description: Improved physical housing is one step you can take to help extend the life of your audiovisual media. Take a look at the new housing for lacquer transcription disc recordings from The World is Yours radio programs.
Description: Archives are often used by genealogists to create their family histories. Often it's a tedious process that can involve many repositories throughout the country or even the world, but the final product can be fascinating. Take, for instance, Melbourne ("Mel") Romaine Carriker's Vista Nieve: The Remarkable True Adventures of an Early Twentieth Century Naturalist and His Family
Description: A couple of months ago, Tony Cohn, host of Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast, contacted the Archives about an upcoming episode they were preparing. Sidedoor highlights the unseen or little-known stories about collections at the Smithsonian. The Archives’ work was recently front-and-center of an episode of The Sidedoor Podcast about America’s first food spy.
Description: Dear Reader,We greet you today with a tale that tolls for thee.Even in the most modern of archives, some spooky things lurk right under our noses. Enjoy a poem that sings their praises…or does it?
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Untitled, by Thomas Smillie, c. 1890, Smithsonian Institution Archives."][/caption] One of the things people often want to know about photography at the Smithsonian is, “How many photographs do you have?” with the quick follow-up, “Have you counted all of them?” No one knows for certain, but statistical sampling suggests
Description: To celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month, we would like to recognize Marianne Green, a volunteer in the Digital Services Division who digitizes and reviews documents, letters, and photographs requested by researchers, helping provide access to our collections.
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="275" caption="Miss Gloria Smith (Wedding) Deluxe Wedding Album, June 24, 1956, by Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.), Silver gelatin on cellulose acetate film sheet, Scurlock Studio Records, ca. 1905-1994, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Call No. 0618.278439. "][/caption] When I read Laurie Lambrecht’s recent