Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley (1913-2001) riding a scooter at the 1974 Folklife Festival in the Mississippi delta section, with a cotton field behind him, by Unidentified photographer, Photographic print, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 613, Box 269, Folder: SDR Photos, Negative number:
Description: [edan-image:id=siris_sic_12022,size=250,left]Volunteers have been an integral part of the Smithsonian since its earliest years. The Institution has always been “dependent on the kindness of strangers.” Volunteers make tremendous contributions to Smithsonian operations every day in virtually every corner of the globe. The Smithsonian's paid staff of some 6,000 employees is