Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="287" caption="Eugene Behlan, chief of National Museum of Natural History Office of Exhibits, with a mannequin before the opening of "Western Civilization: Origins and Traditions," 1978, by Richard K. Hofmeister, Photographic print, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 371 Box 2 Folder July 1978, Negative Number:
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.