Description: Have you ever wondered why museums choose the exhibition topics they do? These are the kinds of questions that the Smithsonian Institution Archives’ historic records of exhibitions can sometimes help us answer. An idea could stem from the personal interest of a curator, reflect an institution’s holdings, be inspired by comments from a visitor, or be designed around a specific
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="442" caption="Grace Rogers Cooper, former curator in the Division of Textiles, receiving a thirty year certificate at her farewell party from Brooke Hindle, director of the National Museum of History and Technology (NMHT), now the National Museum of American History (NMAH), 1976, Alfred Harrell, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record
Description: Starting in 1977, the National Air and Space Museum, with assistance from the International Frisbee Association, Wham-O Manufacturing Company, volunteer instructors from several states, and the Washington Area Frisbee Club, held their first Frisbee Festival on the National Mall.
Description: Link Love: a weekly post with links to interesting videos and stories about archival issues, technology and culture, and Washington D.C. and American history.
Description: Watch how we make invisible Beatles’ autographs visible with Reflectance Transform Imaging, a technique for forensic document examination.
Description: Behind the archivists, technicians, and specialists of the museum field are an abundance of organizations that network ideas, connect professionals, and present new strategies to broaden the impact of museums (American Alliance of Museums, Society of American Archivists, etc.). Many associations focus on specific aspects of this dynamic field and help to push museum practice
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Intersection of Adelaide and Creek Streets, Brisbane 1893 flood, State Library of Queensland - Negative number: 61449, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons."][/caption] A huge donation and lots of new photos to browse: the State Library of Queensland donates 50,000 photos to Wikimedia Commons [via Resource Shelf]. Thoughts on why
Description: We’re taking a look at the various watercolors the Smithsonian Institution has collected both past and present, highlighting the diversity in artists, technique, unique painting effect, and versatility to create anything from insects to cityscapes.
Description: Some refer to the Smithsonian as "America's Attic." It probably earned this nickname because throughout its history, the Smithsonian has acquired artifacts, relics, paintings, personal collections, and even hair samples related to the Commander in Chief (yes, the National Museum of American History has a collection of presidential hairs!).With Presidents' Day coming up on