Description: The Smithsonian was established in 1846 as a public trust by an act of Congress that also created a Board of Regents charged with establishing an institution “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” Find out more about how the Smithsonian is organized and governed in the pages below.
Description: The dispositions in this schedule pertain to records created in typical circumstances; any unique situations may require consultation with the Archives and Information Management Team.