Description: Readers of The Bigger Picture will be familiar with the Hungerford Deed, a 1787 property contract dividing a lucrative land inheritance between the mother and aunt of the Smithsonian’s founding donor, James Smithson. Over the last three years I have been able to take a deep dive into the content of the Deed and strengthen our understanding of Smithson’s choice to leave his
Description: Despite my long experience responding to many an incident affecting cultural heritage infrastructure and collections, since 2016, I have gained valuable experience living through the Atlantic hurricane season from the perspectives of both a professional immersed in the disaster lifecycle (preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation), and the individuals, businesses, and
Description: [caption id="attachment_8083" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="The mysterious cabinet of curiosities with assorted film cameras perched on top, 2010, by Michael Barnes, SIA."][/caption] Last fall a piece of furniture showed up in the Smithsonian Institution Archives (SIA) reception area. Aside from a few nicks, it is a large, handsome cabinet with drawers and double
Description: A look at one of the many ways the Smithsonian’s mission to increase and diffuse knowledge brought scientific knowledge to aid the public good.
Description: In honor of Veteran's Day we talk a look at how a recently discovered newspaper illustrated how information was spread/kept secret during World War II.
Description: [caption id="attachment_8323" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Smithsonian employees attend the 2010 Smithsonian Digitization Fair. Photograph by Michael Barnes."][/caption] For two days in mid-September, Smithsonian Institution employees gathered for a digitization fair to share ideas and hear about some neat projects. Even those who work here are impressed by