Description: A clause in the last will and testament of English scientist James Smithson eventually led to his estate being left to the United States "to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” There was much debate as to what constituted such an establishment, but many of the proposals
Description: Documenting the history, programs, and activities of the Smithsonian Latino Center through the capture of their websites and their other online sites.
Description: The Smithsonian Institution Archives continually strives to add more collections to its website. This is a periodic post highlighting new acquisitions and individual collection items.New Finding Aids Online: A group of collections documenting the field work of scientists who worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology:
Description: [caption id="attachment_1885" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="U.S. National Museum, Street vendors at Center Market, by unknown photographer, 10/16/1909, Smithsonian Institution Archives RU79 Assistant Secretary in charge of the United States National Museum, SIA2009-1992."][/caption] Interns and staff at the Smithsonian Institution Archives are digitizing historic
Description: The Renwick Gallery has just reopened after a two-year renovation, reinventing itself yet again. Its history has mirrored the history of the nation.
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: [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