Description: When institutions archive data, they capture and organize it in digital formats that make the most sense to them, based upon their specific group of users, needs, and technical options that are available at a given point in time. But what happens if, for example, institutions decide that it makes sense to enhance their mission by their presenting data collections in less
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="341" caption="Funeral home, Date unknown, by Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.), Silver gelatin on cellulose acetate film sheet, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Scurlock Studio Records, 1905-1994, Call No. 0618.239244."][/caption] The Smithsonian has millions of pictures organized in hundreds of subject based
Description: Gorgeous rights-free illustrations of caterpillars from a German entomological by Christian Friedrich Vogel volume in the Biodiversity Heritage Library. [via Public Domain Review]A look at the first multispecies experimental coral microcosm in the world installed at our National Museum of Natural History in 1980. [via Ocean Portal]You can explore over 30,000 NY Historic
Description: The Smithsonian Institution Archives will be celebrating African American History Month throughout February with a series of related posts on THE BIGGER PICTURE. “I have engaged in almost Every Branch of work that is usual and unusual about S.I.”[edan-image:id=siris_sic_5597,size=150,left] These words, written by Solomon G. Brown to Secretary Spencer F. Baird on August 12,
Description: Tomorrow, to mark Archives Month, we will be on Twitter for #AskAnArchivist! We will answer any questions you may have about archives, from preserving your photos to favorites in our collection. Get your questions ready for this amazing line-up!William Bennett – Conservation Specialist, Smithsonian Institution Archives, attends to the physical needs of our archival collections
Description: [caption id="attachment_7450" align="aligncenter" width="379" caption="A broken glass plate negative, Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives."][/caption] We are in the throes of summer here in Washington DC, and that means three things: heat, more heat, and interns. Interns not only allow us to share expertise and experience with newcomers to the field, but also allow