Description: Each week, the Archives features a woman who has been a groundbreaker at the Smithsonian, past or present, in a series titled Wonderful Women Wednesday.
Description: DAY Without ArtSince 1989, December 1 has been observed as Day Without Art, coinciding with World AIDS Day.December 1 is the Day Without Art, coinciding with World AIDS Day. Join us as we explore how the Smithsonian has “celebrate[d] the lives and achievements of lost colleagues and friends.”
Description: It is with sadness that I report that Mitch Toda is stepping down as the blog coordinator. Since 2011, Mitch Toda has been the man behind-the-scenes making sure everything runs smoothly. As a staff archivist, he works daily with the records he takes in from Smithsonian museums and offices such as the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Office of
Description: Today, James Smithson’s bequest to found the Smithsonian is considered a wonderful event, but in 1835 when it was announced, many Americans responded negatively. Why did they look his gift horse in the mouth?
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Posing with a yearbook picture of myself, by Billy Mabray, Creative Commons: Attribution 2.0."][/caption] I’m a fan of yearbooks. I was an editor of mine in college, a somewhat unusual, multi-volume, and boxed object that included two books, a booklet, a brochure, and (it being the late sixties) a balloon. Back then, we
Description: On July 20, 1969, television broadcasters and Smithsonian visitors joined in watching history in the making when astronauts stepped onto the Moon.
Description: [caption id="attachment_12162" align="aligncenter" width="384" caption="A participant discusses a lock of hair from a member of her family with NMAAHC staff at a Save Our African American Treasures event held in Detroit, Michigan, by Michael Barnes, Courtesy of The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture."][/caption] [caption
Description: Sometimes a single picture or new piece of information can open a window to a whole new perspective. In my case, it was a couple of sentences—spoken at a recent presentation at the Best Practices Exchange 2010 conference in Phoenix, Arizona—that turned out to be revelatory. The conference was a gathering of archivists, librarians, record managers, and digital curators whose
Description: It's National Zoo and Aquarium Month! Let's explore the early days of the National Aquarium and its commitment to the promotion of marine science and aquaculture.
Description: Nearly two years ago, I first heard of a course on the conservation of Japanese paper co-organized by ICCROM, the cultural heritage arm of UNESCO, and the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (also known in Japanese as “Tobunken”). Over three weeks, the course offered a first-hand look at the traditional Japanese conservation techniques, materials, and