Description: Dr. Massumeh Farhad, Chief Curator and Curator of Islamic Art, Freer and Sackler Galleries, has created numerous exhibitions on the arts of the Islamic world, and twice received the Smithsonian Secretary's prestigious research prize. #Groundbreaker
Description: Curator of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Fath Davis Ruffins, is a specialist in ethnic imagery in popular culture, the history of advertising, and the origins of ethnic museums on the National Mall. #Groundbreaker
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: Dr. Valerie Paul, head scientist at the Smithsonian Marine Station and director of the Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems, researches marine chemical ecology, marine plant-herbivore interactions, coral reef ecology, and marine natural products. #Groundbreaker
Description: Frances Glessner Lee crafted the “Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death” detailing miniature crime scenes (now on exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery)—to train homicide investigators revolutionizing the emerging field of homicide investigation. #Groundbreaker
Description: Eleanor McMillan, Conservator, Smithsonian’s Conservation Analytical Laboratory, 1963–94, supervised conservation projects and educational and training programs. Although she began as a generalist, McMillan became the first paper conservator in the laboratory. After retirement, she provided initial funding for the Smithsonian Center for Archives Conservation and donated her
Description: Dr. Nancy Bercaw, co-curator of the “Slavery and Freedom” exhibit, National Museum of African American History and Culture, oversaw a slave cabin's move from Edisto Island, South Carolina to the Smithsonian: “I have to see it where it was...I felt like I needed to meet people as well.” #Groundbreaker