Description: Leila Gay Forbes Clark, director of Smithsonian’s library, 1942–1957, was the second woman to direct the library at the Smithsonian. She led early efforts to create a more centralized library system. In 1952, she coauthored The Butterflies of Virginia with her husband, zoologist Austin Hobart Clark. #Groundbreaker
Description: Dr. Anthea M. Hartig, Elizabeth MacMillan Director, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, became the first woman to ever lead the museum in 2019. She oversees more than 250 employees, a budget of $40 million, and 1.8 million objects. #Groundbreaker
Description: Joan Madden, Assistant Director for Education, 1987–88, Supervisory Information and Education Specialist, 1980–86, and Education Coordinator, 1974–80, was integral to the development and management of the Discovery Room and Naturalist Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. She also managed volunteers for Smithsonian’s Office of Elementary and Secondary
Description: The 1846 legislation that established the Smithsonian Institution provided for a Secretary, appointed by the Board of Regents, who would run the day-to-day affairs of the Institution. When David Skorton became Secretary last year, he was the thirteenth person to take on that responsibility. In our last blog, we discussed the first six and now we’ll look at seven through
Description: Impacting the National Air and Space Museum with her caring attitude and dedication to her work in the Building Management Department, Annie Sullivan is an individual to be remembered.
Description: You have probably heard of Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen. Even Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen. And I know you have heard of Rudolph. But do you recall the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s most famous reindeers of all? “Operation Reindeer” was the most publicized event of 1958. Fourteen reindeer and one caribou made their way, sans the open sleigh, to Washington, D.C., for
Description: Claudine K. Brown began her long career with Smithsonian as the Director of the African American History Project, 1990–1995, developing a program plan for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Brown also served as Smithsonian’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Arts and Humanities, 1991-1995. She returned to the Smithsonian in 2010 as Assistant
Description: Dr. Sharon F. Patton, Director, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, 2003-2008, oversaw the museum’s 9,000 African art objects and welcomed the distinguished Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection. Under her leadership, the museum opened its first traveling exhibition and established a visiting artists program. #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: Link Love: a weekly blog feature with links to interesting videos and stories regarding archival issues, the Smithsonian, and Washington D.C and American history.