Description: [caption width="189" caption="Wanda Margarite Kirkbride Farr (b. 1895), sitting in lab with microscope, Smithsonian Insitution Archives"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_238" width="162" caption="New Use for Light Reflector, National Museum of American History"][/caption]I was intrigued by a recent post on the National Museum of American History’s (NMAH) blog about the
Description: The Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, was designed by architect James Renwick, Jr. Construction began in 1847 and was finished in 1855. The statue in front of the Castle, which is visible in many of these postcards, is of Joseph Henry, who was the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. The postcards in this gallery provide exterior views of the Castle.
Description: [edan-image:id=siris_sic_12022,size=250,left]Volunteers have been an integral part of the Smithsonian since its earliest years. The Institution has always been “dependent on the kindness of strangers.” Volunteers make tremendous contributions to Smithsonian operations every day in virtually every corner of the globe. The Smithsonian's paid staff of some 6,000 employees is