Description: The Secretary’s Gold Medal for Exceptional Service was created in 1964 and is the highest honor given to Smithsonian staff for exceptional service over a long period of time. On December 4, 2014, Secretary G. Wayne Clough presented this award to Pam Henson for a lifetime of exceptional service to the Smithsonian Institution. She began her career here in 1973 and has been in
Description: Public domain infographics of African Americans in the 1900s by W. E. B. Du Bois. [via Public Domain Review]Big open cultural heritage news - the Met has released 375k public domain collections for free and unrestricted use! [via ARTNEWS]A world map of archives (and we're on the map!) [via Lynda Schmitz Fuhrig]Some guidance on managing your digital photos and video. [via
Description: In August 1996, the Smithsonian marked its 150th anniversary with a huge birthday celebration on the National Mall. For its sesquicentennial, a term which this author constantly forgets no matter how many times she looks it up, the Institution threw itself a two-day birthday party, sprinkled with special exhibit tents, concerts, nineteen birthday cakes, a special website, and
Description: On this day, 72 years ago, ornithologist Alexander Wetmore became Smithsonian Secretary--continuing his life-long dedication to field research! Help transcribe Wetmore’s extensive research and make it available for a new generation of field scientists.
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: 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: [edan-image:id=siris_sic_9592,size=200,left]Did you know the Smithsonian was an early adopter of the telephone? In June of 1878, a system of electronic bells and telephones was installed throughout the Smithsonian Castle. The system connected several workrooms and offices to provide instant communications within the building. At that time, there were only 187 telephone lines
Description: A highlight of a series of creative writings inspired by photographs from the Smithsonian Flickr Commons and published at the online journal, Dr. Hurley’s Snake-Oil Cure.