Description: A closer look at staff member Henry Horan (1838-1896), who held several positions at the Smithsonian, including janitor, watchman, and superintendent of buildings, during his long career at the Institution.
Description: Artist Georgia O’Keeffe and the Hirshhorns had a friendly relationship. Read about how the two almost negotiated a deal to create a room dedicated to her work at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Privacy And Control, by Michael Pickard, Creative Commons: Attribution 2.0."][/caption] It’s a sign of the times that we’re being watched often and everywhere. Surveillance, a word that once summoned up all things intrusive and sneaky, is part of everyday lexicon and experience.
Description: Vernacular photography is the latest type of photography to be discovered by museums. Postcards, collected by Walker Evans (but still, postcards), have just been exhibited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a tintype exhibition just closed at the International Center of Photography in New York, another exhibit of snapshots was seen at the National Gallery of Art.
Description: Uta C. Merzbach was the Smithsonian's first curator of mathematical instruments. She brought her field to life with unique presentations of mathematical concepts and computer history.
Description: Halloween is over, but you can prepare for next year’s festivities with these costume ideas from the Archives of American Art. [via Smithsonian Magazine]The National Zoo’s naked mole-rat colony is still in anarchy! [via DCist]See sixty of this year’s top wildlife photographs submitted to the Windland Smith Rice Awards either online or in person at the National Museum of
Description: You don’t have to go to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia to learn about ice dancing. Check out the Smithsonian ice dancers who used the sport as a great way to unwind and stay warm in the winter.