Description: In the Smithsonian Institution Archives, we each have our favorite stories that are told through materials in our collections. Several times a year we might give "treasures shows" for interns or special visitors, and we pluck items that highlight moments and people in the Institution's history. We pull out a draft of James Smithson's will, letters from the Wright brothers,
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="430" caption="On a collecting trip to the White Sands, New Mexico, G. Arthur (Gustav Arthur) Cooper (1902-2000), paleobiologist at the National Museum of Natural History, stands beside his car, used in the field, nicknamed the "Scarlet Harlot," 1973, by Unidentified photographer, Photographic print, Smithsonian Institution Archives,
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="424" caption="U.S. National Museum, May 3, 1917, seen from the National Mall, by Unknown photographer, Photographic print, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 45, Box 79, Folder: 10, Neg. SIA2009-2203."][/caption] As part of my work as the historian for the history of the Smithsonian, I’ve been working for the past year on
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="341" caption="Funeral home, Date unknown, by Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.), Silver gelatin on cellulose acetate film sheet, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Scurlock Studio Records, 1905-1994, Call No. 0618.239244."][/caption] The Smithsonian has millions of pictures organized in hundreds of subject based
Description: These publications are available in the Archives Reading Room. United State National Museum publications are indexed in Bulletins of the USNM 193 and 298. Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1846–1964. These volumes include scientific articles, and are sources of information on the Smithsonian budget, exhibitions, expeditions, collections, staff, and other