Results for "Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Arts and Humanities"
The Smithsonian Secretaries: That Tall Man from New York, Part II
- Date: April 28, 2016
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- 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
The Smithsonian Secretaries: That Tall Man from New York, Part I
- Date: April 26, 2016
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: A look at the characteristics of the thirteen individuals who have led the Smithsonian.
- Blog Post
The Smithsonian’s First Woman Employee: Jane W. Turner, Librarian
- Date: March 27, 2014
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: Jane Turner was the first paid female employee at the Smithsonian, eventually becoming the Smithsonian’s Librarian.
Exhibiting the Smithsonian Institution Archives: A Look Back
- Date: May 15, 2018
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: [edan-image:id=siris_sic_13754,size=400,center]When people think of a Smithsonian exhibit, they probably don’t think of one filled with documents from an archives! A piece of paper doesn’t grab your attention from across the room, as the Fénykövi elephant or Chuck Berry’s car do. But on closer inspection, handwritten scraps have fascinating stories to tell. They can be
A Crafty Way to Support the Smithsonian
- Date: May 14, 2019
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: Tracing the history of the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, created in 1966 to raise funds to support the Institution, especially its educational programs.
Welcoming Smithsonian Secretaries
- Date: November 5, 2019
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: Lonnie G. Bunch III was installed as the Fourteenth Secretary of the Smithsonian on November 1, 2019 in the historic Arts and Industries Building. To celebrate this new day in Smithsonian history, let’s take a look back at installations past!
- Blog Post
Diminutive but Determined: Mary Jane Rathbun
- Date: March 6, 2014
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: Mary Jane Rathbun, diminutive but determined, was the first full time female curator at the Smithsonian.
Happy 100th Birthday, S. Dillon Ripley
- Date: September 20, 2013
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: Celebrate the life of the eighth Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley, who was born on September 20, 1913, 100 years ago today!
The Smithsonian Goes Telephonic in 1878!
- Date: June 28, 2018
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- 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
“Muse of Scientific Literature”: Leila Forbes Clark
- Date: March 13, 2018
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: In honor of Women’s History Month and the 50th anniversary of Smithsonian Libraries, let’s learn about Leila Gay Forbes Clark (1887-1964), the second woman to direct the Smithsonian’s library. She was beloved by the researchers she worked with (really loved in one case….) and began the restructuring of the many small libraries across the Smithsonian.
William Henry Holmes
- Date: November 29, 2016
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: The multi-talented William Henry Holmes contributed to the Smithsonian as an artist, explorer, geologist, archeologist and museum director.
- Blog Post
The Burning of the Smithsonian
- Date: January 23, 2015
- Creator: Pamela M. Henson
- Description: One hundred fifty years ago, on January 24, 1865, a massive fire erupted in the west wing of the Smithsonian Castle.