Description: For records management and transfer inquiries, Smithsonian staff should contact one of the Smithsonian Institution Archives staff assigned to work with their unit (staff access only). Professional societies, former staff, and the public should contact the Archives and Information Management (AIM) Team at siarm@si.edu. For general inquiries about electronic records or
Description: Exactly 165 years ago today, legislation establishing the Smithsonian Institution was passed by the US Congress and signed into law by President James K. Polk. From today’s perspective, it seems like a “no-brainer” to accept a generous bequest from a little-known Englishman named James Smithson and create an institution in his name. But from the perspective of that era, the