Description: How the projects are selected for inclusion in the Smithsonian Transcription Center and how the digital volunteers who contribute their work help make collections accessible.
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
Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Untitled, by Thomas Smillie, c. 1890, Smithsonian Institution Archives."][/caption] One of the things people often want to know about photography at the Smithsonian is, “How many photographs do you have?” with the quick follow-up, “Have you counted all of them?” No one knows for certain, but statistical sampling suggests
Description: In celebration of Preservation Week 2016, here’s a brief overview of surveys and their role in preservation, as well as a look into an audiovisual survey currently taking place right here at the Smithsonian.
Description: A Smithsonian Institution Archives volunteer discusses a Triceratops video collection that also relates to his work at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
Description: Learn more about botanist Mary Farnham Miller who held positions in the Sullivant Moss Society and the Smithsonian’s Department of Botany in the early twentieth century.
Description: Throughout May and June, we are inviting people throughout the Smithsonian to talk about photography and astronomy. This is the first installment from Megan Watzke, Press Officer at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Most people think of a telescope as something in a backyard or the dome at the local planetarium. And it’s true that many telescopes are designed to
Description: From April 7-18, 2014, JA Pryse was in residence with the Smithsonian Institution Archives fulfilling the Smithsonian Affiliations Visiting Professional Program fellowship awarded in January of this year. Over the information packed two weeks a number of innovative digital processes were gathered which are valuable to the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Division’s present