Description: In mid-19th century America, some believed that world-class discoveries came exclusively from Europe. But early Smithsonian leaders had a sense of urgency to disseminate an authoritative body of knowledge, pursue further discoveries, and provide a deeper understanding to the public at a time when American society was changing.
Description: You asked. We answered. And we had a whole lot of fun doing it. On October 13, 2021, Archives staff answered questions on Twitter and Instagram for #AskAnArchivist Day 2021.
Description: While closed for renovations, here is a look at some historic images of the Renwick Gallery on the anniversary of its opening to the public.
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