Photograph and Image Collections

Photographs and other images at the Smithsonian Institution Archives are not in a central file, but dispersed throughout its collections. However, there are a few collections which are mostly devoted to photographs.

Historic Images of the Smithsonian
The Historic Images of the Smithsonian consists of 3000 citations to historic images of the Smithsonian, primarily from the Smithsonian Institution Archives. The images were drawn from a wide range of collections in Smithsonian Institution Archives and represent a small fraction of the images available in our collections. Types of images include people, buildings, artifacts and specimens, exhibits, expeditions, expositions, and special events, ranging from the Smithson family in the 1700s to the present. Each entry consists of text information about each image. Some images have been digitized, and jpegs of those are available. The Historic Images of the Smithsonian catalog is part of the History of the Smithsonian catalog in SIRIS, www.siris.si.edu. Enter your search term and, in the Limit by Database box, select Historic Images of the Smithsonian.

The SIRIS Cross Catalog Searching Center is also a useful tool for finding images in SIA and throughout the Smithsonian. It allows you to search descriptive records from dozens of Smithsonian libraries, archives and specialized research units.

Historic Pictures of the Smithsonian
Browse through this look back at the Smithsonian museums and research centers in the online Historic Pictures exhibition, and learn about its history through pictures.

Record Unit 95, Photograph Collection. This collection consists of ten series of photographs of people, places, things and events related to the Smithsonian Institution or United States history. The majority date from the mid- to late-19th century.

Series 1- Portraits. This collection division contains photographs of persons important in Smithsonian or United States history. The subjects include Smithsonian Institution secretaries, regents, staff, United States political figures, benefactors of the Smithsonian, notable foreign and domestic scientists, and other prominent individuals. The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Series 2 - Group Portraits. This collection division contains photographs of prominent scientific groups, Cornell University faculty, political groups and Smithsonian staff. The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Series 3 - Buildings and Facilities. This collection division contains photographs documenting the planning, construction, architecture and use of Smithsonian Institution buildings, grounds, and facilities. The materials are arranged by building, as are photographs related to building exteriors, floor plans and interiors. Photographs of ground breaking and cornerstone laying ceremonies are in Series 6, Events.

Series 4 - Exhibits. This collection division contains photographs of permanent and special exhibits of the Smithsonian and its museums. For photographs of exhibit openings, see Series 6, Events.

Series 5 - Specimens, Artifacts, Equipment. This collection division contains photographs of specimens in the Smithsonian collections and of equipment used in research and other activities of the Institution, as well as some photographs of other artifacts. Examples include an African Big-Eared Fox; boat and ship models; and Peruvian feather ponchos.

Series 6 - Events. This collection division contains a chronological file of photographs documenting events in the Smithsonian's history. The majority of photographs are of exhibit openings, specimen presentations, dedications, and other ceremonies held between 1871 and 1981. Photographs include the Shanidar Cave Excavation (Northern Iraq); Smithsonian African Expedition; and the Hope Diamond Presentation.

Series 7 - Expositions. This collection division contains photographs of expositions, mainly those in which the Smithsonian and its museums took part. Especially well-documented are the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893; Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, 1895; and the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, 1901.

Series 8 - Smithsonian Insignia and Medals. This collection division contains photographs of badges of office, documents, flags, insignia, medals, and other emblems of significance to the Institution.

Series 9 - Washington, D.C. and Vicinity. This collection division contains photographs of non-Smithsonian buildings and sites in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. Subjects include Mount Vernon, the White House, and the Old Executive Office Building.

Series 10 - Slides. This collection division contains slides of people, groups, buildings, and exhibits (primarily negatives). Some of these slides are reproductions of photographs found in other series. Subjects include Joseph Henry's living quarters in the East Wing of the Castle, James Smithson, and James Renwick.

Record Unit 7177, George P. Merrill Collection. Merrill was a geologist with an interest in the history of his science. Consequently, he assembled a large collection of photographs of geologists, paleontologists, and other scientists, along with an example of their handwriting.

Record Unit 285, Director, National Museum of History and Technology (now National Museum of American History). Included in this file are photographs of the building, as well as permanent and special exhibitions.

Record Unit 371, Office of Public Affairs, The Torch, records. These records include photographs that appeared in The Torch, the monthly Smithsonian newspaper.

Record Unit 549, Office of Public Affairs, Photographs. This collection includes photographs of Smithsonian staff and subjects.

Record Unit 639, Building Management Department, Photographs. This record unit consists of construction photographs for Smithsonian buildings.

Record Unit 351, National Air and Space Museum, Photographs. This collection consists mostly of photographs of museum functions.

Record Unit 365, Office of Public Affairs, National Zoological Park. This record unit includes photographs of zoo animals. Many more photographs of NZP animals, buildings, and events are housed at the zoo.

Record Unit 7315, J. Victor Carus Photograph album. This collection includes images of many famous scientists of the second half of the 19th century.

Revised 1/11/2008