These records primarily document the curatorial and professional activities of Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli and his wife, Elvira E. Clain-Stefanelli, and to a lesser extent
the activities of curators Stuart M. Mosher, Richard G. Doty, and Cora Lee C. Gillilland. The records date back to when the National Numismatic Collection was known as the
Division of Numismatics, and prior to 1947 when the collections were created and maintained by the Division of History.
Material includes correspondence, memoranda, and notes pertaining to exhibition planning, inventory projects, coin and medal acquisitions, conferences, staff publications,
care of numismatic collections, and annual reports; articles, news releases, and newspaper clippings about the Clain-Stefanellis; contracts; scripts and floor plans for the
Hall of Numismatics; exhibition brochures; photographs of the Clain-Stefanellis at special events; information on medal programs; publications and lecture papers authored
by the Clain-Stefanellis; research and work progress reports; correspondence with organizations such as the American Numismatics Association, American Bankers Association,
and the Federation Internationale de la Medaille; and awards presented to the Clain-Stefanellis. Also includes records documenting the Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., Collection of
gold coins and the Willis H. DuPont Collection of Russian coinage.
National Museum of American History. National Numismatic Collection Search this
Extent:
26.91 cu. ft. (26 record storage boxes) (1 tall document box) (3 oversize folders)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Floor plans
Manuscripts
Clippings
Brochures
Illustrations
Posters
Black-and-white negatives
Black-and-white photographs
Color transparencies
Date:
circa 1921-1989
Descriptive Entry:
This record unit consists of correspondence and memoranda pertaining to publications, exhibitions, acquisitions, numismatic conferences in foreign countries, and materials
on loan; annual reports of the Division of Numismatics; budgetary files; American Numismatic Association convention information; exhibition scripts for the Hall of Monetary
History and Medallic Art; policies regarding United States Treasury Department coinage laws, purchases, and transfers; blueprints and floor plans for the Hall of Numismatics;
staff publications; correspondence with coin dealers, the American Bankers Association, and the Federation Internationale de la Medaille; and reports on counterfeit money.
The records also include photographs of numismatic exhibits at USNM, the exhibition History of Machines and Banking, coinage and early minting machines, and various United
States mints; the Clain-Stefanellis' research notes, manuscripts, and published articles; historical information on United States mints; copies of congressional numismatic
joint resolutions, acts, and bills; domestic coin exchange charts; information on the Willis H. DuPont Collection and the Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., Collection; exhibition brochures;
historical information on the National Institute; and staff publications.
Historical Note:
The origins of the National Numismatic Collection date back to the early years of the Smithsonian Institution. When James Smithson died, among his personal effects
were several coins and medals, including one with his likeness.
In 1862, the National Institute began sending its numismatic collection to the Institution. The Smithsonian also acquired numismatic objects from the 1876 Philadelphia
Centennial Exposition. George Brown Goode, Assistant Secretary in charge of United States National Museum (USNM) and an avid collector of coins and medals, promoted the early
growth of numismatic holdings at the Smithsonian. In 1881, he organized the numismatic objects as a Section in the Department of Arts and Industries, Division of Anthropology.
By 1886 the Section had been eliminated and its objects assigned to the custody of A. Howard Clark, Curator of the Section of Historical Relics. They then fell under its successors:
the Section of Historical Collections, Department of Arts and Industries, 1889-1897, the Division of History and Biography, Department of Anthropology, 1897-1904, and the
Division of History, 1904-1948. Between 1897 and 1947, numerous collections were received, such as the George Bunker Glover bequest of Far Eastern coins and the United States
Mint Collection.
In 1947, the Section of Numismatics was created in the Division of History, and the next year, the Section was given divisional status in the new Department of History.
That same year Stuart M. Mosher succeeded the retiring Curator in charge, Theodore T. Belote, as Associate Curator of the Division of Numismatics, a position he held until
his death in 1956. Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli became Curator at that time, and, shortly after his appointment, Elvira Eliza Clain-Stefanelli, joined the Division as Assistant
Curator.
As a result of museum reorganizations, the Division of Numismatics was affiliated with the Departments of Civil History, 1957-1968, Applied Arts, 1969-1977, and National
History, 1978-1979. In 1980, the Division was organized as the National Numismatic Collection in the National Museum of American History (NMAH), reporting to the Director.
In 1981, the Clain-Stefanellis were made Historians of the National Numismatic Collection, followed by the 1984 appointment of Cora Lee C. Gillilland as Curator. Important
acquisitions included the Willis H. DuPont Collection of Russian coins and the Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., Collection of gold coins ranging from ancient to modern times.
The National Numismatic Collection researches the history of numismatics worldwide, beginning with the earliest types of money, with the primary goal of presenting social,
economic, and political history through money; the organization of monetary systems; the effect of money on events in history; and the value of the figurative language of
coins and paper currency as witness to the art and culture of a society. The National Numismatic Collection primarily collects ancient and contemporary coinage, paper currency,
medals and decorations, financial documents, minting equipment, and tokens.
Curators and staff included Theodore T. Belote, Curator in charge of numismatic collections, 1919-1948; Stuart M. Mosher, Associate Curator of Numismatics, 1948-1956; Vladimir
Clain-Stefanelli, Curator of the Division of Numismatics, 1956-1979, Curator, 1980, and Historian, 1981-1982, of the National Numismatic Collection; Elvira Eliza Clain-Stefanelli,
Assistant Curator, 1957-1961, Associate Curator, 1961-1968, Curator, 1969-1979, of Numismatics, and Curator, 1980, and Historian, 1981-1985, of the National Numismatic Collection;
and Cora Lee C. Gillilland, Curator of the National Numismatic Collection, 1984- .
Restrictions:
Boxes 14 and 22 contain materials restricted indefinitely; see finding aid. Contact reference staff for details.
