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Catalog Data

Extent:
99.46 cu. ft. (97 record storage boxes) (1 document box) (2 16x20 boxes) (1 tall document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Clippings
Picture postcards
Black-and-white photographs
Motion pictures (visual works)
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Date:
circa 1984-1991
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of production elements and records, maintained by Sandra Wentworth Bradley, created for "Smithsonian World," an educational television series that explored people, ideas, and events that shape world culture, blending art, science, history, and the humanities to create an exciting harmony among disciplines. The production was narrated by historian David G. McCullough and co-produced by WETA-TV for broadcast on the Public Broadcasting Service. The series consisted of 6 seasons, each with 5-7 episodes. Each episode ran approximately 1 hour. Season 1 (1984-1985) episodes include "Time and Light;" "Crossing the Distance;" "Speaking Without Words;" "Designs for Living;" "Filling in the Blanks;" "The Last Flower;" and "Desk in the Jungle." Season 2 (1985-1986) episodes include "Heroes and the Test of Time;" "A Usable Past;" "Where None Has Gone Before;" "On the Shoulders of Giants;" and "American Pie." Season 3 (1986-1987) episodes include "The Wyeths: A Father and His Family;" "Voices of Latin America;" "The Elephant on the Hill;" "The Promise of the Land;" and "Islam." Season 4 (1988-1989) episodes include "The Living Smithsonian;" "American Dream at Groton;" "The Way We Wear;" "Web of Life;" and "The Vever Affair." Season 5 (1990) episodes include "Zoo;" "A Moveable Feast;" "Tales of the Human Dawn;" Nigerian Art - Kindred Spirits;" and "The Quantum Universe." Season 6 (1991) episodes include "Gender: The Enduring Paradox;" "Selling the Dream;" "From Information to Wisdom;" "A Certain Age;" and "Doors of Perception." This accession also includes records documenting episodes that were never completed and "Smithsonian Treasures," one and two hour versions of "Smithsonian World" that were created for commercial television. Production records include budget reports, copyright records, intellectual property records, interview transcripts, editing logs, notebooks, scripts, production bibles, credits information, research files, correspondence, promotional materials, clippings, and related materials. Production elements include narration, dialogue, music, and related materials, for each episode, on 16 mm and, for promos, on videotape. This accession also includes final productions on a variety of videotape formats.
Restrictions:
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing/listening copies are not currently available. Viewing/listening copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.
Topic:
Television -- Production and direction  Search this
Television in education  Search this
Museums -- Educational aspects  Search this
Humanities -- Study and teaching  Search this
History -- Study and teaching  Search this
Art -- Study and teaching  Search this
Science -- Study and teaching  Search this
Documentary television programs  Search this
Genre/Form:
Manuscripts
Brochures
Clippings
Picture postcards
Black-and-white photographs
Motion pictures (visual works)
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 91-164, Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications, Smithsonian World, Records
Identifier:
Accession 91-164
See more items in:
Smithsonian World, Records
Archival Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-sia-fa91-164