United States National Museum Division of Crafts and Industries Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Department of Social and Cultural History Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Department of Science and Technology Search this
Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Agriculture and Wood Products Search this
Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Section of Antique Instruments Search this
Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Section of Mathematics Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Department of the History of Science Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Department of the History of Technology Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Ceramics and Glass Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Electricity and Modern Physics Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Electricity and Nuclear Energy Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Extractive Industries Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Mathematics Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Mechanisms Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Medical Sciences Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Department of the History of Science and Technology Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Textiles Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Transportation Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Department of Social and National History Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Textiles Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of the History of Technology Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Mechanisms Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Engineering and Industry Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Armed Forces History Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Photographic History Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Mathematics Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Physical Sciences Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences Search this
Type:
Mixed archival materials
Date:
1957
1957-1994
Category:
Agency History
Notes:
This is an agency history. It does not describe actual records. The Smithsonian Institution Archives uses these histories as brief accounts of the origin, development, and functions of an office or administrative unit to set that unit in its historical context. To find information on record holdings, please double-click the highlighted field "Creator/Author", which will open on a brief view of relevant records.
Appendix to the Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1983-1991
Guide to the Smithsonian Archives, 1996
In 1957 a Department of Science and Technology was formed from elements of the United States National Museum's Divisions of Engineering and Crafts and Industries. It included a Division of Physical Sciences, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Transportation, Agriculture and Wood Products, Electricity, and Medical Sciences. In 1959 the Division of Agriculture and Wood Products was moved to the Department of Arts and Manufactures. In 1965 the title of Head Curator was changed to Chairman. In that same year a Section of Mathematics and one of Antique Instruments were created.
In 1969 the Museum of History and Technology was renamed the National Museum of History and Technology. At that time the Division of Electricity was renamed the Division of Electricity and Nuclear Energy. The Division of Transportation was reassigned to the Department of Industries. A 1978 reorganization saw the creation of two departments from the old Department of Science and Technology, a Department of the History of Science and a Department of the History of Technology. Components of the older department were assigned as follows: to History of Science went the Division of Physical Sciences, Medical Sciences, Electricity and Modern Physics (formerly Electricity and Nuclear Energy), a Division of Mechanisms, and the Division of Mathematics (formerly a section). To History of Technology were assigned the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, the Division of Extractive Industries, the Division of Textiles, and the Division of Photographic History. The Division of Ceramics and Glass was transferred to the Department of Cultural History.
In 1980 during a reorganization of the National Museum of American History the previously existing Departments of the History of Science and of the History of Technology were combined into a single Department of the History of Science and Technology. At that time the Division of Textiles was shifted to the Department of Social and National History, while the Divisions of Military and of Naval History moved into the new Department. In 1984 they merged as the Division of Armed Forces History. In 1985 the Division of Extractive Industries was renamed the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In 1986 the Divisions of Mechanical and Civil Engineering and of Mechanisms merged into a Division of Engineering and Industry, while the Division of Photographic History was shifted to the Department of Social and Cultural History. The Divisions of Mathematics and of Physical Sciences were joined into the Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics. In 1994 another reorganization of the National Museum of American History led to the inclusion of the Department as part of a new Division of the History of Technology.
Chairs of the Department included Robert P. Multhauf, 1957-1966; Susan Faye Cannon, 1967-1968; Bernard S. Finn, 1969-1973, 1979-1982; Robert M. Vogel, 1973-1975; Otto Mayr, 1976-1977; John T. Schlebecker, 1978; Arthur P. Molella, 1983-1991, 1993-1994; and Edward Clinton Ezell (Acting), 1992.
For a history of the larger creating unit, refer to "Forms part of" above.
Repository Loc.:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520
