United States National Museum Division of Naval History Search this
United States National Museum Division of Military History Search this
Type:
Mixed archival materials
Date:
1969
1969-1973
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.
Guide to the Smithsonian Archives, 1996
The study of underwater historic archeology at the Smithsonian was begun in 1952 by Mendel Peterson. The work was first carried out under the auspices of the Divisions of Military and Naval History. A Division of Historic Archeology was officially established in 1969. Studies of shipwrecks in the Florida Straits, the Bahamas, and the West Indies were undertaken. On Peterson's retirement in 1973 the Division was formally abolished.
Divisional staff consisted of Mendel Peterson, Associate Curator and Curator of the Divisions of Military and Naval History, 1948-1957; Head Curator of the Department of History, 1951-1957; Head Curator and Chairman of the Department of Armed Forces History, 1957-1969; and Curator of the Division of Historic Archeology, 1969-1973.
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
