This accession consists of scripts for various "The World is Yours" radio shows broadcast by the National Broadcasting Company, Inc. radio network. A joint project
of the Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Education, and the Works Progress Administration, the half-hour programs aired once a week on topics
ranging from mammals to insects to geology to ethnology to art history to aeronautics, etc. The educational series featured the "Oldtimer" as the audience's guide to "the
wonders of that unique establishment, the Smithsonian Institution - dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge." Scripts were prepared by Smithsonian staff and presentations
were done by out-of-work actors and musicians. The program, which began in June 1936, was suspended in May of 1942 because of the war effort. Materials include scripts, regulations
for using the scripts, and, in some cases, cast lists. Scripts are not available for all shows.
Also included is information about the 1942 transfer of 6 audio recordings related to the Chumash Indian language from the Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology
to the National Archives; 9 pages of Chumash to English translations, and "The Story of Candalaria, the Old Indian Basket-Maker."
Also included are data sheets and component data sheets for duplicate film in Record Group 106 of the National Archives and Records Administration. Data sheets are not
available for all of the film from this record group and some data sheets document copies that were not part of the transfer to the Smithsonian Institution Archives and are
assumed to no longer exist.
These records were transferred to the National Archives prior to the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution Archives, where they became part of Record Group 106.
On March 18, 2005, they were returned to the Smithsonian Institution and were added to the Archives collections.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Environmental Sciences Search this
Extent:
11.5 cu. ft. (23 document boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Black-and-white photographs
Serials (publications)
Maps
Date:
1965-1973
Descriptive Entry:
This record unit consists of files documenting the operation of the Smithsonian Office of Ecology (SOE), 1965-1970, and its successor, the Ecology Program of the Office
of Environmental Sciences (OES), 1970-1973. The records were created primarily by administrators Buechner, 1965-1968; Wallen, 1969; and Jenkins, 1970-1973. They include organizational
files, 1965-1973; administrative records, 1965-1973, including material concerning the development of the Chesapeake Bay Center for Field Biology (after 1970, the Chesapeake
Bay Center for Environmental Studies) and the Smithsonian-Peace Corps Environmental Program; project files, 1965-1973, including records documenting projects conducted as
part of the International Program in Ecology; and files of Lee Merriam Talbot, 1965-1971.
Historical Note:
The history of the Ecology Program of the Office of Environmental Sciences can be traced to July 1, 1965, when the Smithsonian Office of Ecology (SOE) was created to
assist in expanding the research opportunities of Smithsonian scientists and to aid in the coordination of ecological activities with other government agencies. From its creation
until 1966, the SOE was an administrative unit of the National Museum of Natural History. In 1966, administrative responsibility for the SOE was transferred to the Assistant
Secretary for Science. The Smithsonian's environmental sciences programs were reorganized under the Office of Environmental Sciences (OES) in 1970. At that time, the SOE became
the Ecology Program of the newly created OES. In 1973, OES was merged with the Office of International Activities to form the Office of International and Environmental Programs
(OIEP). The Ecology Program came under the administrative control of OIEP. The Ecology Program was abolished in 1974.
Administrators of the Ecology Program of OES and its predecessor the SOE included Helmut K. Buechner, assistant director for ecology, 1965-1966, head, 1966-1968 (he also
served as senior scientist, 1968-1971); Irvin Eugene Wallen, acting head, 1969; and Dale W. Jenkins, director, 1970-1973. Other staff included Lee Merriam Talbot, research
biologist, 1965-1966, field representative, Ecology and Conservation, 1966-1967, deputy head and international field representative, 1968, resident ecologist, 1969-1971, and
deputy director, 1972-1973; and Francis Raymond Fosberg, special assistant for tropical biology, 1965-1966.
Programs and bureaus under the administration of the Ecology Program of OES and its predecessor the SOE included the Chesapeake Bay Center for Field Biology (after 1970
the Chesapeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies), 1965-1969; the Center for Natural Areas, 1972-1974; and the Peace Corps Environmental Program, 1972-1974.
Contract Number NGR 09-015-206, Fund 6357; "Extraterrestrial Geology and Geodesy Effort," National Air and Space Museum, Farouk El-Baz. Contracting Agency: NASA. 1972-1976.
Collection Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Contracts Office Search this
Container:
Box 13 of 29
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 295, Smithsonian Institution, Contracts Office, Grants and Contracts
Contract Number NSG-07012, Fund 6370; "Volcanic Geology: Study of Eruption Mechanisms," National Museum of Natural History - Mineral Science, Thomas R. McGetchin. Contracting Agency: NASA. 1973-1976.
Collection Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Contracts Office Search this
Container:
Box 22 of 29
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 295, Smithsonian Institution, Contracts Office, Grants and Contracts
