This accession consists of records documenting the activities of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) during the tenure of Director Marc Pachter (2000-2007), but also
includes records from the tenures of Directors Charles Nagel (1964-1969), Marvin S. Sadik (1969-1981), and Alan Maxwell Fern (1982-2000). Topics covered include cultural affairs,
exhibitions, legislation, strategic planning, the Patent Office Building, budget, donors, management, education, and grants. The records also document NPG's interactions with
other Smithsonian Institution (SI) bureaus, professional associations, and museums. A small portion of the records predate the formation of NPG. Materials include correspondence;
memoranda; budget records; grant proposals; color photographs and negatives; black-and-white photographs and negatives; brochures; reports; resumes; VHS tapes; and clippings.
Some materials are in electronic format.
Rights:
Boxes 2, 13-14 contain materials restricted indefinitely; see finding aid; Transferring office; 06/05/2008 memorandum, Toda to Drummond; Contact reference staff for details.
The Natural Partners Program was established in 1997 and was responsible for developing on average six distance learning modules a year that were Smithsonian based
and supported National Education Standards. Each module or unit integrated content with the following technologies: live two-way video conferencing, electronic field trips,
interactive curricula-based web sites, development of both internet and intranet sites, satellite broadcast and a variety of multimedia presentations and products. The development
of each module required coordination of a team made up of representatives from the various partners that made up the Natural Partners. Beyond these programmatic initiatives,
Natural Partners was responsible for building the public side of the virtual, digital museum. This includes creating a publicly accessible, educationally meaningful digital
collection of over 100,000 objects and associated text material. From this foundation, a series of virtual tours, field trips, and on-line activities was created. These materials
came to the Archives upon the disbanding of the Natural Partners Program in the fall of 2006. Materials include brochures, color slides and photographs, clippings, correspondence,
grant proposals, website information, curriculum, maps, architectural drawings, and video and audio cassettes.
This accession consists of records which document the tenures of Dave Warren, 1990-1991, and Douglas E. Evelyn, 1991-2005. These records document the role of the Deputy
Director in their administrative duties overseeing cultural resources, the George Gustav Heye Center (GGHC), public programs, public relations, and special events. Of particular
note are materials related to the legislative history of the creation of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and the opening of GGHC. Also represented in the
collection is Rayna Green, Curator and Director of the American Indian Program, Division of Home and Community Life, National Museum of American History. Some records date
from when the museum was known at the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation and was not yet part of the Smithsonian Institution.
Materials include correspondence; memoranda; reports; schedules; meeting agendas and minutes; brochures; grant records; floor plans; architectural drawings; color photographs;
and clippings. Some materials are in electronic format.
African Art in American Collections (Monograph : 1989)
African Art in American Collections (Monograph : 1966)
Extent:
83.1 cu. ft. (80 record storage boxes) (4 12x17 boxes) (2 16x20 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Clippings
Newsletters
Floor plans
Maps
Color photographs
Black-and-white photographs
Black-and-white negatives
Black-and-white transparencies
Color transparencies
Color negatives
Glass negatives
Audiotapes
Artifacts
Place:
Cameroon
Date:
circa 1927-2009
Descriptive Entry:
These papers document the life and work of Warren M. Robbins, covering a wide swath of his life, from his early career in the Foreign Service to his work in cross cultural
communications and African art. A prolific writer, Robbins correspondence with such people as Maya Angelou, Ernie Barnes, Saul Bellow, Eliot Elisofon, Otto Fried, Buckminster
Fuller, Francoise Gilot, Chaim Gross, S. I. Hayakawa, Harry Holtzman, Frances Humphrey Howard, Herbert H. Humphrey, Ben Shahn, and Margaret Mead document the close relationships
he had with a wide range of people as well as reveal his personality and character.
The papers also include Robbins subject files and reveal his interests in African art, Piet Mondrian, and semantics among other things. Also included are records related
to the creation and administration of the Museum of African Art, the work it took to get it included as part of the Smithsonian, its transfer, and the difficulties and conflicts
Robbins experienced as a result. The records provide extensive coverage of the work involved in keeping the MAA a vibrant center of education, as well as documents the acquisition
of collection material and the production of exhibitions.
The papers also contain materials related to publications, including Robbins' African Art in American Collections, both the 1966 and 1989 editions. Also included
are materials related to his writings, lectures, and introductions of which he was known for. Of interest are the materials prepared by Roulhac Toledano in preparation for
an unpublished work: Before and After the Smithsonian, The Legacy of Warren Robbins, Founder, National Museum of African Art: A Biography of Letters and Essays.
Other highlights include audio recordings from the dedication of the Museum of African Art on September 21, 1966, as well as recordings of lectures and interviews; records
regarding the return of the Afo-A-Kom to the Kom people of Cameroon; records related to the acquisition of the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives; transcripts of oral history
interviews; and the numerous awards and honors received by Robbins including the Joseph Henry Medal.
Materials include correspondence, memoranda, invitations, publications, articles, reports, images, sound recordings, transcripts, awards, clippings, newsletters, brochures,
scrapbooks, pamphlets, mailings, maps, and floor plans. Some materials are in German and French.
Historical Note:
A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, BA, 1945 and the University of Michigan, MA, 1949, Warren Murray Robbins started his career as a secondary school teacher.
He later served in the United States Foreign Service, holding a variety of educational and curatorial posts in Germany and Austria. After returning to the United States, Robbins
established the Center for Cross Cultural Communication (CCCC) in 1962 to serve as an educational institute integrating, popularizing and utilizing the insights and perspectives
of the social sciences and the arts to foster international and interracial understanding as well as communication between the academic world and a broader public audience.
Once of first major projects of the CCCC was the creation in 1964 of the Museum of African Art (MAA). The museum was the extension of an interest in African art that Robbins
developed while in Europe. The museum was originally located in the Washington, DC residence of Frederick Douglass and became part of the Smithsonian Institution in1979 and
was later renamed the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) in 1981.
During the 15 years that the MAA was in operation, the CCCC operated under the Museum's name. Following the Museum's inclusion as part of the Smithsonian it reverted back
to its original corporate name with the inclusion of Robbins' name in the title to become the Robbins Center for Cross-Cultural Communication.
From 1964 to 1982, Robbins was the Director of the MAA, later becoming the Founding Director Emeritus and Senior Scholar from 1982-1995. In June of 1995, the Smithsonian
eliminated Robbins position as Founding Director Emeritus/Senior Scholar because of budgetary reasons. Subsequently Robbins sued the Smithsonian, but ultimately lost and was
not able to be reinstated.
After leaving the Smithsonian, Robbins continued his work at the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communications to apply the perspectives and insights of the social sciences
and the arts in public education with particular emphasis on interracial understanding. Robbins passed away on December 4, 2008.
Chronology:
September 4, 1923 -- Born - Worcester, Massachusetts
1928-1937 -- Midland Street Elementary School
1938-1941 -- Classical High School
1941-1945 -- University of New Hampshire, Durham - BA English
1945-1949 -- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - MA History
August 1949-September 1950 -- Teacher, High School, Department of the Army, Dependent School System - Bremerhaven, Germany
September-December 1950 -- Teacher, High School, Department of the Army, Dependent School System - Nurnberg, Germany
January 1951-November 1951 -- Visiting Expert, Public Affairs Program, Department of State - Hicog, Germany
1951-1955 -- Education Officer, American Embassy, Department of State -Vienna, Austria
1955-1957 -- Cultural Affairs Officer, American Consulate General, United States Information Agency - Stuttgart, Germany
1957-1958 -- Public Affairs Officer, American Consulate General, United States Information Agency - Stuttgart, Germany
1958-1960 -- Deputy Chief, Cultural Centers and Program Unit, American Embassy - Bonn, Germany
1960-1961 -- Staff, U. S. Advisory Commission on Educational and Cultural Relations
1961-1962 -- Assistant to Deputy Assistant of State for Educational and Cultural Relations, Department of State
1962-1963 -- Course Chairman, Foreign Service Institute, Department of State
1962-2010 -- Founder and Director, Center for Cross Cultural Communications (CCCC) and later the Robbins Center for Cross Cultural Communications
1964 -- Museum of African Art founded as a part of CCCC
1964-1982 -- Founder and Director, Museum of African Art/National Museum of African Art
1966 -- Establishment of the Frederick Douglass Institute for Intercultural Understanding
1978 -- President Carter signs bill authorizing the transfer of MAA to the Smithsonian
1979, August 13 -- Museum of African Art officially becomes part of the Smithsonian
1981 -- Museum of African Art changed names to the National Museum of African Art
1982 -- Sabbatical to Africa
1982-1995 -- Founding Director Emeritus and Senior Scholar, National Museum of African Art
1987 -- National Museum of African Art building opens in the Quadrangle on the National Mall
1995, June -- Terminated from National Museum of African Art
This accession consists of records documenting collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and foreign nations in regard to scientific research, special events,
and exhibitions. The materials consist of correspondence, memoranda, and notes; contracts and agreements; reports; conference information; budget summaries; meeting agendas
and minutes; proposals; photographs and negatives; speech papers; clippings; brochures; floor plans; and supporting documentation.
Rights:
Restricted for 15 years. until Jan-01-2030; Transferring office; 4/23/2001 memorandum, Johnstone to Seefeldt; Contact reference staff for details.
Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2034. Records may contain personally identifiable information (PII) that is permanently restricted; Transferring office; 12/2/2022 memorandum, Johnstone to File; Contact reference staff for details
Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2034. Records may contain personally identifiable information (PII) that is permanently restricted; Transferring office; 12/8/2022 memorandum, Johnstone to File; Contact reference staff for details
Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2037. Records may contain personally identifiable information (PII) that is permanently restricted; Transferring office; 12/9/2022 memorandum, Johnstone to File; Contact reference staff for details
Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2035. Records may contain personally identifiable information (PII) that is permanently restricted; Transferring office; 01/06/2023 memorandum, Johnstone to File; Contact reference staff for details
The Bigger Picture: Exploring Archives and Smithsonian History (Blog)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Electronic records
Web sites
Date:
2009-2020
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of the Smithsonian Institution Archives website as it existed on August 11, 2020. The website includes information for researchers, staff, and
the general public regarding reference, records management, and preservation. It also includes publications, resources for teachers, online exhibitions, historical images,
and narrative histories of the Smithsonian Institution and its museums, research centers, activities, and staff as well as the blog, "The Bigger Picture: Exploring Archives
and Smithsonian History," with posts dating from January 2009. Materials are in electronic format.
This accession consists of a website and blog maintained by the Smithsonian Libraries.
The Smithsonian Libraries primary website was crawled on March 27, 2020, and again on August 11, 2020, shortly before the Libraries integrated with the Smithsonian Institution
Archives to form the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. The website includes information about the library system and its staff and collections as well as educational resources,
press releases, research tools, and online exhibitions. Due to technical issues, some content is missing from this accession or does not display properly.
The "Unbound" blog was crawled on March 27, 2020. It features collection items and projects as well as provides research and preservation tips. The blog was established
in December 2007.
This accession consists of the "Secrets of the Sea" section of the Smithsonian Learning Lab website as it existed on April 30, 2020. Content included in this accession
includes descriptions of interactive features; however, due to technical issues, the interactives themselves are missing or do not function as expected. Materials are in electronic
format.
Ella Jenkins: The First Lady of Children's Folk Song (Website)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Electronic records
Web sites
Date:
2006-2020
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of three websites maintained by Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings, part of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
The Smithsonian/Folkways Recordings website was crawled on December 26, 2019. Folkways is the non-profit recording label of the Smithsonian Institution, dedicated to supporting
cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of sound. The website includes information about the
program and available products as well as educational resources and an online version of "Smithsonian Folkways Magazine." In addition, the website includes a blog featuring
news and events that was crawled separately on March 16, 2020. The blog launched in 2006. Due to technical issues, some content may be missing and some features may not function
as expected in this accession. The December crawl of the website did not capture the entire blog.
The "Ella Jenkins: The First Lady of Children's Folk Song" website was crawled on February 26, 2020. It includes biographical information, discography, song lists, awards,
images, videos, and news related to Ella Jenkins. Due to technical issues, some videos may be missing from this accession.
The "Spirit of Seeger" website was crawled on March 17, 2020. It was created for what would have been Pete Seeger's 100th birthday celebration in 2019. It includes a calendar
of events, biographical information, discography, album art, images, and videos. Due to technical issues, some videos may be missing from this accession.
