Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary Search this
Extent:
167.20 cu. ft. (5 record storage boxes) (324 document boxes) (10 microfilm reels)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Black-and-white photographs
Clippings
Manuscripts
Architectural drawings
Maps
Books
Color transparencies
Brochures
Date:
1949-1964
Descriptive Entry:
These records document part of the secretarial administration of Alexander Wetmore and the whole of Leonard Carmichael's tenure. During this period the Smithsonian
Institution's capacity to carry out research in its traditional scientific disciplines was substantially strengthened. At the same time the Institution was able to invest
much more effort in promoting cultural and artistic activities.
Bureaus and offices which were created or underwent substantial change during this period, and which are represented here, include the United States National Museum; the
Museum of Natural History; the Museum of History and Technology; the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; the National Cultural Center, now the John F. Kennedy Center; the
Bureau of American Ethnology; the National Portrait Gallery; the National Collection of Fine Arts; the National Zoological Park; the Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center;
and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Subject headings appearing in these records include: the Arctic Research Laboratory; the Armed Forces Museum
and the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board; the earth satellite program; the Canal Zone Biological Area, now the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; the Smithsonian's
centennial; modernization of Smithsonian exhibits; the Link Foundation; the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; the National Air Museum, now the National Air and
Space Museum; the National Gallery of Art; the Research Corporation; the Century 21 Exposition, Seattle, 1962; the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange; and the Smithsonian
Scientific Series.
Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary Search this
Extent:
78.77 cu. ft. (65 record storage boxes) (1 half document box) (90 3x5 boxes) (1 oversize folder)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Black-and-white photographs
Black-and-white negatives
Serials (publications)
Maps
Clippings
Manuscripts
Architectural drawings
Date:
1925-1949
Descriptive Entry:
This record unit traces the operation of the Smithsonian from 1925 to 1949. It contains records from the last years of Secretary Charles D. Walcott's administration,
perhaps most notably the ambitious but abortive fund raising campaign to add $10,000,000.00 to the Smithsonian's endowment. The Depression and consequent cut-backs in government
support are also present in the records, as well as Smithsonian contributions to World War II, which naturally had a significant impact on operations as well. Smithsonian
bureaus that were created, enlarged, or significantly changed during these years, and which are represented here, include the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; the National
Gallery of Art (now the Smithsonian American Art Museum); the National Gallery of Art created from the gift of Andrew Mellon; the National Zoological Park; the National Air
and Space Museum; and the Canal Zone Biological Area (now the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute). Secretary Charles G. Abbot, whose tenure these records chiefly document,
found his job complicated by the effects of the Depression and World War II. The principal event of his administration was Andrew Mellon's gift of a national art museum. Abbot
created a Division of Radiation and Organisms within the Astrophysical Observatory, which he had directed and which remained his chief interest. He was also able to use Works
Progress Administration funds to produce major improvements at the National Zoological Park. The Smithsonian maintained its ties with the National Academy of Sciences, the
Carnegie Institution, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the National Research Council, the National Geographic Society, and similar organizations. During World
War II the Smithsonian was instrumental in operating the Ethnogeographic Board, and co-operated with the Office of Scientific Research and Development. Topics in these records
include: the Johnson-Smithsonian Expedition to the Puerto Rico Trench, 1932; the Eighth American Scientific Congress, Washington, 1940; the Smithsonian Scientific Series;
North American Wildflowers; the Langley-Wright controversy; the River Basin Survey; the abortive design competition for a museum of modern art, won by Eliel and Eero Saarinen
and Robert Swanson; "The World Is Yours" radio programs; Robert H. Goddard's rocket research; the Langley Medal; private funding for the Smithsonian, particularly the Tamblyn
and Brown plans for a 1927 campaign and the associated 1927 Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian; and Abbot's research in solar radiation and climatic studies.
Historical Note:
These records document the administrations of the Smithsonian Institution during the last years of Charles D. Walcott's administration, circa, 1925-1927; the tenure
of Charles G. Abbot, his successor, 1927-1944; and a portion of the administration of Alexander Wetmore, circa 1944.
Smithsonian Scientific Series, 1925-1949. The Smithsonian Scientific Series was a publishing enterprise set up in 1925 to produce a series of popular books on scientific subjects from material written by staff members of the Smithsonian, who wrote as p...
Collection Creator::
Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary Search this
Container:
Box 31 of 156
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 46, Smithsonian Institution, Office of the Secretary, Records
