The Smithsonian Institution Archives (SIA) began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives'
record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program
staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also reminiscences and
interviews recorded by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
To celebrate the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in September of 2016, the Institutional History program of Smithsonian
Institution Archives conducted a series of oral history interviews with African Americans who made significant contributions to the Smithsonian over their careers.
Descriptive Entry:
These interviews discuss their contributions to the Smithsonian as African American volunteers, employees, and regents, their relationships to the rest of the Smithsonian,
notable programs they developed, significant challenges, reminiscences of colleagues, and interaction with the public and staff.
The Smithsonian African American Contributions Oral History Interviews collection is comprised of 6 interview sessions, totaling approximately 7 hours of recordings and
c. 340 pages of transcripts. The interviews were conducted in 2015-2017 by intern Olivia Sayah and historian Pamela M. Henson.
Jeannine Smith Clark (1928-2018) was born on October 5, 1928 in Washington, D.C. She received her BA and MA in African Studies from Howard University. She began her work
with the Smithsonian in 1968 as a volunteer docent. She chaired the volunteer program of the Smithsonian Women's Committee in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1983 she was
appointed to the Board of Regents, where she became the first chairwomen of the Cultural Education Committee in 1986. She was now a Emeritus Regent.
Shireen Dodson (1951- ) was born July 2, 1951 in New Jersey and moved to Washington, D.C. in the 1970s. She received her BS from Morgan State University and her juris doctorate
from Seton Hall Law School. At the Smithsonian, she worked as the Assistant Director of the Accounting and Financial Services Office, SI Comptroller and with the African American
Museum Project from 1980 to 2000. She is now at the United Nations.
Michael R. Barnes (1956- ) was born March 4th, 1956 in Washington, D.C. He began his career in 1977 at the Smithsonian in the Duplicating Branch of the Office of Printing
and Printing Services. He has been working as a photographer for the Smithsonian since 2000. He is best known for his photography of the building of the National Museum of
African American History and Culture, as well as of the Million Man March and the presidential inaugurations of George W. Bush and Barak Obama.
Shirley Ann Jackson (1946- ) grew up in Washington, D.C., before attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology for her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in theoretical physics and
particle physics. After a career at Bell Labs, Rutgers University and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, she was named president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1999.
She served on the Smithsonian Board of Regents from 2005 to 2017.
Historical Note:
The Smithsonian African American Contributions interviewees include Jeannine Smith Clark, Shireen Dodson, Michael R. Barnes, and Shirley Ann Jackson.
Rights:
Restricted. Contact SIHistory@si.edu to request permission.
Smithsonian Education Volunteers Advisory Board Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Date:
1975-1978, 1982-1998
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records documenting the activities and meetings of the Smithsonian Education Volunteers Advisory Board (SEVAB). SEVAB was established to
manage and fund the volunteer docent programs at the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of History and Technology (later the National Museum of American History),
and the National Museum of Natural History. Other Smithsonian Institution museums were invited to participate later, but the three museums remained the core of the Board.
Materials include meeting materials, by-laws, notes, financial reports, brochures for education programs, volunteer rosters, and related materials. Also included is "A Brief
History of SEVAB," compiled in 1978, which also serves as an early history of docent programs, beginning in 1954, at the Smithsonian Institution.
Smithsonian Institution. Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center Search this
Extent:
2 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
FY 1999-FY 2010
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of memoranda distributed by the Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center to its volunteers and docents regarding policies, procedures,
events, and other pertinent information and updates.
Smithsonian Institution. Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center Search this
Extent:
0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Newsletters
Date:
1978-2009
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of a record set of volunteer issues of and special supplements to The Torch, the monthly employee newsletter published by the Office
of Public Affairs. The Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center (VIARC) collected this subset of The Torch in order to pull together all documentation of
the various volunteer programs at the Smithsonian Institution. Prior to 1985, the January issue of each year contained several articles related to volunteers and, in most
years, a list of all volunteers across the Smithsonian Institution. These articles were alongside articles covering other topics. Beginning in 1985, a special volunteer supplement
was placed in the January issue each year. During this later time period, only the supplement, and not the entire newsletter, was maintained by VIARC in most cases. In 2009,
the supplement occurred in the April issue, the last print issue of The Torch.
Smithsonian Institution. Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center Search this
Extent:
1.5 cu. ft. (1 record storage box) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Brochures
Manuscripts
Compact discs
Floor plans
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Electronic records
Date:
2003-2006
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records created and maintained by Katherine Neill Ridgley, Director, 2002-2010, documenting major projects undertaken by the Visitor Information
and Associates' Reception Center. Projects include mobile device tours for the Smithsonian Institution Building and across the Smithsonian Institution as well as the development
of visitor services for the new National Museum of the American Indian building. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, specifications, timelines, tour content, floor
plans, audio, brochures, publications, and related materials. Materials also include two videotapes about Smithsonian Institution volunteers produced by external organizations.
Some materials are in electronic format.
Rights:
Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2022; Transferring office; 5/21/2002 memorandum, Alers to Klein; Contact reference staff for details.
Smithsonian Institution. Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center Search this
Extent:
2 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Brochures
Manuscripts
Pamphlets
Floor plans
Maps
Color photographs
Videotapes
Place:
Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)
Date:
1974-2004
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of publications created by the Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center for distribution to volunteers and to the public as well
as signage for the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall and for the information and membership desks in the various museums. Materials include applications, forms,
brochures, reply cards, photographs of signage, flyers, badges, holiday cards, bookmarks, floor plans, pamphlets, handbooks, invitations, handouts, maps, press kits, and orientation
videos. Some materials are photocopies of the publications.
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Department of Education Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Brochures
Manuscripts
Clippings
Newsletters
Date:
circa 1989-2017
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records documenting docent activities of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (FSG), Department of Education. Topics covered
include evaluations, tours, recruitment, training, events, docent feedback, meetings, mentorship, and schedules. Materials include correspondence, news clippings, notes, informational
packets, proposals, brochures, reports, newsletters, and related materials. Some materials date to when the department was known as Education and Public Programs, 2007-2014.
Prior to 2007, it had also been called the Department of Education in 2014.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 18-272, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Department of Education , Docent Program Records
National Collection of Fine Arts. Office of Research and Professional Training Search this
Extent:
2 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
1970-1978
Descriptive Entry:
These records document the activities of Lois Marie Fink as head of the Office of Research and Professional Training from 1970 to 1978. Included are incoming and outgoing
correspondence regarding internships and visiting scholar programs, and reference inquiries; memoranda sent within the Office and to Museum Director Joshua C. Taylor; a large
amount of exhibition and publishing materials; correspondence concerning the NCFA exhibition entitled Academy: The Academic Tradition in American Art: Commemorating the
150th Anniversary of the National Academy of Design, 1975; expense account records; research program schedules and reports; and volunteer records.
Historical Note:
The National Collection of Fine Arts (NCFA), Office of Research and Professional Training, was created in 1970. It served as a reference resource for internal and external
inquiries, and coordinated training and volunteer programs, internships and research fellowships at NCFA. Lois Marie Fink served as the Coordinator of Research, 1970-1973,
and in the same capacity as Curator of Research, 1973- .
Restrictions:
Box 1 contains materials restricted indefinitely; see finding aid; Contact reference staff for details.
Smithsonian Institution. Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center Search this
Extent:
0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Date:
FY 1992-FY 2011
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of memoranda distributed by the Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center to its volunteers and docents regarding policies, procedures,
events, and other pertinent information and updates.
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Department of Education Search this
Extent:
1 cu. ft. (1 record storage box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Compact discs
Electronic records
Audiotapes
Date:
1991, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2007-2015
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of recordings of docent training providing information about the museum, exhibitions, objects, and artists. Topics also include symposiums,
award presentations, collections, and conservation. Materials include audio recordings. Some materials date to when the department was known as Education and Public Programs,
2007-2014. Prior to 2007, it had also been called the Department of Education. Some materials are in electronic format.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 19-111, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Department of Education, Docent Program Records
National Museum of Natural History. Office of Education Search this
Extent:
0.25 cu. ft. (1 half document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Newsletters
Date:
1976-1982
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of copies of The Elephant and Castle, volumes 1-7, a quarterly newsletter for docents at the National Museum of Natural History.
National Museum of Natural History. Office of Education and Outreach Search this
Extent:
2.5 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Books
Brochures
Date:
1974-2004
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of records documenting the administration of the National Museum of Natural History's docent program. The docents in this program are responsible
for helping visitors enjoy and explore the museum's exhibitions; assisting with school programs; delivering hands-on activities and programs; shaping visitors' experiences
as a tour guide; and working within the Office of Education and Outreach. These records were created and maintained by Magdaline J. Schremp, Docent Coordinator, c. 1971-2007.
Materials in this accession include policies and procedures; Docent Council meeting materials; docent directories; handbooks; brochures and other recruitment materials; docent
comments on visitors; docent input on proposed exhibitions; and related materials.
National Museum of Natural History. Office of Education Search this
Extent:
0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Newsletters
Date:
1985-2001
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of Elephant and Castle, a quarterly newsletter for National Museum of Natural History docents. Also included are issues of Elephant
and Castle's Trunk Line, a supplement to the newsletter published as needed.
