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Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Love & Yearning: Mystical and Moral Themes in Persian Poetry and Painting 
 Companion to a Smithsonian Institution exhibition at the Sackler Gallery that "features twenty-six of the finest illustrated manuscripts relating to Persian lyrical poetry highlighting the union of word and image." Includes an interactive exhibit featuring images of a 16th century manuscript of Abdul-Rahman Jami's "Haft awrang" (translated as "Seven Thrones"), an overview of the exhibit, and related resources. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/loveyearning/ Topics: Art by Region, Faiths, Literary Movements and Periods, Printing, Publishing, and Book Arts Last updated Dec 2, 2003 African Voices
An examination of "the diversity, dynamism, and global influence of Africa's peoples and cultures over time in the realms of family, work, community, and the natural environment." It covers prehistory through the 20th century and includes a timeline. Themes include various forms of wealth, working and living in Africa, the Kongo people of Central Africa, and the African Diaspora. The Learning Center contains related resources. From the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History. http://www.mnh.si.edu/africanvoices/ Topics: Black Resources, Regions of the World, Regions of the World Last updated Jan 7, 2006 Frontier Photographer: Edward S. Curtis
This site is a photographic exhibition of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. His thirty-year "North American Indian Project represented an attempt to capture images of American Indians as they lived before contact with Anglo cultures" and covered almost one hundred Indian tribes in the western third of the United States and Alaska. Lists of places and Native American groups visited are provided. A timeline and suggested readings are also included. http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Curtis/ Topics: Native Americans, Notable People: Arts & Humanities, Photograph Collections: History, Photography Last updated Oct 4, 2004 Stories from the Gold Rush
Stories of the gold rush in Alaska include Extraordinary Women , with biographical information and photos; The Trails ; Banking on the Stampeders ; Mail & Mail Carriers ; Bennett and Lindeman: Tent Cities on the Lakes , Running the Rapids , Starvation and Disease , and others. Features examples of literature of the period, with links to the works of Jack London and Robert Service. Sponsored by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/gold/gold2.html Topics: History, Photograph Collections, Photograph Collections: Nature & Wildlife, Photograph Collections: Regional: United States, United States History Last updated May 28, 2003 Key Ingredients: America by Food
This site is a companion to a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition. On this site "travel through 500 years and from coast to coast as you explore how Americans grow, prepare, and serve foods." The site features a cookbook for people to share recipes and associated memories, and a section where communities hosting the exhibition provide information about local food traditions, events, and restaurants. Also includes a teacher's guide. http://keyingredients.org/ Topics: Recipes & Food Preparation, Recipes by Region: United States Last updated Dec 10, 2003 Freer and Sackler Galleries: Online Exhibitions
This is a portal to a series of online exhibitions, most featuring Asian art. Includes exhibits about art from Japan, China, the Islamic world, and the Himalayas. From the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online.htm Topics: Art by Region, Museums, Museums by Place: United States Last updated Jul 20, 2005 Archives of American Art (AAA)
This site presents detailed descriptions of "roughly 16 million letters, diaries, sketches and sketchbooks, photographs, exhibition catalogs, scrapbooks, business records, art periodicals, and other documents" from the Smithsonian's many collections. The finding aids and catalog allow visitors to see exactly what's in the collection. An email reference service provides extended help. http://www.aaa.si.edu/ Topics: Archives, Art by Region, Artists, Correspondence, History, Libraries & Archives by Type, Nonfiction by Genre Last updated Jun 6, 2007 Art Inventories Catalog
This database contains over 350,000 records describing American paintings (executed before 1914) and sculptures (from colonial up through contemporary times). Includes an artist's dates as well as the title, date, medium, current owner and location, and selected references for specific works. Browsable and searchable. From the Smithsonian American Art Museum. http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ Topics: Art by Region Last updated Nov 3, 2007 The Repatriation of Ishi, the Last Yahi Indian
The Smithsonian Institution's 1999 progress report on the repatriation of the Yahi Indian Ishi's remains to his closest living relatives for ceremonial burial. From the Repatriation Office, Department of Anthropology, National History of Natural History. http://anthropology.si.edu/repatriation/projects/ishi.htm Topics: California: History, Native Americans, Notable People Last updated Jun 28, 2008 Library and Archival Exhibitions on the Web
"This site features links to online exhibitions ... created by libraries, archives, and historical societies, as well as to museum online exhibitions with a significant focus on library and archival materials." Exhibits feature "printed books, book illustrations, manuscripts, photographs, printed ephemera, posters, archival audio and video recordings, artist's books, and the book arts (engraving, marbling, and bookbinding)." Search by exhibition name, institution, or subject. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/SILPublications/Online-Exhibitions/ Topics: Archives, Internet Guides & Search Tools Last updated Oct 20, 2005 Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
This site provides access to holdings that have been previously inaccessible online. In addition to the searchable collection of over 4,000 records (not all have images) of objects in the museum, highlights include a rotating display of individual artworks; an exciting interactive component where users can create sculptures using a palette of shapes, colors, and effects; and an historical cinematic slide show of the Hirshhorn, the Smithsonian's museum of modern and contemporary art. http://hirshhorn.si.edu/ Topics: Arts and Humanities, Museums, Museums by Place: United States, Schools of Art Last updated Apr 3, 2002 National Portrait Gallery's Portrait Search
A growing image database of over 80,000 "paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and photographs [that] document the diversity of individuals who have made significant contributions to the history and culture of the United States." Searchable and browsable. From the Smithsonian Institution. http://npgportraits.si.edu/eMuseumNPG/code/emuseum.asp Topics: Museums, Museums by Place: United States, Photograph Collections: History, The United States Presidency Last updated Nov 18, 2008 James McNeill Whistler
Online exhibit about expatriate American artist James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903), "best known for being a master of many mediums, including paintings, etchings, and lithographs." The site features biographical information, a timeline, examples of his art, a bibliography, and related links. From the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/whistler/whistlerdefault.htm Topics: Art by Region, Artists, Arts and Humanities, Schools of Art Last updated Jan 6, 2005 Word Play: Contemporary Art by Xu Bing
Companion site to an exhibit of works by Chinese avant-garde artist Xu Bing at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution. Features an interview with the artist, installation sketches, images from the exhibit, stories from the "Laughter Project," which "explores the pleasures and pains of conveying ideas in a foreign language," and interactive features. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/xubing/default.html Topics: Art by Region, Artists Last updated Jul 27, 2006 Tibetan Healing Mandala
This companion to an exhibit at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution features information about the mandala ("a geometric composition wherein deities reside") and Tibetan Buddhism. "In response to the September 11 tragedies, twenty Buddhist monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery constructed a sand mandala" at the gallery. View images of the exhibit and time-lapse photos of the mandala construction process. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/mandala/ Topics: Art by Region, Faiths, Photograph Collections: Regional, Schools of Art Last updated Dec 16, 2003 A Critical Bibliography on North American Indians, for K-12
An annotated list of books that teachers and parents can use to correct long-held stereotypes about Native American culture. The bibliography is broken down by geographic area, and each entry includes publication information and suggested grade level. Evaluation criteria and resources for adults are included in the introduction. From the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Smithsonian Institution. Note: still useful for classics, but apparently not updated since 2001. http://anthropology.si.edu/outreach/Indbibl/index.html Topics: K-12 Education, Native Americans, Nonfiction by Genre Last updated Dec 11, 2007 America on the Move: From the Smithsonian's Bicycle Collection
Exhibit on the history of bicycles, mostly based on the 1974 book "Wheels and Wheeling: The Smithsonian Cycle Collection." Features essays on the history of bicycling and images of vintage bicycles and other bicycle-related materials from the Smithsonian Institution collections. Many of the images link to detailed descriptions of the bicycles (from 1818 to 1965). From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/themes/story_69_1.html Topics: Outdoor Recreation, Sports, Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment, Transportation Last updated Aug 31, 2005 Women of Our Time: Twentieth Century Photographs From the National Portrait Gallery
An online gallery of "photographs of some of twentieth century America's famous and influential women." Brief biographical portraits accompany photos of Helen Keller, Maya Lin, Dorothy Day, Julia Child, and many other women. Site also features transcripts and audio clips about biographical moments in portrait photography and photographic portraiture styles. http://www.npg.si.edu/cexh/woot/ Topics: Notable People: Women, Photograph Collections, Photography, Technology Last updated May 5, 2004 The Mississippi: River of Song
Companion to "a Smithsonian Institution series for public television ... that explores the richness and vitality of American music at the close of the twentieth century." The site features information about music in different regions along the Mississippi and biographies and audio and video clips for musicians in genres such as blues, Cajun, bluegrass, gospel, folk, hip hop, jazz, rock, and ethnic and traditional music. Includes a teacher's guide and links to related sites. http://www.pbs.org/riverofsong/ Topics: Geography, Musical Genres, Musical Instruments, Water Last updated Aug 3, 2005 Smithsonian Folkways
"Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, the national museum of the United States," dedicated to "supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation, preservation and dissemination of sound." The site contains a searchable catalog of recordings (genres include folk, bluegrass, blues, humor, old time, poetry, and world music); events information; tour dates of featured artists; new releases; and more. http://www.folkways.si.edu/ Topics: Internet, Music, Musical Genres, Poetry Last updated Jun 18, 2008 Enola Gay
Information on the Enola Gay, "the B-29 bomber used in the atomic mission that destroyed Hiroshima" during World War II. Includes a chronology, photos, a list of crew members, information on the restoration of the aircraft, and more. From the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal103/gal103_former.html Topics: Weapons, World War II Last updated Jun 13, 2006 Artificial Anatomy: Papier-mâché Anatomical Models
Highlights the National Museum of American History's (NMAH) collection of these models and explores "the history and use of papier-mâché anatomical models, [and] their construction, conservation, and preservation." Includes images of human, veterinary, and botanical models and an interactive quiz. From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Behring Center. http://americanhistory.si.edu/anatomy/ Topics: Biology, Plants, Science, Science Last updated Jul 9, 2002 Index Nominum Genericorum (ING)
ING, "a collaborative project of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT) and the Smithsonian Institution, was initiated in 1954 as a compilation of generic names published for all organisms covered by the 'International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.'" Database is current through 1990 and includes a bibliography. From the Smithsonian Institution, Department of Botany. http://ravenel.si.edu/botany/ing/ingForm.cfm Topics: Biology, Plants, Ready Reference & Quick Facts, Ready Reference & Quick Facts, Science, Science Last updated Apr 10, 2007 From Carbons to Computers: The Changing American Office
"An educational resource intended for middle and high schools students, their teachers, and the general public" about the birth and growth of the American office. The site features a timeline and illustrated essays about office equipment, office organization, and the global office. Also includes lesson plans and a bibliography. From the Smithsonian Institution. http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/carbons/start.html Topics: Business, Business, K-12 Education, Lesson Plans Last updated Feb 8, 2006 The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
This site from the Smithsonian presents background information on the presidency, the campaigns to achieve it, and the men who have been president. Find brief biographical sketches, lists of achievements, images of items in the Smithsonian's collection, and classroom aids. The "Resources" section includes a list of all the presidential candidates, a list of military service of the presidents, a bibliography, and annotated links to other presidential websites. http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/home.html Topics: The United States Presidency Last updated Nov 14, 2008 Earth From Space
Companion to 2006-2010 traveling exhibition featuring satellite imagery of Earth from space. Provides images of vegetation, tropical forests, oceans, floods and storms, mountains and volcanoes, agriculture, urban areas, and more. Includes material about remote sensing and satellite technology. From the Smithsonian Institution. http://www.earthfromspace.si.edu Topics: Astronomy, Geography Last updated Dec 11, 2006 Drawing From Life: Selections of Caricatures & Cartoons From the American Art/Portrait Gallery Library Collection
The collection of caricature and cartoon books at the Smithsonian Institution's American Art/Portrait Gallery Library Collection "number[s] over 600 volumes, ... [and] has a strong focus on the works by American artists — the oldest dating to the Civil War period." This site presents a selection of annotated images from the collection. Browsable by title, artist, or subject. Also includes biographies of some of the artists and a bibliography. http://www.sil.si.edu/ondisplay/caricatures/ Topics: Arts and Humanities, Arts and Humanities, Media, Media Last updated Feb 4, 2004 A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution
"This exhibit explores this period when racial prejudice and fear upset the delicate balance between the rights of the citizen and the power of the state." It discusses Japanese immigration to the United States, the relocation of Japanese Americans to camps during World War II, their loyalty and military service, and their post-war struggle for justice. From the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. http://americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/ Topics: Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties, Nonfiction by Genre Last updated Nov 8, 2004 Civil War@Smithsonian: Collecting, Preserving, Remembering the National Experience
This site, produced by the National Portrait Gallery, provides information and pictures from the Smithsonian Institution's extensive collections on the United States Civil War. The collections represented include slavery and abolition, Abraham Lincoln, weapons, leaders, cavalries, navies, the surrender at Appomattox, and the life and culture of the time. A bibliography of resources and timeline of events relating to the war are also available. http://civilwar.si.edu/ Topics: Black Resources, Labor, United States History, Wars & Conflicts Last updated Feb 2, 2005 Mammal Species of the World (MSW)
"A database of mammalian taxonomy ... that can be used for identifying or verifying recognized scientific names and for taxonomic research. The names are organized in a hierarchy that includes Order, Family, Subfamily, Genus and Species." From the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. http://vertebrates.si.edu/mammals/msw/ Topics: Mammals, Science, Science Last updated Oct 16, 2009 Fast Attacks and Boomers: Submarines in the Cold War
Explores how "nuclear powered submarines played major roles in American policy and strategy from the 1950s to the 1990s, the years of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union." Tells how the "machines were built, operated and utilized, [and] what life was like for the sailors on board and their families back home." Also has history of submarines and a Cold War timeline. From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. http://americanhistory.si.edu/subs/ Topics: Energy, History, Military, Science, Technology, Transportation, Wars & Conflicts Last updated Jul 16, 2002 Taking America to Lunch
View a sampling of metal lunch boxes featured in this exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Includes images of the first generation of lunch boxes from the 19th century, lunch boxes with pictures from television shows, lunch boxes with pictures of cowboys and astronauts, and "cool" lunch boxes from the 1960s and 1970s. http://americanhistory.si.edu/lunchboxes/ Topics: Collectors & Collecting, Communities & Groups Last updated Mar 30, 2005 An Edward Hopper Scrapbook
A scrapbook that "offers a glimpse into Hopper's life, his friends, and the paintings that have fascinated art lovers worldwide ever since Hopper first came to prominence during the mid 1920s." Includes photos, reviews, catalogs, and letters. From the Smithsonian American Art Museum. http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/hopper/index.html Topics: Art by Region, Artists, Correspondence Last updated Oct 12, 2009 Frida Kahlo: Notas Sobre una Vida (Notes on a Life)
This exhibit pays tribute to this Mexican artist "and her enduring influence on American art," with photographs and letters selected from the Florence Arquin, Emmy Lou Packard, John Weatherwax, Nickolas Muray, and Chester Dale collections. From the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. http://www.aaa.si.edu/exhibits/pastexhibits/kahlo/hispanic2001.htm Topics: Artists, Correspondence, Photograph Collections: Regional Last updated Jun 6, 2007 July 1942: United We Stand
Explores the "patriotic conspiracy" of July 1942, when nearly five hundred "magazines nationwide featured the American flag on their covers." Includes background information on the campaign and the slogan "united we stand"; searchable and browsable images of covers; a timeline; related information on the Treasury Department, war bonds, and war savings stamps; an annotated gallery of other objects that featured the flag; and suggested reading. From the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/1942/ Topics: Art, Arts and Humanities, Federal (U.S.) Government, Government, Government, Media, Media, September 11 & Beyond, World War II Last updated Jul 15, 2004 Mathew Brady's National Portrait Gallery: A Virtual Tour
This site is a virtual tour of all of Matthew Brady's photographs in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, taken throughout the 1800s. Also provides his Carte de Visite Album ; the Making of a Photograph ; a Brady biography; a Technical Glossary , with explanations of a daguerreotype, ambrotype, and other aspects of photography; and an Index of Sitters , each with a short biography. http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/brady/gallery/gallery.html Topics: Notable People: Arts & Humanities, Photograph Collections, Photography, Technology Last updated Feb 20, 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Information about this annual Smithsonian Institution festival "asserting the ability of people to converse with and understand each other." The festival typically includes "programs of music, song, dance, celebratory performance, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling, illustrations of workers' culture, and narrative sessions for discussing cultural issues." Features descriptions of programs at the current year's festival, and archives of festivals back to 1997. From the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. http://www.folklife.si.edu/center/festival.html Topics: Holidays and Observances Individually, Recreation, Society & Social Science, Sports, Recreation, & Entertainment, United States History Last updated Jun 29, 2005 Bright Edges of the World: The Earth's Evolving Drylands
"Drylands include arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas all over the world. The aim of this exhibit is to show the importance these environments have in the lives of people everywhere, and the threats they face." Includes section for children. A collaboration of the Smithsonian Institution and the United Nations Environment Programme. Also available in French. http://www.nasm.si.edu/ceps/drylands/ Topics: Geography Last updated May 25, 2004 Smithsonian Institution Digital Library
The Smithsonian gateway to digitized images from its museums, archives, and libraries. Currently more than 15,000 images have been digitized and described. The collection is browsable by general topic and searchable throught the main Smithsonian Web site search. Digitization of the collections is an ongoing project as there are more than 240 million objects in the Smithsonian. You must have cookies turned on for this site to work. http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/ Topics: Libraries & Archives by Type Last updated Feb 26, 2003 Vikings: the North Atlantic Saga
A site about the Scandinavian discovery of North America over 1000 years ago. "Presented through a spectacular array of artifacts and archeological finds, the exhibit explores a previously unknown chapter in the history of North America." View the voyage in standard or enhanced versions. Sections for points along the journey include Archaeology, Sagas, Environment, and History. From the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. http://www.mnh.si.edu/vikings/ Topics: Geography, History Last updated Mar 16, 2002 Doodles, Drafts, and Designs: Industrial Drawings from the Smithsonian
See some amazing designs of inventions created before the computer technology of today. "This exhibition presents examples of industrial drawings in the collections of the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Institution Libraries." This exhibit walks you through the creative process for the industrial drawings of a variety of inventions, such as the bra, the shopping cart, and Crayola crayons. http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/doodles/ Topics: Arts and Humanities, Arts and Humanities, Notable People, Science, Science, Technology Last updated Jan 12, 2005 Seeds of Change Garden
Explore the world of 1492 and the ways life changed as new plant foods were introduced by explorers and Native American and old world cultures learned from each other. This site from the Smithsonian includes garden projects, food information and recipes, and historic information. http://www.mnh.si.edu/archives/garden/ Topics: Gardening, K-12 Education, Nutrition & Food Safety Last updated May 17, 2006 Decoding the Past: The Work of Archaeologists
This site provides lesson plans for students in grades K-12 that are designed to "encourage your students to think about how human-made objects and other indicators of human life can enrich our understanding of peoples both past and present." Lesson plans address identifying artifacts, dating soil layers, and using typology to interpret artifacts. Also includes a bibliography and links to resources. From the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/decoding_the_past/ Topics: Agriculture, Archaeology, History, Lesson Plans Last updated Jun 10, 2007 Migrations in History
This site gives a glimpse into human migration. "Peoples" covers travelers from around the world, including island peoples, nomads, pioneers, and explorers. "Objects" looks at clothing and fashion, food migration, medicinal plants, and transportation technology. "Cultures" gives examples of language, belief systems, trade, visual and performing arts, and more. "Ideas" discusses forced migrations and borders, race and identity, and women and society. From the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. http://smithsonianeducation.org/migrations/start.html Topics: Emigration & Immigration Last updated Sep 22, 2003 Smithsonian National Zoological Park
The national zoo of the U.S., situated in Washington, D.C. The site provides information about the animals it houses, with features on the "Kid's Farm," photographs, webcams, fact sheets, enrichment items, and more. Also includes information on ecosystems, animal conservation, endangered species, and details for visitors. Searchable. The National Zoological Park is part of the Smithsonian Institution. http://nationalzoo.si.edu Topics: Agriculture, Animals, Film, Movies, & Video, Photograph Collections, Photograph Collections: Nature & Wildlife, Recreation, Recreation Last updated Mar 8, 2005 North American Mammals
"A searchable database of all living mammals of North America." Based on the Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals and Mammals of North America, the database is searchable by species name and conservation status, and browsable through a map of North America and a family tree. Also includes a glossary and searchable collections of skull and bone and teeth images. Also available in Spanish. From the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. http://www.mnh.si.edu/mna/ Topics: Animals, Regions of the World Last updated Nov 30, 2007 Photographing History: Fred J. Maroon and the Nixon Years, 1970-1974
Photojournalist Fred J. Maroon's photo-essay of "President Richard Nixon's years in office," including the Watergate Senate investigation, House impeachment hearings, and Nixon's resignation. Also find audio files of comments from Maroon and a timeline of the Nixon Administration (1968-1974). From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. http://americanhistory.si.edu/maroon/ Topics: Notable People: Arts & Humanities, Photograph Collections: History, Photography, Presidents by Name, The United States Presidency Last updated Jun 2, 2005 Devi: The Great Goddess
A companion site to a previous exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution. Presents an overview of the Indian mother goddess Devi."The site offers additional information on the contemporary and historical worship of Devi, activities for children and families, and a list of resources on South Asian arts and cultures." From the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art. http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/ Topics: Faiths Last updated Aug 1, 2006 The Sensuous and the Sacred: Chola Bronzes from South India
This site documents an exhibit of the "temple bronzes cast a thousand years ago in the Tamil-speaking region of south India during the Chola dynasty." The online exhibition includes slide shows and videos highlighting the gods featured, an explanation of the process of wax to metal casting, and information on Hinduism and the Chola dynasty. From the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/chola/chola.htm Topics: Architecture, Faiths Last updated Dec 20, 2004 The Zoot-Suit and Style Warfare
This 1984 essay by Stuart Cosgrove explores the 1943 Los Angeles "Zoot-Suit Riots" and the social and political importance of the zoot-suit to Mexican-American youths ("pachucos") as "an emblem of ethnicity and a way of negotiating an identity." Originally published in the History Workshop Journal. http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/whole_cloth/u7sf/u7materials/cosgrove.html Topics: Activism, California: History, Nonfiction by Genre Last updated Nov 28, 2004 Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A History of American Sweatshops, 1820-Present
A virtual exhibit of documents, garments, signs, and other artifacts illustrating the sweatshop history, the global fashion industry, the 1995 El Monte sweatshop, and attitudes from six spokespeople about sweatshops in the United States. From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. http://americanhistory.si.edu/sweatshops/ Topics: Labor, United States History Last updated Nov 17, 2004 The Lemelson Center: Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation
Created to "document, interpret, and disseminate information about invention and innovation" and "to encourage inventive creativity in young people," this site focuses on the U.S. "Invention at Play" has learning activities and applications interspersed with inventors' stories and historic documents. Special resources for students, teachers, inventors, historians, and museum visitors are gathered under "Short Cuts." Searchable. Part of the National Museum of American History. http://invention.smithsonian.org/home/ Topics: Business, Notable People, Science, Technology Last updated Feb 4, 2005 Iraq and China: Ceramics, Trade, and Innovation
Companion to an exhibit that "focuses on revolutionary and enduring changes that took place in Iraqi ceramics during the 9th century as the humble character of Islamic pottery responded to a wave of luxury Chinese goods." The site features images of blue and white ware and lusterware, information about the spread of new ceramic techniques, and links to related sites. From the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/iraqChina/defaultIC.htm Topics: Crafts, Faiths, September 11 & Beyond Last updated May 23, 2005 America's Jazz Heritage
From the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibits Service, this site offers a look at jazz through audio clips, photos, publications, descriptions of exhibits, and links to other sites. http://www.si.edu/ajazzh/ Topics: Musical Genres, Photograph Collections Last updated Aug 26, 2002 America on the Move
This site from The Smithsonian Institution uses "three interconnected routes to explore how transportation shaped our lives, landscapes, culture, and communities." Features an illustrated and annotated timeline, an "online transportation collection [that] includes more than a thousand artifacts and photographs" (browsable by categories, eras, and regions), and a thematic tour of the collection. Also includes games and materials for classroom use. http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/ Topics: Photograph Collections, Photograph Collections: Nature & Wildlife Last updated Feb 23, 2004 Smithsonian Institution
Site of the national museum of the United States, which comprises several history, science, and technology museums; art galleries; the National Zoo; numerous research facilities; libraries; and outreach programs. Features information about exhibitions, museum events, and membership. Includes lesson plans and other resources for educators. Searchable. http://www.si.edu/ Topics: Education, Lesson Plans, Museums by Place: United States Last updated Dec 10, 2004 Wonder Bound: Rare Books on Early Museums
The site explores how "centuries-old natural history books [are] vital to scientific research" today. Considers display, collecting and description, and preservation techniques as discussed and illustrated in rare books. Includes a brief bibliography. A companion to an exhibit on display at the National Museum of Natural History in 2002. http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/wonderbound/ Topics: Environment, Museums, Science, Science Last updated May 13, 2003 Arctic Studies Center
"The Arctic Studies Center specifically studies northern peoples, exploring history, archaeology, social change and human lifeways across the circumpolar world." Site features online exhibitions, ongoing research, various publications, a glossary, resources for teachers, and related links. Searchable. From the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/ Topics: Activism, Geography, Geology, Regions of the World Last updated Dec 9, 2004 Zoos: A Historical Perspective
Illustrating "the evolution of zoos in the modern era," this collection of images, including "maps, drawings and photographs of zoos from over 30 states and 40 countries," was compiled by the Smithsonian Institution from "a collection of pamphlets and guide books published by zoos over the past century...collected by the National Zoological Park." http://www.sil.si.edu/ondisplay/zoos/ Topics: Animals, Nonfiction by Genre, Recreation, Recreation Last updated Mar 23, 2003 Smithsonian Science
This weekly newsletter from the Smithsonian Institution provides information about the "latest cutting-edge research by Smithsonian Scientists." Topics include space travel, astronomy, "bar coding" gene sequences, and biodiversity. Each issue also includes a bibliography with links to selected material. Newsletters date back to 2003. http://smithsonianscience.org/ Topics: Astronomy, Magazines, Science Last updated Oct 14, 2009 Chasing Venus: Observing the Transits of Venus, 1631-2004
This exhibit provides background information and history of transits of Venus, the astronomical events where "the planet Venus passes directly between Earth and the Sun, appearing as a small black dot on the Sun's disk." Features details about seven past transits of Venus (1631, 1639, 1761, 1769, 1874, 1882, 2004), and the upcoming transit in 2012. Includes links to related sites. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/chasing-venus/ Topics: Astronomy Last updated May 31, 2005 Smithsonian Institution's Libraries
This site has exhibits on science, industry and technology, art and design, and American history; a digital library; and links to the twenty individual Smithsonian libraries. Many of the "Galaxy" links on are to rare books and other texts and include images of pages from the texts. There is also access to the Smithsonian Libraries Catalog, SIRIS . http://www.sil.si.edu/ Topics: Libraries & Archives by Type Last updated Oct 8, 2002 Slates, Slide Rules, and Software: Teaching Math in America
Devoted to "tools used to teach math across American history, from the 1800s to the present." Includes information on slates, blackboards, arithmetic cards, geometric models, numeral frames, textbooks, geometric models, arithmetical frames, slide rules, blackboard dividers and protractors, B.F. Skinner's teaching machine, Cuisenaire rods, the new math, calculators, software, and geoboards. From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Behring Center. http://americanhistory.si.edu/teachingmath/ Topics: K-12 Education, Mathematics Last updated Jul 24, 2002 George Washington: A National Treasure
Presents the first U.S. president through an exploration of the Landsdowne portrait of him by Gilbert Stuart. The site provides an interactive, detailed look at the portrait, using symbolic, biographic, and artistic filters. The site also has a chronology of Washington's life, a Town Hall with several discussion forums, a section for children, and more. From the Smithsonian. http://georgewashington.si.edu/ Topics: Presidents by Name, Schools of Art Last updated Feb 15, 2007 On Time
This online exhibit "explores the changing ways Americans have measured, used, and thought about time." The history is divided into sections: Marking Time - 1700-1820 , Mechanizing Time - 1820-1880 , Synchronizing Time - 1880-1920 , Saving Time - 1920-1960 , and Expanding Time - 1960-Now . From the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. http://americanhistory.si.edu/ontime/ Topics: Ready Reference & Quick Facts, Ready Reference & Quick Facts, Science, Science Last updated Mar 16, 2002 Encyclopedia Smithsonian
This index provides links to the Smithsonian's many sites about art and design, history and culture, and science and technology. http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/ Topics: Musical Instruments Last updated Apr 4, 2007 HistoryWired: A Few of Our Favorite Things
Here, images of objects in the National Museum of American History "include famous, unusual, and everyday items with interesting stories to tell." Pop-up page instructions guide users through the main map, which is divided into broad categories. Ten theme buttons and era searching disclose special collections. Visitors using slower Internet connections may browse a text version of the site. http://historywired.si.edu/index.html Topics: Museums by Place: United States, U.S. History By Place Last updated Apr 12, 2004 Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African American Identity
Devoted to "the cloth called kente, made by the Asante peoples of Ghana and the Ewe peoples of Ghana and Togo." Contains information on the cultural and artistic aspects of the African textile, including when and where to wear kente. From the Smithsonian Institution. http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/kente/top.htm Topics: Black Resources, Crafts Last updated Jul 22, 2006 The Price of Freedom: Americans at War
"Americans have gone to war to win their independence, expand their national boundaries, define their freedoms, and defend their interests around the globe. This exhibition examines how wars have shaped the nation's history and transformed American society." Features annotated images of hundreds of artifacts. Searchable, or browsable by conflict or by category of object. Also includes an exhibition guide and teaching materials. From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/ Topics: U.S. Military Last updated Nov 15, 2004 National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)
This portion of the Smithsonian Institution located in New York and Washington, D.C., "is the first national museum dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans." The site features numerous online exhibitions on subjects such as ancient Mexican art, basketry, and works of contemporary artists. Also includes classroom materials and information about the collection and the NMAI outreach and education programs. http://www.nmai.si.edu Topics: Museums, Museums by Place: United States, Native Americans Last updated Oct 28, 2009 American Indian Heritage Teaching Resources
Classroom materials for the celebration of American Indian Heritage Month (November), including publications from the National Museum of the American Indian, lesson plans (on topics such as the Bering Sea Eskimo people and buffalo hide paintings), and online exhibits of American Indian collections at the Smithsonian museums. From the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies of the Smithsonian Institution. http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/american_indian_resources.html Topics: Native Americans, Special Months Last updated Nov 8, 2005 The Nylon Drama
This essay describes how "the tension between a pure-science idealist and a pragmatic corporation resulted in an artificial fiber of historic importance and the biggest money-maker in the history of Du Pont." Includes a description of the beginning of the project in the 1920s through the announcement of nylon's invention for the 1939 New York World's Fair. From the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. http://invention.smithsonian.org/centerpieces/whole_cloth/u7sf/u7materials/nylondrama.html Topics: Industries, Technology Last updated Jan 4, 2006 Buginfo: Insects as Pets
Brief descriptions of some insects that would be suitable as pets, including field crickets, praying mantids, ant-lions (also known as doodlebugs), caterpillars, and mealworms. From the Department of Systematic Biology of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/pets.htm Topics: Insects & Arachnids Last updated Apr 3, 2007 Style and Status: Imperial Costumes From Ottoman Turkey
Companion to "the first international exhibition devoted to sumptuous and graphically stunning imperial Turkish robes (kaftans) from the 16th and 17th century." Includes a link to an interactive feature with detailed views of these garments and links to sites on topics such as Ottoman women and the visual arts, and the Topkapi Palace. From the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.asia.si.edu/exhibitions/online/styleAndStatus/ Topics: Fashion, History By Place Last updated Sep 9, 2009 Western Union Telegraph Company Records, 1820-1995
This listing of Western Union Telegraph Company records begins with a concise history of the telegraph, including Samuel F.B. Morse's invention of the early telegraph, the Morse Code system, further developments that allowed Roman letters to be sent in addition to dots and dashes, early commercial telegraph services, the 1860 Pacific Telegraph Act, and the history of Western Union Telegraph Company. From the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian Institution. http://invention.smithsonian.org/resources/fa_wu_index.aspx Topics: Business, Industries, Technology Last updated Feb 8, 2006 Smithsonian Jazz
The goals of this program of the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, include "preserving and perpetuating jazz as an American national treasure -- through collections, exhibitions, performances, recordings, publications, oral histories, and educational programs." The site provides details and examples about these activities, such as an oral history of Artie Shaw, an interactive Duke Ellington class (with audio), and material about Jazz Appreciation in April. http://www.smithsonianjazz.org Topics: Musical Genres, Musicians Last updated Feb 16, 2006 Le Tumulte Noir: Paul Colin's Jazz Age Portfolio
Website companion to a 1997 exhibit of a 1929 "portfolio of vividly colored lithographs titled 'Le Tumulte Noir' ('The Black Craze') which captured the exuberant jazz music and dance that dazzled Paris" when Josephine Baker and her troupe, La Revue Négre, performed in Paris in the mid-1920s. Includes historical background and images of 14 lithographs, which are a "marvelous achievement of Art Deco graphic design." From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/noir/ Topics: Schools of Art Last updated Mar 2, 2006 MIND: Modern Inventors Documentation Program
This site "promote[s] the advancement and diffusion of knowledge about American inventors" by providing a database that "identifies the locations and contents of invention-related archival materials in the United States." The database is browsable by subject (such as agriculture, air and space, maritime, and medicine) or searchable. From the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian National Museum of American History. http://invention.smithsonian.org/resources/MIND_Search_Basic.aspx Topics: Notable People, Technology Last updated Jun 26, 2006 Million Man March
Small collection of photos from an October 16, 1995, event in which "African-American men from across the country gathered on Washington's National Mall ... for a massive Million Man March advocating 'unity, atonement and brotherhood.'... Organized by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, the march also drew participants from other churches, as well as many schools and social organizations." Part of a Smithsonian Institution program to document events on the National Mall. http://photo2.si.edu/mmm/mmm.html Topics: Activism, Black Resources Last updated Oct 9, 2006 Life and Death in the White House: Assassinations and Mourning
This presentation looks at assassination of U.S. presidents and the role of the U.S. Secret Service in protecting presidents. Discusses assassinations and assassination attempts, including Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Andrew Jackson, and James A. Garfield. Includes a chart listing all of the assassination attempts and outcomes. Part of a larger exhibit on the U.S. presidency by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. http://americanhistory.si.edu/PRESIDENCY/3d.html Topics: The United States Presidency Last updated Nov 13, 2006 Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday
This site traces the history of Thanksgiving in North America and the U.S. "Most Americans are familiar with the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving Feast of 1621, but few realize that it was not the first festival of its kind in North America." Discusses Native American harvest celebrations; celebrations in Newfoundland, Florida, Maine, and Virginia prior to the Pilgrims' celebration; and presidential Thanksgiving proclamations. Part of the Encyclopedia Smithsonian from the Smithsonian Institution. http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmah/thanks.htm Topics: Holidays and Observances Individually Last updated Apr 14, 2007 By Aeroplane to Pygmyland: Revisiting the 1926 Dutch and American Expedition to New Guinea
This online publication "aims to 'revisit' a historically important scientific expedition ... through interpretive essays accompanied by the publication, for the first time, of two expedition diaries by the American participants and a wealth of additional expedition records that had never before been published." Browse interpretive essays, over 700 photos, film footage, and expedition source material. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/expeditions/1926/ Topics: Science Last updated Jan 27, 2009 Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers
Companion to a traveling exhibit that "portrays athletes, focusing on their participation in significant events and the social contexts that influenced them. ... [T]hese undaunted individuals broke records for themselves and broke barriers for us all." Features images of artifacts and background about athletes in categories such as firsts, Olympians, "More Than Champions," and "Barrier Removers." Also includes a bibliography, filmography, and games. From the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. http://americanhistory.si.edu/sports/ Topics: Notable People, Sports Last updated Mar 29, 2007 Letters From the Japanese American Internment
In this history lesson plan, "students make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to [children's librarian] Clara [Estelle] Breed." Provides images of the letters, photos, links to related Smithsonian exhibitions, and a reading list. From the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies. http://smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/japanese_internment/ Topics: World War II Last updated Feb 15, 2007 Make the Dirt Fly!
Illustrated presentation about the building of the Panama Canal by French and American interests. Includes background about the Suez Canal built by the French (joining the Mediterranean and Red Seas, finished in 1869), selection of the canal route, workers and tropical diseases (such yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes), and civil and structural engineering issues. Includes photos, maps, and related documents about this canal first used in 1914. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Make-the-Dirt-Fly/ Topics: Transportation, Water Last updated Feb 26, 2007 Josephine Baker: Image and Icon
"In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Baker’s birth [in 1906], the exhibition explores the development of her image, first as an exotic phenomenon in a mid-1920s Paris that was infatuated with African-American culture, then as a glamorous cabaret star and finally as a Civil Rights advocate." This slideshow features images of Baker accompanied by audio of the "Jubilee Stomp" by Duke Ellington. From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/baker/slideshow/slideshow.html Topics: Black Resources, Notable People: Women Last updated Mar 5, 2007 Lighting a Revolution
"This web site accompanies an exhibition at the National Museum of American History exploring the process of invention. The story is told in two parallel sections comparing Thomas Edison's light bulb invention with several electric lighting inventions of a century later. Objects and graphics from both sections of the exhibition can be viewed on this site, as can the complete exhibition script." From the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. http://americanhistory.si.edu/lighting/ Topics: Technology Last updated Apr 14, 2007 Washington's Seldom Seen Memorials
This small presentation of photographs highlights some of the Washington, D.C., memorials that are "smaller, lesser known and seldom seen in official guide books." These memorials where photographed on a past Memorial Day as part of a larger project. Includes memorials such as the Battleship Maine Memorial and the Military Nurses Statue (both in Arlington National Cemetery), and "The Hiker," a memorial to those who served in the Spanish-American War. From the Smithsonian Institution. http://photos.si.edu/memorial/memorial.html Topics: Military Last updated May 23, 2007 One Life: Walt Whitman, a Kosmos
This exhibit about the poet Walt Whitman features a timeline of Whitman's life illustrated primarily with portraits of the poet. It also includes an introduction to the poet, an essay, audio excerpts from Whitman's "Leaves of Grass," audio of Whitman reading "America," and profiles of some of "Whitman's heirs" (such as jazz musician Charlie Parker and painter Jackson Pollock). From the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/whitman/ Topics: Authors by Region: United States, Poetry Last updated May 21, 2007 Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals
Companion website for this permanent museum exhibition of mammal specimens and fossils that "takes visitors around the world to see how mammals have adapted to different habitats, from the sweltering desert to the bone-chilling north." Interactive exhibits explore the characteristics of mammals, evolution of mammals, and mammal habitats around the world. Also includes behind-the-scenes material (including a taxidermy demonstration), classroom materials, and related resources. From the Smithsonian Institution. http://www.mnh.si.edu/mammals/ Topics: Mammals Last updated Oct 8, 2007 Pamplona: No Bull
Article about the fiesta of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain, "which mixes a saint who may not have existed, an audacious American writer attracted to danger [Ernest Hemingway], and six wild bulls charging down the main street, [and which] may be the most famous and most misunderstood public party in the world." Also includes photos and an interview with the author of this article who wrote a book on the subject. From Smithsonian Magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/10022211.html Topics: History By Place, Holidays and Observances Individually, Holidays by Region Last updated Nov 30, 2007 Arago: People, Postage & the Post
Collection of materials from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum on stamp collection (philately) and postal operations. Features illustrated historical essays, exhibits (such as first U.S. commemorative stamps), and a create-your-own digital collection feature (requires free registration). Also includes a glossary. From the National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution. (The site is named after Francois Arago, 19th century French scientist and friend of James Smithson.) http://www.arago.si.edu/ Topics: Collectors & Collecting, Ready Reference & Quick Facts Last updated Jul 23, 2007 Encompassing the Globe: Portugal and the World in the 16th and 17th Centuries
This companion to a 2007 exhibit at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution traces Portuguese sea voyages in the 16th and 17th centuries through images of paintings, prints, and objects. Topics include the role of Portugal in Europe during the "Age of Discovery," and Portuguese voyages to Africa, China, and around the Indian Ocean. The exhibition may also be explored using Google Earth technology. http://www.asia.si.edu/EncompassingtheGlobe/ Topics: History By Place Last updated Sep 5, 2007 Smithsonian Photography Initiative
This site is designed to "introduce you to Smithsonian's extraordinary collections of photographs and to an understanding of the integral roles photographs play in our lives." Features the program "Click! Photography Changes Everything," which "is a collection of essays and stories by invited contributors and visitors like you discussing how photography shapes our culture and our lives." Also includes a link to the related blog "The Bigger Picture." From the Smithsonian Institution. http://photography.si.edu/ Topics: Photography Last updated Apr 23, 2009 American by Air
Companion website for this permanent exhibition (opened in November 2007) that tells "the story of air travel and its impact on U.S. history, culture and everyday life." Exhibit sections cover the beginnings of air travel, airline expansion and innovation, propeller airlines, and the jet age. Includes images, fun activities, personal stories, current airline news, and behind-the-scenes material. From the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal102/americabyair/ Topics: Transportation Last updated Dec 14, 2007 The Hissing Cockroach -- Beyond the "Ick Factor"
This fact sheet describes the Madagascar hissing cockroach, which "has been a staple in science classrooms for years and now is growing in popularity in the pet trade." Discusses the biology behind the hissing sound, reasons why the hissing cockroaches (also known as the Madagascar hissing beetle) make good pets and classroom study animals, and related topics. From the Smithsonian National Zoo's Adopt-a-Species program. http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Support/AdoptSpecies/AnimalInfo/HissRoach/ Topics: Insects & Arachnids Last updated Oct 22, 2007 One Life: Kate, A Centennial Celebration
This website was created in conjunction with a 2007-2008 gallery exhibition about Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003), "a twentieth-century icon who carefully constructed and maintained her own myth, from her earliest days in the studio system through more than fifty years on stage, screen, and television." Features images from Hepburn's childhood, early Hollywood appearances, stardom, and her later career. Also includes a photo of her four Oscar statuettes. From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/hepburn/ Topics: Film, Movies, & Video, Notable People Last updated Nov 29, 2007 A Jules Verne Centennial: 1905-2005
Presentation about French science fiction author Jules Verne (born February 1828, and died March 1905), who is known for novels such as "Around the World in Eighty Days," "Journey to the Center of the Earth," and "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea." Includes digitized images for selected early works of Verne, an essay, and a bibliography. From Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/OnDisplay/JulesVerne100/ Topics: Authors by Region, Literature: Fiction Last updated Jan 24, 2008 A Thousand Kisses: Love Letters From the Archives of American Art
"This selection of affectionate communiqués to and from American artists [such as Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, and Michael Goldberg] gives us insight into the lives of painters, sculptors, illustrators, and others -- their relationships, perceptions, and creative energies -- from the mid-19th century to the late 20th." A companion to a 2008 physical exhibit at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art. http://www.aaa.si.edu/exhibits/index.cfm/fuseaction/projects.viewproject/projectid/135 Topics: Correspondence Last updated Jan 31, 2008 The Making of a Homemaker
Presentation about comprehensive domestic guidebooks from the 19th century. "These books were primarily aimed at the middle and upper class female, who saw keeping a healthy and happy home her role in life. Not only did they detail the day-to-day activities of a homemaker, but also prescribed the appropriate moral and religious outlooks." Explore book contents on topics such as care of the sick, decorating, etiquette, fashion, and raising children. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/ondisplay/making-homemaker/ Topics: Home & Housing Last updated Feb 5, 2008 Recognize! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture
This exhibit approaches "hip hop culture through the lens of portraiture," presenting photography, painting, graffiti art, film, poetry, and installation art. Features images from the 2008 physical exhibit, audio of interviews with the artists and of the making of the graffiti mural in the exhibit, and a place for users to submit their own hip hop portraits. From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/recognize/ Topics: Musical Genres Last updated Feb 20, 2008 Camping With the Sioux: Fieldwork Diary of Alice Cunningham Fletcher
Text of fieldwork journals "kept by Alice Fletcher during a six-week venture into Plains Indian territory in 1881." Fletcher's trip "was unprecedented. ... no one but Frank Hamilton Cushing had lived with Native Americans for a scientific purpose." Features illustrated diary entries, a photo gallery, Sioux folk tales recorded by Fletcher, and related readings and links. From the National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.nmnh.si.edu/naa/fletcher/ Topics: Native Americans, Nonfiction by Genre Last updated Mar 4, 2008 Sewing Machines: Historical Trade Literature in Smithsonian Collections
"This guide illustrates the range of materials published by and about sewing machine companies in the United States, starting in the 1840s." Includes introductory essays about Smithsonian Institution trade catalogs and textile collections and "a finding aid to these sewing machine literature collections including scanned images of many of the texts." Also includes links to related collections. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/trade-literature/sewing-machines Topics: Crafts Last updated Mar 19, 2008 Terahertz Telescope Unveils a New Molecular Universe
Background about the Harvard-Smithsonian telescope that is based on terahertz astronomy, "the science of receiving and analyzing waves of radiation from space emitted by molecules at frequencies of more than 1 trillion hertz." This type of astronomy "holds great potential for new discoveries in interstellar chemistry and star formation." Describes detector design and location in northern Chile. From the Inside Smithsonian Research newsletter. http://www.si.edu/opa/insideresearch/articles/V8_Telescope.html Topics: Astronomy Last updated Mar 25, 2008 Asian Pacific American History and Culture
Compilation of Smithsonian Institution resources on Asian American history and culture, covering topics such as ancestor worship and Chinese-American teenagers, Japanese Americans during World War II, and Hawaiian luaus. From Encyclopedia Smithsonian. http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/History_and_Culture/AsianPacificAmerican_History.htm Topics: United States History Last updated Apr 15, 2008 Buginfo: State Insects
Quick list of the state insects for the "41 states in the United States [that] have officially designated State Insects." It also notes that "California was the first state of the United States to select a state insect. The Dogface Butterfly, Zerene eurydice, was officially adopted as the state insect of California in 1929." From the Smithsonian Institution. http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/statebugs.htm Topics: Insects & Arachnids, Ready Reference & Quick Facts Last updated May 27, 2008 Insects at the Smithsonian
This is a starting place for locating the Smithsonian Institution's projects and content on insects, including exhibits, fact sheets, research, and classroom guides. Includes links to pages on mosquitoes and cicadas. From the Smithsonian Institution. http://www.mnh.si.edu/insect/ Topics: Insects & Arachnids Last updated May 27, 2008 Click! Photography Changes Everything
This is "a collection of essays and stories ... discussing how photography shapes our culture and our lives. Explore how photography changes Who We Are, What We Do, What We See, Where We Go, What We Want and What We Remember." Includes a video introduction and instructions for submitting a story and photo to the project. From the Smithsonian Photography Initiative, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.click.si.edu/ Topics: Photography Last updated Feb 9, 2009 Edward Steichen Portraits
Companion to an exhibit of photos by Edward Steichen, "the man Vanity Fair called [in 1923] 'the greatest of living portrait photographers.'" Features selected images from the exhibit including annotated photos of John Pierpont Morgan, John Barrymore, Charlie Chaplin, George Gershwin, Willa Cather, Fred Astaire, and Paul Robeson. From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/steichen/ Topics: Photography Last updated Sep 3, 2008 Greetings From the Smithsonian: A Postcard History of the Smithsonian Institution
Dozens of postcards tracing the history of the Smithsonian Institution buildings and The Mall in Washington, D.C. Buildings include the first building (also known at the Castle), Art & Industries Building, National Museum of Natural History, Freer Gallery of Art, Patent Office Building (now American Art and Portrait Gallery), and National Museum of American History. Also includes a chronology of the picture postcard, covering the divided back and linen periods. From the Smithsonian's archives. http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/postcard/ Topics: Architecture by Place, Collectors & Collecting Last updated Apr 16, 2009 Four for a Quarter
This September 2008 article discusses the history and future of photo booths. Includes selected photo booth images from a book on the subject and user submitted photos and memories. From Smithsonian magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/photobooths.html?c=y&page=1 Topics: Photography Last updated Sep 17, 2008 Four Indian Kings
Online companion to a 2008-2009 exhibit in honor of "the 225th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris which ended the American Revolution. To commemorate this event, the National Portrait Gallery is showing the earliest surviving full-length oil portraits of North American Native people painted from life." Includes an introductory essay and small slide show. From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://npg.si.edu/exhibit/kings/slideshow/kings.htm Topics: Government, Notable People, Wars & Conflicts Last updated Dec 16, 2008 The Sant Ocean Hall
Website for this exhibit hall from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which opened in late September 2008. Explore the hall through images, podcasts, slide shows, a webcam, sneak peeks, and time lapse from the building of the hall. Also includes features on the ocean and on ocean conservation. From the Smithsonian Institution. http://ocean.si.edu/ocean_hall/ Topics: Water Last updated Oct 30, 2008 Picturing Words: The Power of Book Illustration
This exhibit explores book illustration as inspiration (sacred texts and letterforms), information (geography and travel, natural history, and anatomy), and influence (such as product literature and architecture). It also includes details about the process of illustration, and selected readings and online resources. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/PicturingWords/ Topics: Literature & Books Last updated Feb 17, 2009 The Nelson E. Jones Family's Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio
This exhibit features images from the book "Illustrations of the Nest and Eggs of Birds of Ohio," which was "published in the small town of Circleville, Ohio, over a period of eight years (from 1879 to 1886)." Browse illustrations of nests and/or eggs of birds such as the red-winged blackbird, cedar waxwing, and ruby-throated hummingbird. Accompanied by essays, biographies of the book authors and artists, and a brief bibliography. From Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/ondisplay/nestsandeggs/ Topics: Birds Last updated Mar 10, 2009 One Life: The Mask of Lincoln
Companion to a 2008/09 exhibition that "concentrates on presidential portraits to show the changing face that Abraham Lincoln presented to the world as he led the fight for the Union." Includes photos, paintings, and prints of Lincoln before he became president and during the Civil War, and of selected Lincoln contemporaries. Also includes an interview with a historian on topics such as the Lincoln death masks. From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/lincoln/ Topics: Presidents by Name Last updated Jan 29, 2009 Tokens of Affection and Regard: Photographic Jewelry and Its Makers
Companion to a 2008/2009 exhibit about 19th century jewelry that incorporated photographic portraits. "The evocative portraits preserved in photographic jewelry are rarely attributable to specific makers. ... [M]any of the nineteenth-century's major photographic artists offered these pieces." View images of selected bracelets, earrings, and pendants, and background about photographers. From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/jewels/ Topics: Fashion, Photography Last updated Jan 26, 2009 A Brief History of Chocolate
This 2008 article traces the history of chocolate back to "the Mayans and Aztecs [who] believed the cacao bean had magical, or even divine, properties." Also describes how chocolate became a fashionable drink throughout Europe in the 17th century, and the creation of the first modern chocolate bar in 1847. Also includes a video and information about the molinillo, a carved, wooden stick from Mexico used to stir hot chocolate. From the Smithsonian magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/brief-history-of-chocolate.html Topics: Sweets and Sweeteners Last updated Feb 2, 2009 From Horses to Horsepower: Studebaker Helped Move a Nation
This exhibit tells the story of Studebaker, starting when "brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker opened the H & C Studebaker blacksmith shop ... in South Bend, Indiana, on February 16, 1852" and went on to manufacture wagons and automobiles. A timeline covers the company's production of wagons and electric and gas-powered cars until Studebaker ceased production in 1966. Include biographies, photos of cars and factories, and a bibliography. From the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. http://www.sil.si.edu/ondisplay/studebaker/ Topics: Automobiles Last updated Jun 10, 2009 National Portrait Gallery: Face to Face
This blog reports news and events related to the National Portrait Gallery. Topics include the gallery's January 2008 acquisition of "the portrait that came to symbolize the historic campaign of President-elect Barack Obama . ... [which was] created by Los Angeles artist Shepard Fairey," links to photos of Elvis Presley (for his January 8 birthday), and photos of Abraham Lincoln. From the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. http://face2face.si.edu/my_weblog/ Topics: Blogs & Podcasts by Subject Last updated Jan 12, 2009 Artful Abe
This is "an online scavenger hunt that takes you from outdoor sculptures of Abraham Lincoln around America to discover related artworks in the collection of the [Smithsonian] American Art Museum." The activity, which highlights the museum's outdoor sculpture preservation program, can be played individually or as a team. From the Smithsonian American Art Museum. http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/artfulabe/ Topics: Art, Presidents by Name Last updated Mar 9, 2009 Libraries' Surprising Special Collections
This article from March 2009 highlights some "unexpected archives and world-class treasures" at U.S. libraries. Learn about the largest collection of Arabic papyrus and paper (University of Utah's J. Willard Marriott Library in Salt Lake City), nurse romance novels (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), tobacciana (New York Public Library), and more. From Smithsonian magazine. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Libraries-Surprising-Special-Collections.html Topics: Librarianship, Libraries & Archives by Type Last updated Mar 30, 2009 |
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