The idea of a shared place in the universe--a shared history--was embodied in 2019. The heft of the Smithsonian--its unparalleled collections, its diverse and deep-rooted expertise, and its outsized ability to connect with millions of people--is being brought to bear on the most critical issues of all time: conversations about democracy, identity,…

This report describes the Smithsonian Institution Information Retrieval (SIIR) System, a computerized information management system for natural history museums, as well as computer developments subsequent to SIIR, and the SELGEM system which evolved from SIIR and discusses their application to data processing and collection management in museums.…

An exhibit of 100 photographs, portraits, and sculptures, entitled "Champions of American Sport", is the first major art exhibit ever devoted to outstanding American sports personalities and to the aesthetic qualities of sport and human movement. The Smithsonian Institution is sponsoring the traveling collection, which includes works from the…

Describes the nineteenth century wave machines which can be found in the Smithsonian Institution, at Kenyon, and other colleges. Included is information about the apparatus, queries, and descriptions of different wave machines and how they work. Information included may inspire the reader with similar apparatus to repair it and use it again.…

The third article in a series of excerpts from seminars sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution on knowledge collaboration focuses on the humanities and social sciences. Reasons for the relatively greater frequency of collaborative research in the natural sciences are examined, and examples of collaborative projects in the humanities and social…

Within its short history as an institution and as a site of multilayered display and examination, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) has presented critical opportunities for the consideration of Native American art and material culture. Because NMAI is located at an important intersection between its audience of Native and…

Discusses "Seeds of Change," a Columbian quincentenary exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution. Describes the rapid transformation of the Americas after contact with the Europeans. Reports that the exhibit explores the destruction of the native population by disease, war, slavery, the ongoing decimation of the rain forest, and the…

The director of the Marine Systems Laboratory of the Smithsonian Institution discusses steps in developing ecological models. The following topics in using an aquarium for the ecosystem are described: lighting, water motion, water quality and filtration. Presents information on choosing living organisms for the ecosystem. Describes potential…

This newsletter, produced by the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, contains an article on the Apollo 11 spaceflight, an article on hypersonic and supersonic flight which compares the Concorde, the X-15, and the Shuttle Orbiter, an article presenting photographs of the construction of the Shuttle Orbiter, and an article…

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) enhances perpetuation of indigenous communities through its "Fourth Museum" program that supports living community museums created by and located in indigenous communities of the Americas. Through education and financial and technical aid, NMAI helps community…

This guide provides summaries of federal programs in the biological sciences of interest to colleges and universities. Programs described fall within the following agencies: National Science Foundation, Public Health Service, Smithsonian Institution, Department of State, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Office of Education,…

In December 2017, the Smithsonian unveiled a new Strategic Plan. It expands on the five "Grand Challenges"--Unlocking the Mysteries of the Universe, Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet, Valuing World Cultures, Understanding the American Experience, and Magnifying the Transformative Power of Arts and Design--by setting goals…

This SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) Kit is based on a survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries in June 2000. The goal of the survey was to identify issues to be addressed and actions ARL might take to advance the preservation goals of the members. The survey was designed to gather data on recent changes,…

This year's annual report features experts from across the Smithsonian whose work represents the best of innovation for the public good. They provide an excellent bird's-eye view of the many new approaches Smithsonian is taking, each with the goal of opening new opportunities for learning and discovery.

Local mail posts were private enterprises that operated mainly in cities circa 1840-1861. Locals provided services the United States Post Office Department (USPOD) did not offer. Some locals operated in association with the USPOD. In addition, some locals offered services that overlapped those offered by other independent mail carriers and express…