SI Records
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 46, Smithsonian Institution, Office of the Secretary, Records
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.
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.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
This series is a general correspondence series, arranged alphabetically by writer or topic.
Exhibit of Smithsonian Publications for the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with Webster Prentice True, Editor, standing to the left. [Image nos. MNH-17881 or 17881]
International Catalogue and International Exchanges Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with L. C. Gunnell, in charge of International Catalogue standing to the left. [Image nos. MNH-17887F or 17887-F]
Herbarium Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with W. R. Maxon, Associate Curator standing to left. Plant specimens and botanical drawings line the panels behind Maxon. [Image nos. MNH-17883K or 17883-K]
Vertebrate Paleontology Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with Charles W. Gilmore, Curator, standing near panels and dinosaur remains. [Image nos. MNH-17881K or 17881-K]
Division of Mollusks Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with Paul Bartsch, Curator, seated. Bartsch is surrounded by mollusk specimens and exhibit panels. [Image nos. MNH-17887E or 17887-E]
To the right is the Vertebrate Paleontology Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with James W. Gidley (1866-1931), Assistant Curator of Mammalian Fossils, seated beside exhibit panels. [Image nos. MNH-17883A or 17883-A]
Physical and Chemical Geology Exhibit presented at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian with George P. Merrill (1854-1929), curator, seated looking at the exhibit. [Image nos. MAH-17888H or 17888-H]
Division of Mammals Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with G. S. Miller, Jr., Curator, standing to the left. [Image nos. MNH-17886E or 17886-E]
Library Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, William L. Corbin, Librarian, is standing in the center of the photograph under a sign that reads, "The Smithsonian Library, The Foremost Scientific Library in America". [Image nos. MNH-17883C or 17883-C]
Division of Insects Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with J. M. Aldrich, Associate Curator, standing to the left. A large center panel showing a map of the world is labeled, "Map Showing Holarctic Region of the World." [Image nos. MNH-17883D or 17883-D]
Division of Echinoderms Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with Austin Hobart Clark, Curator, seated at the right. [Image no. SIA2007-0148 or 17887-B]
Astrophysics Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian Institution on February 11, 1927, with Charles G. Abbot, (left) astrophysicist and fifth Secretary of the Smithsonian (1928-1944) and Loyal B. Aldrich, (right) Research Assistant, standing behind a table. [Image nos. MNH-17886D or 17886-D]
Division of Birds Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with J. H. Riley, Assistant Curator, standing to the left. The birds exhibit is on the left side of the photograph, the exhibit on insects, is visible to the right and behind Riley. [Image nos. MNH-17887D or 17887-D]
Division of Old World Archeology Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with I. M. Casanowicz, Assistant Curator, seated to the left. Located in the Smithsonian Institution Building or "Castle." [Image nos. MAH-17888D or 17888-D]
Division of American Archeology Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with Neil M. Judd, Curator, standing to the left. [Image nos. MNH-17886H or 17886-H]
Book Tower comprised of Smithsonian Publications at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927. Located in the Great Hall of the Smithsonian Institution Building or "Castle." [Image nos. MAH-17888A or 17888-A]
Vertebrate Paleontology Exhibit at the Conference on the Future of the Smithsonian, February 11, 1927, with Charles W. Gilmore, paleontologist and curator, sitting in front of a display panel entitled "Studies in Vertebrate Paleontology". [Image nos. MNH-17883B or 17883-B]
Image of the fossil beds near the Pierre Shale. An arrow drawn on the image points to a man walking on the beds. The caption on the back of the image reads, "The arrow points to the quarry where Sp 22-27 was taken from. The beds lay very near the Pierre shale and are greenish clay. Oligocene." 1931-1932. [Image no. SIA2009-1793]
Image of two men uncovering a fossil specimen called Sp. 20-27. The caption on the back of the image reads, "Photo-0-sp. 20-27. Lower jaws are seen to the right of the picture with teeth well preserved. Corse sand Lower Oligocene beds. Wyo." 1931-1932. [Image no. SIA2009-1794]
Image of two expedition members working in the fossil beds. The man in the foreground of the image is working on the Parahippus specimen with a brush. The man in the background is excavating a turtle specimen. His hat is laying next to him. The caption on the back of the image reads, "Sp. 26-27 Parahippus. Another view of the Miocene Horse ready to be wrapped before removing. Note the small turtle being collected further back where it was nearly entirely washed out." 1931-1932. [Image no. SIA2009-1795]
Image of two expedition members lifting a piece of a Titanotherium fossil. The men are surrounded by other fossils and excavation equipment. The caption on the back of the image reads, "Sp. 22-27 Titanotherium. Removing the pelvic arch from the rest of the skeleton after it has been plastered on top." 1931-1932 [Image no. SIA2009-1796]
Image of an expedition member working on the skeleton fossil Sp. 22-27, Titanotherium. The caption on the back of the image reads, "Sp. 22-27 Titanotherium. Looking down onto the skeleton from the right side. The spines which lay towards the left ribs are five. The two limbs hinds are complete and in place. The tail is stretched out on a piece of paper." 1931-1932. [Image no. SIA2009-1797]