SI Records
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 99, Smithsonian Institution, Office of the Secretary, Records
In 1964 S. Dillon Ripley, formerly a Professor of Biology at Yale University and Director of its Peabody Museum of Natural History, succeeded Leonard Carmichael as eighth Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
These records reflect the growing scope and complexity of the Smithsonian during Ripley's tenure. They document the Smithsonian's changing administrative structure; growing relationships with universities, foundations, and other external groups; efforts to attract more government support for the Smithsonian; pursuit of new initiatives and programs; and the regular administrative activities of the Institution. The records for this period document the opening of the National Museum of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History); creation of the Office of Academic Studies and the Office of Smithsonian Symposia and Seminars; founding of the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program; establishment of the Chesapeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies; opening of east and west wings of the National Museum of Natural History; opening of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; beginning of the Festival of American Folklife; opening of the National Portrait Gallery; establishment of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; formation of the Smithsonian National Associates Program; and the opening of the Renwick Gallery.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
A letter from A. W. Innamorati, Regional Director of the Public Buildings Service of the General Services Administration, to James Bradley, Acting Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, acknowledging the transfer of the U.S. Court of Claims Building, now the Renwick Gallery, to Smithsonian custody, August 8, 1966. [Image no. SIA2011-1432]
A letter from S. Dillon Ripley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson requesting that the U.S. Court of Claims Building be transferred to Smithsonian custody for use as a museum, June 22, 1965. [Image nos. SIA2011-1433 and SIA2011-1434]
South Side of The Mall Looking Towards Capitol Building, 1965. [Image no. 58834 or MAH-58834]
North Side of The Mall Looking Towards Capitol Building, 1965. [Image no. 58833 or MAH-58833]
Smithsonian General Counsel Peter G. Powers summarizes a recent IRS ruling on donations to the Smithsonian that reaffirms its June 29, 1966 ruling that the Smithsonian is a "publicly supported" organization, as defined in section 170(b) (1) (A) (vi) of the Internal Revenue Code, not a "private foundation," as defined in section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Tower Cap for the Smithsonian Castle's North Tower, 1970. [Image no. 2005-8430]
Roof of the North Tower Before Being Installed, 1970. [Image no. 2005-8428]
Cap of the North Tower Being Installed, 1970.[Image no. 2005-8429]
The new cap for the North Tower of the Smithsonian Institution Building is being lowered into place on the top of the tower by a crane, 1970. [Imsge no. 2005-8431]
Letter from sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian Alexander Wetmore to eighth Secretary S. Dillon Ripley informing him, Ripley, of the history of owls living in the towers of the Smithsonian Building, or "Castle," November 15, 1971. [Image nos. SIA2011-0997 and SIA2011-0998]
Letter from S. Dillon Ripley to Alexander Wetmore, November 4, 1971. [Image no. SIA2011-0999]
Letter from S. Dillon Ripley to Alexander Wetmore, December 3, 1971, on the "Castle" Tower Owls. [Image no. SIA2011-0996]