SI Records
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 252, National Museum of History and Technology. Division of Political History, Records
Some of the earliest objects in the Smithsonian documenting American political history came to the United States National Museum (USNM) from the United States Patent Office in 1883. These objects consisted of a collection of George Washington relics originally purchased by the United States Congress as well as Washingtoniana exhibited at and transferred from the Patent Office.
These objects were the responsibility of various divisions in the USNM until 1949 when the Division of Civil History, Department of History, assumed curatorial responsibility. When the Museum of History and Technology (MHT) was set up in 1957, the Division of Political History, Department of Civil History, became responsible for the objects. In 1969 MHT was renamed the National Museum of History and Technology, and the Division of Political History became part of the Department of National and Military History.
From 1950 to 1969, curators in the Division of Political History and its predecessor, the Division of Civil History, included Margaret B. Klapthor, assistant curator, 1949-1951, and associate curator, 1952- ; Charles G. Dorman, assistant curator, 1957-1960; Anne W. Murray, assistant curator, 1957-1964, and associate curator, 1965-1967; Herbert R. Collins, assistant curator, 1961- ; Wilcomb E. Washburn, curator, 1965; Keith E. Melder, associate curator, 1965- ; and Claudia B. Kidwell, assistant curator, 1965-1967.
These records consist of general correspondence, primarily public inquiries, particularly concerning the First Ladies' Hall and objects associated with presidents and other prominent figures; administrative files pertaining to exhibits and the operation of the Department of Civil History and MHT; annual reports of the Divisions of Civil History and Political History; curators' research reports; and examinations and reports concerning objects submitted to the Division for historical authentication.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
These files consist of correspondence and memoranda with the Director of the Museum of History and Technology and the Chairman of the Department of Civil History, and other internal memoranda concerning policies and administration of the Museum and the Division and routine exhibit matters.
This series consists primarily of outgoing correspondence responding to public inquiries concerning the collections of the Division, particularly the First Ladies' gowns and items associated with presidents and other prominent individuals. Also included are requests for pamphlets and photographs of objects in the national collection. Correspondence is arranged according to fiscal year.
This series consists of reports submitted by curators detailing the status and nature of their research. Some reports include the objective, methods of procedure, principal findings, and titles of publications resulting from research projects.
This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, and reports concerning items submitted by the public to the Division for documentation of historical importance. Within each folder the material is arranged alphabetically.