SI Records
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 363, National Museum of Natural History, Office of Exhibits, Exhibition Records
The Office of Exhibits in the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) was created in 1973 when a reorganization established independent exhibit offices in several Smithsonian museums. Prior to its establishment, natural history exhibitions were the responsibility of the Office of Exhibits, 1955-1969, and the Office of Exhibits Programs, 1969-1973.
Harry T. Hart was appointed Chief of the Office of Exhibits, NMNH, on March 18, 1973. Eugene F. Behlen replaced Hart on May 22, 1977, and he served as Chief until 1983. Carl A. Alexander was Acting Chief during 1983-1984. In 1984, administration of the Office of Exhibits became a duty of the newly established Assistant Director for Exhibits. Lawrence P. O'Reilly was appointed to the position.
This record unit contains a variety of records documenting the planning, design, and production of permanent and temporary exhibitions at the NMNH. It also contains smaller amounts of records concerning exhibitions held at the National Museum of History and Technology, National Air and Space Museum, National Collection of Fine Arts, Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, and Arts and Industries Building. A few records documenting office administration are also found.
The records were created by the Office of Exhibits, 1955-1969; the Office of Exhibits Programs, 1969-1973; and the Office of Exhibits, NMNH, 1973-1990. Staff of the Office of Exhibits, NMNH, and its predecessor offices, represented in the records include John E. Anglim, 1956-1972; A. Gilbert Wright, 1963-1970; Dorothy Guthrie, 1965-1970; James A. Mahoney, 1969-1973; William F. Haase, 1969-1983; Harry T. Hart, 1970-1977; Eugene F. Behlen, 1977-1983; and Carl A. Alexander, 1969-1987. Also included are a few records of Lawrence P. O'Reilly, 1984-1990.
The records offer primary documentation of natural history exhibition production at the Smithsonian, and they help to illustrate a period of intense exhibit modernization at the Institution. They include correspondence, memoranda, photographs, blueprints, layouts, scripts, work contracts, schedules, notes, and publications. Of special interest are records documenting the renovation of permanent exhibition halls during the 1960s; efforts to make NMNH exhibits more accessible to the handicapped; the development of the Insect Zoo; planning and preparation of the NMNH Bicentennial Exhibition in the 1970s; activities of the NMNH Exhibits Committee; and professional activities of the staff.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
This series consists of records documenting the planning, design, and production of NMNH exhibits. Included are correspondence, memoranda, photographs, blueprints,
layouts, scripts, work contracts, and schedules. Also included are voluminous files concerning the renovation of hall 16, Life in the Sea; hall 25, Physical Anthropology;
hall 26, Western Civilization; and the exhibition
This series consists of records created by the Office of Exhibits, and its predecessors documenting the planning, design, and production of permanent and temporary
exhibits at NMNH. The types of records present are similar to those found in previous series. Staff represented by records include John E. Anglim, A. Gilbert Wright, James
A. Mahoney, Harry T. Hart, and William F. Haase. Included are voluminous files on the exhibit,
This series consists of records documenting the planning, design, and production of NMNH exhibits. Included is correspondence, memoranda, photographs, blueprints, layouts, scripts, work contracts, and schedules. The records were created by the Office of Exhibits, NMNH, as well as its predecessor offices. Staff creating records include John E. Anglim, James A. Mahoney, William F. Haase, Harry Hart, and Eugene Behlen. Included is a large amount of material concerning efforts by NMNH to make exhibits more accessible to the blind and disabled.
This series consists of a variety of records documenting the planning, design, and production of NMNH exhibits. Included is correspondence, memoranda, photographs, blueprints, layouts, scripts, work contracts, schedules, and related materials. The records were created by the Office of Exhibits, NMNH, as well as its predecessor offices. Staff represented by records include James A. Mahoney, John E. Anglim, Dorothy Guthrie, and William F. Haase. Included are voluminous files on the preparation of Hall 20, Physical Geology, and the NMNH Bicentennial exhibit.
This series consists of a variety of records documenting the planning, design, and production of NMNH exhibits, as well as files concerning the administration of the Office of Exhibits and its predecessor organizations. Included are files of Exhibit Designer Dorothy Guthrie which document the planning and preparation of permanent and temporary exhibits during the 1960s. Also included are records created by William F. Haase during his work as Assistant Chief in the Office of Exhibit Programs, 1969-1973, and the Office of Exhibits, NMNH, 1973-1978. Haase's files concern both office administration and exhibit production. Records documenting exhibits production include correspondence, memoranda, photographs, blueprints, layouts, scripts, work contracts, and schedules.
This series consists of files documenting the planning, design, and production of permanent and temporary exhibits at NMNH. Records include correspondence, memoranda, photographs, layouts, blueprints, work orders, schedules, and similar materials. Included are records created by A. Gilbert Wright, James A. Mahoney, William F. Haase, and Eugene F. Behlen.
This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, photographs, plans, scripts, and related materials documenting the planning and preparation of the paleobiology
hall
This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, plans, photographs, and printed materials documenting the planning and execution of exhibitions at NMNH. The files were created by Eugene Behlen and Lawrence P. O'Reilly in their capacity as Chief.
This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, scripts, plans, photographs, work orders, and related materials documenting the production of temporary and permanent exhibitions at the National Museum of Natural History. Most of the records were created by William F. Haase and Dorothy Guthrie. Extensive documentation exists for the Jade Hall and the Osteology Hall.
This series consists of plans, scripts, memoranda, photographs, and related material documenting the planning and installation of permanent and special exhibitions in NMNH. Especially well documented are Halls 18 and 19 (Gems and Minerals); Hall 29 (Cold-Blooded Vertebrates); and Hall 20 (Physical Geology).
This series consists of records created by the Office of Exhibits, the Office of Exhibit Programs, and the NMNH Office of Exhibits. The records consist of correspondence, memoranda, blueprints, photographs, plans, and related materials mostly documenting special exhibits at NMNH, as well as at the Museum of History and Technology, National Air and Space Museum, National Collection of Fine Arts, Arts and Industries Building, and Anacostia Neighborhood Museum. Also included are files concerning a few shows of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service. The records are arranged alphabetically.
"Jawaharlal Nehru: His Life and His India," a traveling exhibition designed by Charles and Ray Eames, on display at the Museum of History and Technology, now known as National Museum of American History. [Image no. MAH-X3805-B]
"Jawaharlal Nehru: His Life and His India," a traveling exhibition designed by Charles and Ray Eames, on display at the Museum of History and Technology, now known as National Museum of American History. [Image no. MAH-X3805-E]
"Jawaharlal Nehru: His Life and His India," a traveling exhibition designed by Charles and Ray Eames, on display at the Museum of History and Technology, now known as National Museum of American History. [Image no. MAH-X3805-F]
"Jawaharlal Nehru: His Life and His India," a traveling exhibition designed by Charles and Ray Eames, on display at the Museum of History and Technology, now known as National Museum of American History. [Image no. MAH-X3805-I]
Model of the exhibit "Photography and the City: The Evolution of an Art and a Science", a major exhibit designed by Charles Eames, opened in the Arts and Industries Building on June 6, 1968. It depicted the development of the camera and its effect on society. [Image no. SIA2013-07639]
Eight images of exhibit production and installation [SIA2015-007132 through SIA2015-007139]