SI Records
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 397, National Museum of American History. Division of Engineering and Industry, Records
With the establishment of the Museum of History and Technology (MHT) in 1957, the Division of Engineering - minus its collections in physical science, electricity, and transportation - became the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, in the Department of Science and Technology. Administrative changes in 1978 established two new Departments, History of Science and History of Technology. The Division of Mechanisms was split from the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, and the divisions split between the departments. The creation of the Department of the History of Science and Technology in 1980 returned the divisions to the same department, and in 1986 they merged to form the Division of Engineering and Industry. (For a history of the antecedent divisions and units to the Division of Engineering and Industry before 1957, see Record Unit 297.)
Curators and staff of the Division included Frank A. Taylor, Curator of the Division of Engineering, 1933-1955; Robert P. Multhauf, Associate Curator of the Division of Engineering, 1954, and Curator, 1955-1957; Robert M. Vogel, Assistant Curator of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1958-1961, Associate Curator, 1962-1966, Curator, 1967-1985, and Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1986-1988; Edwin A. Battison, Associate Curator of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1958-1969, Curator, 1970-1977, and Research Associate of Mechanisms, 1978-1980; Carlene E. Stephens, Museum Technician of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1974-1977, Museum Specialist, 1977-1983, Curator of Mechanisms, 1984-1985, and Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1986- ; Otto Mayr, Curator of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1970-1977, and Curator of Mechanisms, 1978-1984; Robert C. Post, Museum Specialist, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1973-1974; David F. Noble, Curator of Mechanisms, 1983-1985; Tom D. Crouch, Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1986; and Steven Lubar, Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1987- .
These records consist of correspondence and memoranda pertaining to horology, exhibit proposals, manufacturers of engineering equipment, models, collections management,
minutes of meetings, acquisitions, and installation of exhibits. Also included are blueprints for the Hall of Heavy Machinery; exhibit scripts from
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.