Overview of the Collection
Smithsonian Institution Archives,
Washington, D.C.,
osiaref@si.edu
Reingold, Nathan, 1927- , interviewee
Oral Histories
Nathan Reingold Oral History Interviews
1973, 1995-1996
5 audiotapes (Reference copies). 9 digital .mp3 files (Reference copies).
Record Unit 9503
English
Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9503, Nathan Reingold Oral History Interviews
Historical Note
Nathan Reingold received his B.A. (1947) and M.A. (1948) from New York University and the Ph.D. in American Studies (1951) from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1951,
he joined the staff of the National Archives, and then worked at the Science and Technology Division of the Library of Congress from 1959 to 1966. In 1966, he was appointed
the founding editor of the Joseph Henry Papers Project at the Smithsonian, which he directed until 1985. He was then appointed senior historian at the National Museum of American
History until his retirement in 1993. Reingold's major publications included Science, American Style, 1991, Science in Nineteenth-Century America: A Documentary
History, 1964, and Science in America: A Documentary History, 1900-1939, 1981. Reingold was noted as a pioneer in the study of the history of American science.
Introduction
The Smithsonian Institution Archives began its Oral History Program in 1973. The purpose of the program is to supplement the written documentation of the Archives'
record and manuscript collections with an Oral History Collection, focusing on the history of the Institution, research by its scholars, and contributions of its staff. Program
staff conduct interviews with current and retired Smithsonian staff and others who have made significant contributions to the Institution. There are also interviews conducted
by researchers or students on topics related to the history of the Smithsonian or the holdings of the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Dr. Reingold was interviewed for the Oral History Program for his knowledge of the history of the Institution and because he made significant scholarly and administrative
contributions to the Smithsonian during 27 years of service.
Descriptive Entry
Reingold was interviewed on December 19, 1973, by Miriam S. Freilicher and William A. Deiss to obtain background information on the history of the Smithsonian and to
discuss potential issues and interviewees for the Smithsonian Institution Archives Oral History Program. On October 5, 1995, Pamela M. Henson recorded Reingold's autobiographical
lecture, "Life Begins at Forty: On Becoming a Historian," presented at the Smithsonian Institution Archives Research in Progress Lecture Series. On May 28 and 31, 1996, Henson
conducted two additional interviews with Reingold that cover his family history and career as a historian of American science and documentary editor, and because of his significant
scholarly contributions to the Smithsonian during 27 years of service. The interviews provide an overview of the lives and careers of Nathan and his first wife Ida from a
survey of their memorabilia, awards, medals, personal records, manuscripts and photographs, now part of Reingold's personal papers at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Reingold discusses his work at the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian, reminiscences of colleagues, particularly S. Dillon Ripley and Frederick
Seitz, the early development of the Joseph Henry Papers Project and the role of research at the Smithsonian.
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Name
Reingold, Nathan, 1927-
Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001
Seitz, Frederick
Freilicher, Miriam S., interviewer
Deiss, William A., interviewer
Henson, Pamela M., interviewer
Joseph Henry Papers Project
National Museum of American History (U.S.)
Library of Congress
National Archives (U.S.)
Smithsonian Institution
Subject
Interviews
Oral history
Science -- History
Technology -- History
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Audiotapes
Compact discs
Transcripts
Electronic records
Interviews
Interviews
Interview 1: December 19, 1973
Interviews
Discusses important events in the history of the Smithsonian Institution, especially the roles of Secretaries Charles G. Abbot, Spencer F. Baird, Leonard Carmichael, Joseph Henry, Samuel P. Langley, S. Dillon Ripley, Charles D. Walcott , and Alexander Wetmore, c. 1840-1973.
Interviews
Transcript, pp. 1-34, of audio recording, 1 hour.
Interviews
Recording of Interview: Total Recording Time: 1 hour
- Original Masters: 1 5" reel-to-reel analog audiotape
- Preservation Masters: 2 7" reel-to-reel analog audiotapes; 2 digital .wav files
- Reference Copies: 1 cassette audiotape; 2 digital .mp3 files.
Interviews
Interview 2: October 5, 1995
Interviews
Includes Dr. Reingold's autobiographical lecture, "Life Begins at Forty: On Becoming a Historian," presented at the Smithsonian Institution Archives Research in Progress Lecture Series, c. 1927-1995.
Interviews
Transcript, pp. 35-70, of audio recording, 1 hour.
Interviews
Recording of Interview: Total Recording Time: 1 hour
- Original Masters: 2 7" reel-to-reel analog audiotapes
- Preservation Masters: 2 digital .wav files
- Reference Copies: 1 cassette audiotape; 2 digital .mp3 files.
Interviews
Interview 3: May 28, 1996
Interviews
Includes Dr. Reingold's reminiscences about growing up in Brooklyn, New York, attending DeWitt Clinton High School, his college and post-graduate education, and his first wife, Ida H. Reingold, c. 1927-1988.
Interviews
Transcript, pp. 71-166, of audio recording, 1.5 hours.
Interviews
Recording of Interview: Total Recording Time: 1.5 hours
- Original Masters: 3 7" reel-to-reel analog audiotapes
- Preservation Masters: 3 digital .wav files
- Reference Copies: 2 cassette audiotapes; 3 digital .mp3 files.
Interviews
Interview 4: May 31, 1996
Interviews
Continues Dr. Reingold's reminiscences about his life, focusing on stories from photographs in the Nathan Reingold Papers in Smithsonian Institution Archives, reminiscences of colleagues, particularly S. Dillon Ripley and Frederick Seitz, the early development of the Joseph Henry Papers Project and the role of research at the Smithsonian, c. 1927-1996.
Interviews
Transcript, pp. 167-192, of audio recording, 1 hour.
Interviews
Recording of Interview: Total Recording Time: 1 hour
- Original Masters: 2 7" reel-to-reel analog audiotapes
- Preservation Masters: 2 digital .wav files
- Reference Copies: 1 cassette audiotape; 2 digital .mp3 files.