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USNM Curators Annual Reports - Physical Apparatus, 1890 - 1891
Have you ever had to organize what someone else has left behind? In 1846, physicist Joseph Henry was appointed as the founding Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Guiding the Institution through its initial decades, he also continued to conduct and promote scientific research, acquiring a sizable amount of physical apparatus for use in studies of electricity and sound. Join other volunteers in transcribing this first report of the National Museum's curator of physical apparatus to see how he tackled this challenge and others as well.
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28 Total pages
6 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1888-1889
When you go to the National Museum of American History today, you can expect to see an exhibit detailing the development of U.S. transportation. In 1888 this was a brand-new concept, and the talk of the Smithsonian's technological collections department. Help other volunteers transcribe this report and learn more about what the Technological Collections curator described as "an object lesson of the development, step by step, of our great systems of transportation," the first yet of its kind.
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19 Total pages
3 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1889-1890
Steam engines have been an important piece of American technological development for centuries--and in 1889, the Smithsonian acquired the first steam engine built on the Western Continent. Learn more about this acquisition and other additions to the Smithsonian's Technological Collection in this annual curator's report--and help us transcribe it!
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24 Total pages
8 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1890 - 1891
Can you imagine what it would be like to have your father's invention on display at the Smithsonian? This was the year Mary Henry deposited the original electro-magnetic engine designed by her father in 1831. Fifteen years after designing this remarkable device, Dr. Joseph Henry became the Institution's first Secretary. Help us transcribe this annual report from curator J. Elfreth Watkins and learn more about the work his Section did to grow and care for the Technological Collections.
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22 Total pages
8 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1891 - 1892
Just like antique cars are difficult to come by nowadays, examples of early railroad and steamboat technology were hard to come by in 1892 when curator J. Elfreth Watkins and the Technological Collections Section were working to acquire examples of the complete timeline for the United States National Museum. Join our digital volunteers and help us transcribe this curator's account of how the Section addressed this challenge and other tasks between July, 1891 and June, 1892.
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15 Total pages
9 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1892 - 1893
The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, or Chicago World's Fair, consumed a great deal of curator J. Elfreth Watkin's time and attention in 1892 having been given the responsibility of putting together an exhibit on railroad technology featuring the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Help us transcribe his detailed account of the work that year, including other related exhibits at the Fair.
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13 Total pages
5 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1893 - 1894
In 1894, the United States National Museum's section heads were asked to submit their annual reports as responses to a questionnaire rather than the narrative report submitted in years past. Join us in transcribing this year's brief report to the Director of the National Museum from the Section of Technological Collections.
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17 Total pages
9 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1894 - 1895
After two years away working on exhibit preparations for the 1893 World's Columbian Fair, J. E. Watkins returns to his role as Curator of Technological Collections at the United States National Museum. In due course, it falls to him to prepare the section's annual report. Join other volunteers to help us transcribe the 1895 Technological Collections Section report and see the highlights of the museum's past year from his perspective.
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14 Total pages
5 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1895 - 1896
In 1896, the Smithsonian posed a difficult question for its curators: to rank that year's accessions in order of importance. See how the incredible new objects in the Smithsonian's Technological Collections stack up for Curator J. E. Watkins in his annual report. Join other volunteers to help us transcribe the 1896 Technological Collections report and see that year's Smithsonian highlights!
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54 Total pages
7 Contributing members
USNM Curators Annual Reports - Technological Collections, 1896 - 1897
Though the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries building (created to house the Smithsonian's growing collection) had only opened to the public in Fall of 1881, just a few years later, the National Museum had already begun to run out of space. See how those spatial constraints impacted the work of Curator J.E. Watkins, and his work on the Technological Collections. Help transcribe the 1897 Technological Collections report and get an inside look into the trials and triumphs of the Smithsonian?s expanding collection!
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27 Total pages
13 Contributing members
USNM CURATORS ANNUAL REPORTS -- Costumes, 1883
Even in the Smithsonian's new Arts and Industries building (which opened to the public in Fall of 1881) finding room for the ever-expanding collection a few years later was still a challenge--particularly when it came to arranging the boats! The exhibition of boat models was just part of the Section of Costumes' exhibit work for 1883, as documented in this curator's annual report. Learn more about the Smithsonian's early acquisitions and exhibitions, and help us transcribe this fascinating report!
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6 Total pages
3 Contributing members
USNM CURATORS ANNUAL REPORTS -- DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL POTTERY: ANNUAL REPORT 1885
When a curator is working with a large collection, how does he or she choose what items will be placed on exhibition? Get a glimpse into the process from “preliminary classification” to public view in this 1885 curator’s report from the Smithsonian’s Department of Aboriginal Pottery—then help transcribe!
