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RENAMING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY

It is proposed that the name of the National Museum of History and Technology be changed to the National Museum of American History.  This proposed change does not involve any major redirection of the museum's activities, rather it is designed to reflect more accurately the character and purpose of the museum

From the beginning the Museum of History and Technology has suffered from an identity problem that has affected in varying degrees all of its constituencies.  Most importantly, the present name either confuses or misleads the visiting public.  Informal questioning and eavesdropping reveal that a substantial number of visitors to the Mall (and to the museum itself) do not know or cannot remember the name of the museum; commonly it is thought of as the Museum of Science and Technology, the Museum of Industry and Technology and the like.  This leads a number of visitors whose interests are neither scientific nor technological to avoid the museum altogether, while others who do visit the museum are disappointed when they do not find there the kind of demonstrations of physical sciences or presentations of the latest gadgets which are characteristic of science museums.

The same sort of confusion has existed in the minds of potential donors and even of the museum's own staff.  In both cases the results are unfortunate.  The museum's collections in American cultural, social and political history have been impoverished because many owners of important objects, thinking of it as primarily concerned with technology, have chosen to give their collections to institutions that are more clearly concerned with these areas.  Even the museum's staff has been affected by the ambiguity of the museum's mission and as a result has attempted to achieve incompatible, or at least unrelated, objectives.

The only legislation specifying the name of the museum is the authorization of the appropriations to construct the building.  The history of this legislation makes abundantly clear -- as the present name does not -- the intention of the Congress that the museum should concentrate upon the history and technology [[underlined]] of America [[/underlined]].  In the judgment of the museum's staff (including those specializing in the history of science and technology), of its director, of the distinguished scholars who comprise the Smithsonian Council, and of the Smithsonian administration, a new name is needed to clarify rather than to change what has always been the basic mission of the museum: to illuminate through collections, exhibitions, research, publications and educational programs the entire history of the United States.  Since technology is inextricably involved in our history, it will continue to receive due attention, but the name of the museum would no longer suggest an emphasis upon the history of technology at the expense of social, cultural and political history.

After careful consideration, the name National Museum of American History was chosen as best reflecting the true purpose and content of the museum.

Transcription Notes:
museum ; change to museum. by adding a period Change lines that begin (including those specializing to insert after specializing: in the history of science and technology), of its director, of the distinguished scholars who comprise the Smithsonian Council,