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The manuscript of the autobiography of the General Ben Davis has come in and the Press is aiming for a Spring 1990 publication date. Davis was named the commander of America's first all-black fighter squadron early in World War II. He went on to earn medals ranging from the Distinguished Flying Cross to the Croix de Guerre to the Silver Star for Gallantry. Shortly after President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 integrating the armed forces, he became the first black general in the United States Air Force.

Smithsonian Books' first venture into the distribution of a continuity series, [[underlined]] The Smithsonian Guides to Historic America, [[/underlined]] edited by Roger Kennedy, has been greeted with a large measure of critical and financial success. Headlined in the Washington Post as the "Superb New Guides to Historic America," the series' first volumes have just appeared in bookstores (they were first made available by direct mail) and each of the total of twelve volumes will appear at approximately six-week intervals henceforth. James T. Yenckel, reviewing the series for the Washington Post, wrote, "Based on a review of the first three volumes, these are remarkable books .. intelligently conceived, beautifully executed, and wonderfully informative. They deserve to become a basic resource for history-minded travelers. And how can you  ever really get to know a place well unless you understand its history?"

[[underlined]] Forthcoming Shows of Smithsonian World 1989 [[/underlined]]

Smithsonian World embarks on production of five one-hour specials in its fifth season, to be aired nationally on PBS over the winter and spring of 1989-90. Southwestern Bell Corporation, Smithsonian World's corporate underwriter, has committed to $1.3 million for the season. Other continuing funding sources include the Station Program Cooperative and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Topics under development include:

"Zoo That Is Not" (Working Title). On the 100th anniversary of the National Zoological Park, Smithsonian World explores Director Michael Robinson's vision to create a bio-park, where humans will be able to perceive the world as animals do and see the interaction of plants and animals from the tropical rain forest to the Australian outback.

"Food: We Are What We Eat" (Working Title). Every other species on earth feeds. Only man eats. "Eating is the hallmark of humanity," said Dr. Johnson's Boswell. Working with the Smithsonian's paleontologists, social historians, anthropologists, and others, Smithsonian World will examine cultural behavior, social institutions, and national histories shaped by our attitudes toward food, as well as the changes chemical foods may be making in our very make-up as human beings.

"African Art" (Working Title). Smithsonian World examines African art with Sylvia Williams, Director of the Smithsonian's magnificent National Museum of African Art, and visits Africa to see this vital art in everyday life.

"Inventing the Universe" (Working Title). Featuring scientists at the Smithsonian's Astrophysical Observatory, this program will explore the new debate over the mysteries of quantum theory which, despite its paradoxes, makes possible