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150TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION

At the Regents' last meeting, the Office of External Affairs presented a brief overview of its plans for the 150th anniversary of the Smithsonian's establishment. External Affairs continues to meet with bureau heads to review programmatic proposals and to work with volunteer staff.

The internal review suggests that it would be advisable to focus attention on the Smithsonian's national presence as the core of the 150th commemoration. An initial approach would be to conduct a national, multifaceted study on the public's knowledge of and expectations from the Smithsonian. The results of such a survey would be beneficial to the planning of programs and exhibitions, public affairs activities, responses to needs of under-served audiences, and development and membership initiatives. However, resources for such a study would need to be identified and a concrete plan developed.

Consideration will also be given to proposals for commemorative activities to take place outside Washington. An out-of-town activity might include a special SITES exhibition on the Smithsonian's history and development. Another possibility might be a Smithsonian Associate lecture/discussion series in several locations that would highlight new Smithsonian directions for the 21st century. The various bureaus would contribute to these mini-forums.

Certain elements of a full-scale commemoration require significant lead time, for example: deciding upon a theme and design for the 150th logo; commissioning print and electronic media projects; and proposing a series of postal stamps celebrating the Smithsonian. In an effort to save money and generate staff excitement, it has been suggested that a competition to design the logo be held among the Smithsonian's many talented artists and designers. Print projects underway include a popular book commemorating the sesquicentennial by James Conaway and a scholarly book yet to be commissioned by the Smithsonian Press. The new Postmaster General will be approached to determine how best to request a stamp series celebrating 150 years at the Smithsonian.

A decision has been made not to launch an endowment campaign in conjunction with the sesquicentennial. Some monies, however, will have to be raised or committed to support the various programs and projects associated with the 150th. One possibility would be to ask the Smithsonian bureaus to provide a "wish list" of objects for a national campaign to solicit "Gifts to the Nation." (The National Gallery of Art successfully used this approach in its recent 50th birthday commemoration.) Another suggestion under consideration is instituting "endowed director' chairs" to benefit the museums and provide relief for the budget.

Although no major 150th exhibition is being planned, certain modest institutional exhibits have been proposed. The offices of Smithsonian Libraries, Smithsonian Archives, The Joseph Henry Papers, and Architectural History and Historic Preservation have proposed an exhibition entitled "Smithson to Smithsonian" covering the 1830's to the opening of the U.S. National Museum in 1859. Moderate funding will be sought. Also directly relevant to the 150th commemoration is the proposed exhibition by the National Portrait Gallery describing the intellectual currents in the United States 

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