Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the American Wine Documentation Project

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0817
Creators:
Edwards, Nanci
Fleckner, John A., 1941-
Green, Rayna, 1942- (Curator)
Johnson, Paula, Curator
National Museum of American History (U.S.)
Dates:
1976-2005
bulk 1996-2001
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3 Cubic feet
10 boxes
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The collection is divided into six series. It includes mostly printed materials and interviews, and dates from approximately 1976 to 2005. There are wine-related event materials, interview transcripts and audiotapes, printed material and histories from people and institutions representing a wide spectrum of the wine business. Wine-related objects, such vineyard and winery tools, are stored with the Museum's artifact collections; documentary materials are held in the Archives Center. Materials from each special event are organized into separate series, which contain records generated at the events and interviews. Series one contains the "Red, White and American Records," series two the "Collectors Event," and series three the "Wine Writers Event." Interviews conducted independently of these events are included in series four. All of the interviews have been partially transcribed and include an abstract and various forms of audiotapes and discs. Series five is composed of printed materials that relate to both specific individuals in the wine business and to more general American wine topics. Most of this material consists of photocopies of original articles. There are also files with materials by and about specific wine writers, such as Anthony Dias Blue, William Heinz, and Dick Rosano. Series five also contains an original telex of George Taber's article about the 1976 Paris Tasting. Series six consists of visual materials, including two landscape photographs of an vineyard in Oregon and two videotaped documentaries on Napa.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into seven series.
Series 1: Red, White, and American : Wine in American History and Culture Records, 1976-1996
Series 2: Collections Event, 2001
Series 3: Reflections: A Day in the Life of a Wine Writer Event, 2002
Series 4: Interviews, 1997-2001
Series 5: Printed Materials, 1997-2001
Series 6: Visual Materials, undated
Series 7; Interviews, 2013

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The American Wine History Project began in 1996 with the intention to document the history of American winemaking, mainly for the post-1950 period. While the project includes winemaking areas around the country, the focus has been on northern and central California. The Project explores the convergence of craft, culture, science, technology, and the environment in modern American winemaking. In conjunction with the project, the Smithsonian held a 2-day symposium, "Red, White and American," with a small accompanying exhibition, entitled, "Doubtless as Good: Jefferson's Dream for American Wine Fulfilled," in 1996 and began gathering objects and other documentation.
Since 1997, National Museum of American History staff members have traveled to California to conduct interviews, take photographs and video footage, and gather materials for the Smithsonian collection from grape growers, winemakers, winery owners, and others important to the business, including wine writers and chefs. Some of the materials were generated from events in Napa, such as the collectors and wine writers events, that were held specifically for the purpose of adding documentation to the Smithsonian project. The documentation project is on-going so materials will continue to be added to the collection.

Administration

Author
Cindy Ott and John Fleckner
Custodial History
A project conducted by the National Museum of American History, 1996-2002, to document the growth and development of the American wine industry. Done in conjunction with a symposium held at the Museum in 1996 entitled "Red, White and American".
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Some of the materials were generated by the Smithsonian Institution, such as those in series 1 through 3. Others were given by separate donors between 1996 and 2002.
Processing Information
Processed by Cindy Ott, 2002 and John Fleckner, 2015

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
American Wine Documentation Project, 1976-2002, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Audiotapes -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews -- 1980-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Print advertising Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Programs -- 1980-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videotapes -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wine industry Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wine and wine making Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Abreu, David Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Barrett, James L. , 1926-2013 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black, Hollis Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black, Pat Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black, Tom, 1959- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brambila, Gustavo Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Browning, Keith Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Crew, Spencer R., 1949- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
DePuy Dickenson, Joanne, 1927- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dias Blue, Anthony Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Draper, Paul, 1936- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Foley, Dennis Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gallagher, Patricia Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gates, David S. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Grgich, Mike (Miljenko), 1923 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Herrera, Rolando Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kinzbrunner, Rick Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kuhn, Ron Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Levenstein, Harvey A., 1938- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mandy, Steven , Dr. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Orr, James Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Red, White, and American (symposium, Washington, D.C. 1996). Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Robledo, Reynaldo Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Schuster, Danny Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Spurrier, Steven Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Taber, George Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Winiarski, Warren, 1928- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu