Smithsonian Institution Archives

Productions, 1984-1991, 1995-1998, 2003

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FA08-081
Creators:
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications
Dates:
1984-1991, 1995-1998, 2003
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
10 cu. ft. (10 record storage boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
This accession consists of videotapes created during the production of "Smithsonian World," an educational television series that explored people, ideas, and events that shape world culture, blending art, science, history, and the humanities to create an exciting harmony among disciplines. The production was narrated by historian David G. McCullough and co-produced by WETA-TV for broadcast on the Public Broadcasting Service.
The series consisted of 6 seasons, each with 5-7 episodes. Each episode ran approximately 1 hour. Season 1 (1984-1985) episodes include "Time and Light;" "Crossing the Distance;" "Speaking Without Words;" "Designs for Living;" "Filling in the Blanks;" "The Last Flower;" and "Desk in the Jungle." Season 2 (1985-1986) episodes include "Heroes and the Test of Time;" "A Usable Past;" "Where None Has Gone Before;" "On the Shoulders of Giants;" and "American Pie." Season 3 (1986-1987) episodes include "The Wyeths: A Father and His Family;" "Voices of Latin America;" "The Elephant on the Hill;" "The Promise of the Land;" and "Islam." Season 4 (1988-1989) episodes include "The Living Smithsonian;" "American Dream at Groton;" "The Way We Wear;" "Web of Life;" and "The Vever Affair." Season 5 (1990) episodes include "Zoo;" "A Moveable Feast;" "Tales of the Human Dawn;" Nigerian Art - Kindred Spirits;" and "The Quantum Universe." Season 6 (1991) episodes include "Gender: The Enduring Paradox;" "Selling the Dream;" "From Information to Wisdom;" "A Certain Age;" and "Doors of Perception."
Materials include camera footage, film transfers, dubs, PAL dubs, credits, final productions, and promotions. There are a wide variety of videotape formats including 3/4" U-matic, VHS, Betacam SP, and Betacam. Also included in this accession is an interview with Arthur M. Sackler done by Smithsonian World staff on 3/4" U-matic videotape. Reference copies for some episodes are available.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 08-081, Smithsonian Institution. Office of Telecommunications, Productions
Access Restriction
Restrictions pertaining to the use of these materials may apply (based on contracts/copyright). Access restrictions may also apply if viewing copies are not currently available. Viewing copies can be made for a fee. Contact reference staff for details.

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
McCullough, David G. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sackler, Arthur M. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
WETA-TV (Television station : Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Public Broadcasting Service (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian world Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Dream at Groton (Television program : 1988) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Pie (Television program : 1986) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
A Certain Age (Television program : 1991) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Crossing the Distance (Television program : 1984) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Designs for Living (Television program : 1984) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Desk in the Jungle (Television program : 1985) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Doors of Perception (Television program : 1991) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Elephant on the Hill (Television program : 1991) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Filling in the Blanks (Television program : 1984) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
From Information to Wisdom (Television program : 1991) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gender: The Enduring Paradox (Television program : 1991) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Heroes and the Test of Time (Television program : 1985) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Islam (Television program : 1987) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Last Flower (Television program : 1984) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Living Smithsonian (Television program : 1988) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
A Moveable Feast (Television program : 1990) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Nigerian Art - Kindred Spirits (Television program : 1990) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
On the Shoulders of Giants (Television program : 1986) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Promise of the Land (Television program : 1987) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Quantum Universe (Television program : 1990) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Selling the Dream (Television program : 1991) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Speaking Without Words (Television program : 1984) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tales of Human Dawn (Television program : 1990) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Time and Light (Television program : 1984) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
A Usable Past (Television program : 1984) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Vever Affair (Television program : 1989) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Voices of Latin America (Television program : 1987) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Way We Wear (Television program : 1988) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Web of Life (Television program : 1989) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Where None Has Gone Before (Television program : 1985) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Wyeths: A Father and His Family (Television program : 1986) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Zoo (Television program : 1990) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television in education Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museums -- Educational aspects Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Humanities -- Study and teaching Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
History -- Study and teaching Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Study and teaching Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Science -- Study and teaching Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Documentary videos Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Video recordings -- Production and direction Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television -- Production and direction Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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Washington, D.C.
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