Smithsonian Institution Archives

Enola Gay Exhibition Records, 1968, 1970, 1981-2006

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FA14-100
Creators:
National Air and Space Museum
Dates:
1968, 1970, 1981-2006
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
7.3 cu. ft. (7 record storage boxes) (2 3x5 boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
This accession consists of records created and maintained by Martin Harwit, Director of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), 1987-1995, documenting plans to exhibit the Enola Gay and the resulting controversy. A script for The Crossroads: The End of World War II, the Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War was released for comment in January 1994. The exhibition was retitled The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II and the script underwent several major revisions through January 1995. Each version of the script was met with controversy, particularly from veterans groups. On January 30, the exhibition was cancelled and Harwit resigned as Director on May 2, 1995. Prior to his resignation, Harwit had collected copies of all of NASM's current and historical documents related to the Enola Gay in order to prepare for his testimony during Congressional hearings on the matter; however, the hearings occurred shortly after his resignation and Harwit was not asked to testify. On June 28, 1995, Enola Gay was presented as a fact-based exhibition with little interpretation and significant emphasis on the aircraft's restoration.
After his resignation, Harwit continued to collect clippings, journal articles, and television coverage related to the Enola Gay and its exhibition and received related materials from veterans groups. He also spoke on the subject in a variety of settings. In 1996, Harwit published the book An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay. A Japanese translation was published in 1997.
Materials include correspondence and memoranda; exhibition scripts (some annotated); Congressional hearing transcripts; journal articles, preprints, and book reviews; copies of An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay in English and Japanese; Director's calendars, notes, and Rolodex; chronology of the Enola Gay's restoration and exhibition; lecture scripts and slide presentations; newspaper clippings and videotaped news stories and television programs; radio interviews with Harwit on audiotape; video elements created during the production of exhibition videos; and related materials. This accession also includes several compilations of documents related to the Enola Gay that served different purposes. Some materials document projects and professional activities undertaken by Harwit after his resignation.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 14-100, National Air and Space Museum, Enola Gay Exhibition Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Harwit, Martin, 1931- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Enola Gay (Bomber) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Air and Space Museum (U.S.). Office of the Director Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Crossroads: The End of World War II, the Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War (Proposed exhibition) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
The Last Act: The Atomic Bomb and the End of World War II (Proposed exhibition) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Enola Gay (Exhibition) (1995-1998: Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay (Monograph : 1966) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautical museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Atomic bomb Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum exhibits Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World War, 1939-1945 Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Legislative hearings -- United States Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum directors Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Books Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white transparencies Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Color transparencies Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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