Descriptive Entry

These records document part of the secretarial administration of Alexander Wetmore and the whole of Leonard Carmichael's tenure. During this period the Smithsonian Institution's capacity to carry out research in its traditional scientific disciplines was substantially strengthened. At the same time the Institution was able to invest much more effort in promoting cultural and artistic activities.

Bureaus and offices which were created or underwent substantial change during this period, and which are represented here, include the United States National Museum; the Museum of Natural History; the Museum of History and Technology; the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; the National Cultural Center, now the John F. Kennedy Center; the Bureau of American Ethnology; the National Portrait Gallery; the National Collection of Fine Arts; the National Zoological Park; the Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center; and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Subject headings appearing in these records include: the Arctic Research Laboratory; the Armed Forces Museum and the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board; the earth satellite program; the Canal Zone Biological Area, now the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; the Smithsonian's centennial; modernization of Smithsonian exhibits; the Link Foundation; the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; the National Air Museum, now the National Air and Space Museum; the National Gallery of Art; the Research Corporation; the Century 21 Exposition, Seattle, 1962; the Smithsonian Science Information Exchange; and the Smithsonian Scientific Series.