Smithsonian Institution Archives

National Museum Building Commission Records, 1879-1882

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0071
Creators:
United States National Museum
Dates:
1879-1882
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
5.89 cu. ft. (6 document boxes) (4 half document boxes) (4 12x17 boxes) (2 oversize folders)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records fully document the construction of the 1881 National Museum Building; included are fiscal records, specifications, bids and contracts, correspondence with the architects, and records of the Building Commission itself, including minutes of meetings. See also record unit 92.

Historical Note

Historical Note
In 1876 the Board of Regents requested an appropriation from Congress to build a new museum, a necessity because of the incoming collections from the International Exhibition in Philadelphia. Congress complied and made an appropriation in 1879. The Regents appointed a building commission consisting of resident members of the Regents' Executive Committee and Secretary Spencer F. Baird. Cluss and Shulze of Philadelphia were made superintending architects. Construction began in April 1879 and was completed in 1881.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 71, United States National Museum, National Museum Building Commission Records
Access Restriction
Deteriorating letterpress may prevent any reproduction.

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Baird, Spencer Fullerton, 1823-1887 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cluss and Schulze Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum Building Commission Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Board of Regents Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Centennial Exhibition (1876 : Philadelphia, Pa.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian buildings Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museums -- Administration Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum buildings Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architectural design Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architectural drawings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketches Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
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