Smithsonian Institution Archives

Fiscal Records, Federal, 1847-1942

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0093
Creators:
Smithsonian Institution
Dates:
1847-1942
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
58 cu. ft. (30 record storage boxes) (24 document boxes) (6 non- standard oversize boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records include ledgers, account books, bills, daybooks, journals, receipted vouchers, records of payment, requisitions, cash books, and other fiscal records documenting the Smithsonian's congressional appropriations. These records deal with the financial affairs of the following Smithsonian bureaus: United States National Museum, Astrophysical Observatory, Bureau of American Ethnology, National Zoological Park, United States National Herbarium, and the International Exchange Service. Other projects of the Institution and its bureaus, such as the International Catalogue of Scientific Literature, are also documented.

Historical Note

Historical Note
When the government's natural history and ethnology collections were transferred to the care of the Smithsonian Institution in 1858, Congress provided an annual allowance of $4,000 for their support. The Smithsonian provided for any additional costs necessary to maintain, preserve, and document the collections from its private funds. From 1870 to 1871, Congress appropriated $10,000 annually for the maintenance of the collections, which became part of the United States National Museum (USNM). Beginning in 1872, Congress began appropriating funds for the "Preservation of Collections," which, along with later appropriations for "Furniture and Fixtures," and "Heating, Lighting, Telephonic and Electrical Service," constituted the major congressional appropriations for the United States National Museum. Other major congressional appropriations were made for "International Exchanges," "American Ethnology," "National Zoological Park," and "Astrophysical Observatory," as well as for exposition functions and other temporary needs of the Institution.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 93, Smithsonian Institution, Fiscal Records, Federal

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. International Exchange Service Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Zoological Park (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
International Catalogue of Scientific Literature Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Disbursement Clerk Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Department of the Treasury Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Herbarium Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution -- Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States -- Appropriations and expenditures Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Budget process Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Budget Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Serials (publications) Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Books Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Journals (accounts) Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
Contact us at osiaref@si.edu