Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, circa 1923-1973

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0240
Creators:
National Museum of History and Technology. Division of Agriculture and Mining
Dates:
circa 1923-1973
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
7 cu. ft. (14 document boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
Records document the activities of the Section of Agriculture, Division of Agriculture and Mining, and its predecessors, and include correspondence, memoranda, exhibit scripts, and reports. Annual reports covering the Sections of Chemical Industries, Chemical Technology, Foods, Manufactures, and Organic Chemistry are also contained in the records, most likely because these sections also reported administratively to the Division of Textiles (until 1938) or the Division of Crafts and Industries (1938-1957); and curators often had responsibility for more than one section. Annual reports for the Division of Agriculture and Mining, 1969-1973, also contain material concerning the Section of Mining.
Of special interest is extensive documentation, in the form of scripts, blueprints, correspondence, and notes, of work on the Hall of Forest Products, 1960-1967, which was never installed; and correspondence on and papers presented at the Symposium on Eighteenth Century Agriculture, 1966-1969. Some material on the professional activities of Division staff, particularly Edward C. Kendall and John T. Schlebecker, is also included.

Historical Note

Historical Note
The Section of Agriculture, Division of Agriculture and Mining, of the National Museum of History and Technology, has roots dating back to 1921 when "specimens and models of agricultural implements and objects relating to the history of agriculture in this country" began to be collected. From 1921 to 1932, these collections were kept as part of the textile collections. In 1932, a Section of Agricultural History was set up in the Division of Textiles, and a separate catalog was started. The Section became the Section of Agricultural Industries, Division of Crafts and Industries, in 1938 and retained that title until 1957. Frederick L. Lewton, curator of Textiles, was in charge of the agricultural collections from 1921 to 1946 when Fred C. Reed became associate curator for the Sections of Agricultural Industries and Manufactures. Reed was replaced as associate curator by Edward C. Kendall in 1951.
When the Museum of History and Technology was set up in 1957, a Division of Agriculture and Wood Products was set up in the Department of Science and Technology. This became the Division of Agriculture and Forest Products, Department of Arts and Manufactures, in 1959; it became the Division of Agriculture and Mining, Department of Industries, in 1969. Kendall continued as associate curator until 1965, and John T. Schlebecker became curator in that year.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 240, National Museum of History and Technology. Division of Agriculture and Mining, Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Kendall, Edward C. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Schlebecker, John T. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lewton, Frederick L. (Frederick Lewis), 1874-1959 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reed, Fred C. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Watkins, William N. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Agricultural History Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Chemical Industries Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Chemical Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Foods Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Manufacturers Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Organic Chemistry Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Division of Textiles Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Division of Crafts and Industries Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Section of Mining Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Hall of Forest Products Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Agriculture Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Department of Arts and Industries Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Department of Engineering and Industries Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Agricultural Industries Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Agricultural Industries and Manufactures Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Division of Agriculture and Wood Products Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Department of Science and Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Division of Agriculture and Forest Products Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Department of Arts and Manufactures Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Department of Industries Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Symposium on Eighteenth-Century Agriculture Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mining engineering Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mineral industries -- History Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Agriculture -- History Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum curators Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum exhibits Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architectural drawings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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