Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, circa 1968-1981

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0396
Creators:
National Museum of American History. Division of Military History
Dates:
circa 1968-1981
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
5 cu. ft. (5 record storage boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records consist of public inquiries from museums, universities, historical societies, and private collectors regarding gun models, saber types, military heraldry, uniform insignia, history of the United States Army, the preservation of artifacts, and paintings illustrating scenes from American military history. Also included are copies of responses to public inquiries by the two curators; photographs, scripts, and correspondence concerning the exhibitions By Sea and By Land: Independence with the Help of France, Steuben: Secret Aid for the Americans, and Belgian Gunmaking and American History; and memoranda from administrative offices, some of which pertain to planning for the Bicentennial of the American Revolution.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Beginning in the 1880s, military collections were curated by the Section of Historical Relics, United States National Museum, and its various successors through to the Division of History. In 1935, the Division established the Military and Naval Collection, and, in 1947, it formed a Section of Military History. The Section was given Division status in 1948 and was placed under the direction of Mendel L. Peterson. Additional details on the history of the Division are located in Record Unit 383, and in the introduction to the Department of Social and Cultural History, Guide to the Smithsonian Archives, 1996.
The Division of Military History was responsible for tracing the historical development of the United States Army from its inception as a colonial militia to its current role in the missile age. Research focused on United States Army firearms, artillery, ammunition, edged weapons, uniforms, medals, and flags. In addition to collecting military and foreign artifacts the Division published military histories and conducted studies of arms collections in other museums.
Staff members of the Division included Craddock R. Goins, Jr., Curator, 1959- , and Donald E. Kloster, Associate Curator, 1973- .

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 396, National Museum of American History. Division of Military History, Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Peterson, Mendel Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Goins, Craddock R., Jr. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kloster, Donald E. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Army Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Historical Relics Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Division of History Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Department of Social and Cultural History Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
By Sea and By Land: Independence with the Help of France (Exhibition) (1981: Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Steuben: Secret Aid for the Americans (Exhibition) (1981-1982: Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Belgian Gunmaking and American History (Exhibition) (1977: Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976 Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Military history 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

Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
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