Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, circa 1948-1988

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0397
Creators:
National Museum of American History. Division of Engineering and Industry
Dates:
circa 1948-1988
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
18.81 cu. ft. (18 record storage boxes) (1 12x17 box) (1 film box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records consist of correspondence and memoranda pertaining to horology, exhibit proposals, manufacturers of engineering equipment, models, collections management, minutes of meetings, acquisitions, and installation of exhibits. Also included are blueprints for the Hall of Heavy Machinery; exhibit scripts from Power and the Early Steam Engine and for Building the Brooklyn Bridge: The Design and Construction; inquiries from private collectors, companies, universities, and individuals; Edward A. Battison research notes; personal papers and publications; records from the exhibition The Clockwork Universe: German Clocks and Automata, 1550-1650; administrative files; photographs, contact sheets, and slides of the Division's exhibits and specimens; and the motion picture film Die Welt Als Uhr (The World as a Clock).

Historical Note

Historical Note
With the establishment of the Museum of History and Technology (MHT) in 1957, the Division of Engineering - minus its collections in physical science, electricity, and transportation - became the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, in the Department of Science and Technology. Administrative changes in 1978 established two new Departments, History of Science and History of Technology. The Division of Mechanisms was split from the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, and the divisions split between the departments. The creation of the Department of the History of Science and Technology in 1980 returned the divisions to the same department, and in 1986 they merged to form the Division of Engineering and Industry. (For a history of the antecedent divisions and units to the Division of Engineering and Industry before 1957, see Record Unit 297.)
Curators and staff of the Division included Frank A. Taylor, Curator of the Division of Engineering, 1933-1955; Robert P. Multhauf, Associate Curator of the Division of Engineering, 1954, and Curator, 1955-1957; Robert M. Vogel, Assistant Curator of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1958-1961, Associate Curator, 1962-1966, Curator, 1967-1985, and Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1986-1988; Edwin A. Battison, Associate Curator of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1958-1969, Curator, 1970-1977, and Research Associate of Mechanisms, 1978-1980; Carlene E. Stephens, Museum Technician of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1974-1977, Museum Specialist, 1977-1983, Curator of Mechanisms, 1984-1985, and Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1986- ; Otto Mayr, Curator of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1970-1977, and Curator of Mechanisms, 1978-1984; Robert C. Post, Museum Specialist, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, 1973-1974; David F. Noble, Curator of Mechanisms, 1983-1985; Tom D. Crouch, Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1986; and Steven Lubar, Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1987- .

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 397, National Museum of American History. Division of Engineering and Industry, Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Battison, Edwin A. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Taylor, Frank A. (Frank Augustus), 1903-2007 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Multhauf, Robert P. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Vogel, Robert M. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stephens, Carlene E., 1949- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mayr, Otto Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Post, Robert C. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Noble, David F. (David Franklin), 1935- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Crouch, Tom D. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lubar, Steven D. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Hall of Heavy Machinery Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering 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.). Department of the History of Science Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Department of the History of Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.). Division of Mechanisms Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Department of the History of Science and Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Division of Engineering Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Power and the Early Steam Engine (Exhibition) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Building Brooklyn Bridge: The Design and Construction, 1867-1883 (Exhibition) (1983: Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clockwork Universe: German Clocks and Automata, 1550-1650 (Exhibition) (1980: Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Die Welt Als Uhr (The World as a Clock) (Motion picture) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum exhibits Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Industries -- History Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Engineering -- History Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Historical museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Floor plans Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Illustrations Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures (visual works) Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white negatives Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white transparencies Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Exhibition catalogs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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