Smithsonian Institution Archives

Carl W. Mitman Papers, 1937-1946, 1949

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU7386
Creators:
Mitman, Carl Weaver, 1889-
Dates:
1937-1946, 1949
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
1 cu. ft. (2 document boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
Almost all of the papers in this collection deal with Carl Weaver Mitman's role as chairman of the Smithsonian War Committee. Loyal B. Aldrich, William N. Fenton, Herbert Friedmann, and Webster P. True also served on the committee. Minutes of the committee's meetings, correspondence and notes document the committee's projects. In addition to the War Committee files, small groups of correspondence and miscellaneous materials on other projects that Mitman was involved in are included in Series 2. There is no material covering the many expositions that Mitman coordinated or his research and curatorial duties. There is only one newspaper clipping relating to the founding of the National Air Museum. Additional information on Mitman's career may be found in Record Units 84, 162, 239, 250 and 297 in the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Carl Weaver Mitman (1889-1958) was born in Newberg, Pennsylvania. He joined the United States National Museum (USNM) in 1914 as an Aid in the Division of Mineral Technology. He was promoted to Curator in the Division of Mechanical Technology in 1919, and served as Curator of the Divisions of Mechanical Technology and Mineral Technology from 1921. He was made Head Curator of the Department of Arts and Industries in 1932. In addition to his responsibilities at the museum, Mitman organized Smithsonian exhibits at fairs and expositions in the United States and abroad. In 1942 he was appointed chairman of the Smithsonian War Committee, and served until 1944. On August 12, 1946, President Truman signed a bill creating the National Air Museum within the Smithsonian Institution. Mitman was relieved of his duties at USNM and was appointed Assistant to the Secretary for the Air Museum on March 7, 1948. He worked on planning the new museum until his retirement in 1952.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7386, Carl W. Mitman Papers

More Information

Notes

Personal Papers


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Mitman, Carl Weaver, 1889- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aldrich, Loyal Blaine, 1884-1965 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fenton, William N. (William Nelson), 1908-2005 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Friedmann, Herbert, 1900-1987 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
True, Webster Prentiss, 1892- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian War Committee Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Canal Zone Biological Area, Barro Colorado Island Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Resources Committee Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. National Youth Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Interdepartmental Committee on Cooperation with the American Republics Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lehigh University Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Princeton University Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Division of Mineral Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Department of Arts and Industries Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Air Museum (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mineralogy Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautical museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mineralogists 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

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