Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, 1967-1988

Summary

(Electronic Resource)

"Museums and Computers: Strange Bedfellows," Museum News, 1973 [Image nos. SIA2017-018331 to SIA2017-018382]
Collection ID:
SIA.FARU7432
Creators:
Museum Computer Network
Dates:
1967-1988
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
26 cu. ft. (26 record storage boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Descriptive Entry
Descriptive Entry
This collection contains the administrative files kept primarily by the executive directors. The records concern the daily operations of a nonprofit professional organization including preparation of the journal Spectra, planning for annual conferences and workshops, correspondence, grant proposals, annual reports, member surveys, and publications concerning computerization.
Historical Note
Historical Note
The Museum Computer Network promotes the use of computer technology by museums. It was established in 1967 by a consortium of New York City museums. In its early years it focused on the development of an object-cataloging database system called Griphos. This system was designed to enable creation of a union catalog of museum objects. In 1972 the consortium was incorporated into the nonprofit Museum Computer Network (MCN) headed by David Vance. Until 1978 MCN functioned as a Griphos users group, but by that year Griphos had become obsolete and MCN opened itself up to users of other computer systems. In 1985 Ron Kley became president and acting executive director until 1988 when Deirdre Stam became executive director.
Administration
Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives
Using the Collection
Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7432, Museum Computer Network, Records
More Information
Notes
Non-SI Records
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Vance, David, 1926- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kley, Ron Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stam, Deirdre Corcoran Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Spectra (Serial) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Griphos (computer database system) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum information networks Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Computer science Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museums -- Collection management Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Audiotapes Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Repository Contact
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
Contact us at osiaref@si.edu