The papers of Aleš Hrdlička, curator in the Division of Physical Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, United States National Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, offer considerable insight into the development of physical anthropology in the first half of this century. The papers include honors bestowed on Hrdlička, autobiographical notes, correspondence with many of the leading anthropologists of the day, anthropometric and osteometric measurements and observations (forming most of the collection), extensive photographs of Hrdlička's field work, manuscripts, research materials, and "My Journeys" (essentially a diary Hrdlička kept of his field work). In addition, there is material of a personal nature. The papers date from 1875 to 1966, but the bulk of the materials date from 1903 to 1943, the time of Hrdlička's career at the USNM.

The papers of Holger Cahill (1887-1960) date from 1910 to 1993, with the bulk of the material dating from 1910-1960, and measure 15.8 linear feet. The collection offers researchers fairly comprehensive documentation of Cahill's directorship of the Works Progress/Projects Administration's (WPA) Federal Art Project (FAP) in addition to series documenting his work as a writer and art critic. Material includes correspondence, reports, artist files, scrapbooks, printed material, and photographs.

The records of the American Artists Group include 12 microfilm reels, plus 0.4 linear feet of printed material, and date from 1931 to 1966. The collection documents the organization's attempt to provide a market for artists affected by the Great Depression by using original artwork for greeting cards. Microfilmed materials include correspondence, p...

This accession consists largely of purchase orders for works of art and other artifacts acquired by the National Portrait Gallery from FY 1983 through FY 1987. It also includes records of other large transactions and purchases of items such as furniture and conservation equipment.

The papers of California painter, printmaker, and art instructor Dorr Bothwell date from 1900-2006, and measure 10.6 linear feet and 1.72 GB. Found within the papers are biographical material, correspondence, personal business records, notes and writings, five diaries, art work and 19 sketchbooks, three scrapbooks, printed material, and print and digital photographs.

The National Museum Act (NMA) of 1966 affirmed the Smithsonian Institution's traditional role of assisting other museums and authorized the Institution to strengthen its activities of service to them. Funds appropriated to the Smithsonian for the implementation of the National Museum Act were made available primarily by grants and contracts ...

These records consist of files from various offices within the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) as well as the central files located in the SAO administrative office. Retrieval from records is difficult. While there is no apparent order to the records, a table of contents consisting of imposed general headings is provided below ...

These papers document the professional career, and to a lesser extent, the personal affairs of Harry Hoogstraal. Most of the papers concern his work after he joined NAMRU-3 in 1949. There appears to be little documentation of his participation on scientific expeditions during the 1930s and 1940s. The papers primarily consist of a voluminous ...

This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.

The collection measures 20.8 linear feet, dates from 1885 to 1991 (bulk dates 1908-1986) and documents the career of lithographer, teacher, and painter Prentiss Taylor. The collection consists primarily of subject/correspondence files (circa 16 ft.), reflecting Prentiss' career as a lithographer and painter, his association with figures prominent in the Harlem Renaissance, notably Carl Van Vechten and Langston Hughes, his activities as president of the Society of Washington Printmakers and other art organizations, his work in art therapy treating mental illness, and his teaching position at American University. The subject files contain mostly correspondence, but many include photographs and printed material. Also included are biographical, financial, legal and printed material; several hundred photographs; notes and writings; sketchbooks, drawings and a few prints by Taylor; and scrapbooks dating from 1885-1956.