Homepage

Record

CodeCX5975
Dates1846-present
Person NameSmithsonian Institution; 1846-present
ActivityThe Smithsonian Institution was established with funds from James Smithson (1765-1829), a British scientist who left his estate to the United States to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Smithson died in 1829, and six years later, President Andrew Jackson announced the bequest to Congress. On July 1, 1836, Congress accepted the legacy bequeathed to the nation and pledged the faith of the United States to the charitable trust. In September 1838, Smithson’s legacy, which amounted to more than 100,000 gold sovereigns, was delivered to the mint at Philadelphia. Recoined in U.S. currency, the gift amounted to more than $500,000.

After eight years of sometimes heated debate, an Act of Congress signed by President James K. Polk on Aug. 10, 1846, established the Smithsonian Institution as a trust to be administered by a Board of Regents and a Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

The Smithsonian’s natural history collections have their origins in the 1838–1842 United States Exploring Expedition, which circumnavigated the globe amassing cultural and natural history collections. Concern over how to care for the collections led to the provision for a museum as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s enabling act of 1846. In 1858, the US Congress began to provide appropriations for the United States National Museum and all the government’s collections were transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian also received specimens by gift or purchase in the late 1840s. In 1850, the newly appointed Assistant Secretary Spencer F. Baird donated his personal natural history collection to the Institution. During the 1850s and 1860s, several expeditions which explored the American West, sent additional specimens to the Institution. The collections were initially housed in the Institution’s first building, the Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, which was completed in 1855.

The National Collections were moved to the newly constructed National Museum Building, now the Arts and Industries Building, in 1881. But within two years, the new building was overflowing with collections and Smithsonian management requested another building from the US Congress. Legislation for the new building finally passed in 1902, providing for a granite structure across the National Mall from the Smithsonian Castle.

On March 17, 1910, the new US National Museum, now the National Museum of Natural History, opened to the public, although construction of the building was not completed until June 20, 1911. Initially, the National Museum housed art, culture, history, geology, and natural history collections, totaling over ten million objects. Taxidermists produced striking new exhibits, featuring specimens collected on the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition of 1909–1910, and art exhibits that drew large audiences. Not surprisingly, the new building soon ran out of storage space. During the 1930s, new wings were authorized to be built to accommodate the ever growing collections, but as the Great Depression worsened, funding was never received. In the 1950s and 1960s, an Exhibits Modernization Program systematically updated the exhibits in the museum, and the National Museum acquired such iconic objects as the Fénykövi elephant and the Hope diamond.

.In 1957, the US National Museum created two administrative subdivisions: the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History. The US National Museum was eliminated as an administrative entity in 1967, and the Museum of Natural History became a separate administrative unit. By 1969, the art and history collections had moved to new museums, and the building was renamed the National Museum of Natural History. Research, collections, and exhibits now focused on anthropology, botany, geology, paleontology, and zoology. During the 1960's, new wings were finally added to the east and west sides of the building to accommodate expanding collections and staff. In 1960, the architectural firm Mills, Petticord, and Mills was selected to design the east wing and the following year a west wing. By 1965, construction of both additions was completed. The wings are designed with six floors in addition to the basement and ground floor, with the second, fourth and sixth floors directly connected to the main building.

.By the late 1970s, collections were again overflowing and a Museum Support Center was planned in Suitland, Maryland. When it opened in 1983, it housed collections, specialized laboratories, and conservation facilities. New outreach programs were developed during the 1970s, including the Insect Zoo, Discovery Room, and Naturalists’ Center. The groundbreaking Dynamics of Evolution exhibit established that evolution could be presented in American museums. In the 1990s and 2000s, another series of exhibit renovations produced the new Fossils Hall, Behring Mammals Hall, Sant Ocean Hall, and Koch Hall of Human Origins.

The National Museum of Natural History has a long tradition of field work and collecting across the globe. During the heyday of oceanographic exploration in the 1960s, the then Museum of Natural History established the Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting Center to classify and distribute marine specimens to museums worldwide. In the 1970s, scientists began to expand field research programs to more permanent stations, with the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce created in 1971, and the Carrie Bow Cay field station in Belize established in 1972.
Corporate NameSmithsonian Institution
Catalogue
RefNoTitle
DF/BOT/400/12/62United States National Museum
DF/ZOO/200/143/29Smithsonian Institution (Temporary File)
DF/BOT/400/16/31Correspondence U
DF/ENT/340/15/10Muesebeck, Dr Carl Frederick William
DF/MIN/1/49/19Smithsonian Museum
DF/DIR/933/10/3Smithsonian Institution
DF/ZOO/253/4/2/10Crabill, Ralph, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
DF/ZOO/200/30/172Goode, George Brown
DF/ZOO/230/122/324USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): US National Museum
DF/PAL/100/80/39Bassler, R S (Smithsonian, Washington)
DF/ZOO/236/1/309External Correspondence: Wetmore, Dr A., Smithsonian Institute
DF/BOT/400/14/33Correspondence U
DF/ZOO/200/62/75Smithsonian Institution (Washington, USA)
DF/ZOO/230/122/322USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): US National Museum
DF/ZOO/230/122/319USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): US National Museum
DF/PAL/100/168/24Myers, George S
DF/TM/3/11/96/12McCain, Lucile
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/1/313Goode, G Brown
DF/ZOO/200/16/448Smithsonian Institution
DF/ZOO/232/6/15/1/9American National Museum
DF/ZOO/200/3/168-171Gill, William Wyatt
DF/PAL/100/185/22Roberts, Henry B
DF/ZOO/200/138/12Smithsonian Oceonographical Centre
DF/ZOO/200/23/11-15Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/MIN/1/130USA: Smithsonian Institution, minerals correspondence
DF/ZOO/200/24/84aEarll, [Robert] Edward
DF/ZOO/230/122/320USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): (US National Museum)
DF/TR/1/1/34/484Smithsonion Institution
DF/TM/1/20/11Correspondence G: Godman; Goode; Gorham
DF/ZOO/236/4/6External Correspondence: Rand, A Stanley
DF/ZOO/236/4/13External Correspondence: Beehler, Dr Bruce
DF/ZOO/200/143/31Smithsonian Institution, Exchange of Types
DF/PAL/100/41/188Langley, Samuel Pierpoint
DF/PAL/100/181/27Ravenel, W de C
DF/BOT/400/17/15Correspondence M
DF/ZOO/232/6/13/17/9Wetmore, A
DF/ZOO/230/139Bird Section Correspondence: O
DF/ZOO/232/6/15/8/10Kellogg, Remington
DF/ZOO/200/30/9Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/232/6/15/1/8American Museum of Natural History
DF/ZOO/253/4/5/1Jensen - Jarms
DF/ZOO/200/36/166Goode, [George] Brown
DF/ZOO/200/47/421Smithsonian [Institution]
DF/ZOO/236/1/385Subject File: Miller’s Rail - Rallus nigra
DF/PAL/131/1/90Kornicker, Louis S
DF/ZOO/230/4/285Rathbun, Richard
DF/PAL/100/26/29Lucas, F.A.
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/4/133Langley, S. P.
DF/ZOO/230/4/295-296Richmond, [Charles] W
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/2/171Rathbun, R
DF/PAL/100/27/63Smithsonian Institution
DF/ZOO/236/4/484African Atlas Correspondence: Watson, Dr George E, Smithsonian Institution, USA
DF/ZOO/236/4/53External Correspondence: Storrs L. Olson, Storrs L
DF/ZOO/236/4/331External Correspondence (Cotingidae): Farrand Jr., Dr John
DF/PAL/131/1/19Benson, Richard H
DF/ZOO/236/4/205External Correspondence: Beehler, Bruce
DF/ZOO/236/4/408African Atlas Correspondence: Bond, Gorman M, U S National Museum, Smithsonian Institution
DF/ZOO/236/3/61External Correspondence: Angle, J.Phillip & Dr Storrs Olson
DF/ZOO/236/3/76External Correspondence: Dean, James
DF/ZOO/230/122/316USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): International Council for Bird Preservation
DF/PAL/123/3/1/4Jefferies, Richard Peter Spencer: Correspondence with Porter M Kier, Department of Palaeobiology, Smithsonian
DF/ZOO/200/15/218Henry, Joseph
DF/PAL/100/84/1Boardman, R S (Smithsonian, Washington)
DF/PAL/100/125/7Graf, J E
DF/PAL/100/147/24Knight, J Brookes
DF/PAL/100/137/13Hrdlicka, A
DF/PAL/100/164/17Mifsud, C V
DF/PAL/100/172/5Oehser, Paul H
DF/ADM/1004/678Smithsonian Institution: correspondence on transit of ammunition to India
DF/ZOO/200/15/21-22Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/200/17/8-10Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/200/25/134-136Goode, George Brown
DF/ZOO/200/26/127-128aGoode, George Brown
DF/ZOO/200/29/15-16Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/200/29/156Goode, George Brown
DF/ZOO/200/31/5Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/200/38/420True, Frederick William
DF/ZOO/230/122/323USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): US National Museum
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/2/77Gears, R
DF/ZOO/200/52/492Rathbun, [Richard]
DF/MIN/1/86/7US Department of Interior
DF/ZOO/235/1/4/1/75Rathbun, Richard
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/9/117Hay, O. P.
DF/ZOO/236/4/305External Correspondence: Eyde, Dr Richard H.
DF/ZOO/230/122/318USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): US National Museum
DF/ZOO/230/122/317USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): US National Museum
DF/ZOO/236/4/191External Correspondence: Greenberg, Russell
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/1/481Lucas, F A
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/4/17Bean, B. A.
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/6/115Johnson, H. E.
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/5/200Rathbun, Richard
DF/ZOO/236/1/229External Correspondence: Olson, Dr Storrs L., Smithsonian Inst., Washington
DF/ZOO/236/4/466African Atlas Correspondence: Ripley, Dr S Dillon, U S National Museum, Smithsonian Institution
DF/ENT/331/8/20Peter F Mattingly: Southeast Asia Mosquito Project (SEAMP)
DF/BOT/400/15/25Correspondence U
DF/ZOO/236/4/297Correspondence and Subject file: Fruits
DF/BOT/400/13/100United States National Museum
DF/ZOO/253/4/2/5Cairns, Douglas, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
DF/PAL/100/80/38Bassler, R S (Smithsonian, Washington)
DF/PAL/100/24/24Lucas, F A
DF/PAL/100/98/1Clark, Austin Hobart
DF/ZOO/213/104British Museum (Natural History), Australian Museum, Smithsonian Expedition Joint Expedition to Papua New Guinea: report of G Palmer, with copies of correspondence
DF/TR/1/1/31/559Smithsonian Institution
DF/ZOO/232/6/7/7/10Miller, G.S.
DF/PAL/100/102/1Cooper G Arthur
DF/ENT/331/8/21Mattingly, Peter F: Southeast Asia Mosquitoe Project (SEAMP)
DF/DIR/933/10/3/1Smithsonian Institution
DF/TM/1/23/7Correspondence S: Smithsonian Institution; Société Entomologique de France; Sömmering; Sondermann
DF/PAL/100/144/26Kellogg, Remington
DF/ZOO/200/13/27Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/BOT/400/17/19Correspondence R
DF/TM/3/11/92/7McCain, Lucile
DF/ZOO/236/4/201External Correspondence: Smith, Lyman B
DF/ZOO/200/22/9Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/200/24/9-10aBaird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/TR/1/1/25/382Richmond, [Charles] [Wallace]
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/1/696Shufeldt, R W
DF/ZOO/200/40/145Goode, [George] Brown
DF/ZOO/200/59/24Smithsonian Institution (Washington, USA)
DF/ZOO/232/6/12/34/5Wetmore, A
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/1/799Walcott, C
DF/ZOO/200/22/364-365Yarrow, Henry Crécy
DF/TM/1/5/9Correspondence S: Smith; Smithsonian; Smoljaninoff; Spatz
DF/PAL/100/181/32Ray, Clayton E
DF/PAL/100/183/8Rehder, Harald A
DF/ZOO/230/122/315USA (Washington DC): US Department of the Interior - Fish & Wildlife Service
DF/ZOO/230/122/321USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): (US National Museum)
DF/PAL/100/56/243Smithsonian Institution
DF/PAL/100/56/244Smithsonian Institution
DF/PAL/100/145/26Kier, Porter M
DF/ZOO/200/19/8-9Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/200/22/352-353Wesley, William
DF/ZOO/200/28/9Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/200/25/390True, Frederick William
DF/ZOO/200/27/486-487True, Frederick William
DF/ZOO/200/27/134-135Goode, George Brown
DF/ZOO/200/27/2a-3Baird, Spencer Fullerton
DF/ZOO/200/31/173-173aGoode, George Brown
DF/ZOO/200/31/407-408True, Frederick William
DF/ZOO/200/35/185-186Goode, [George] Brown
DF/ZOO/200/4/44-53Henry, Joseph
DF/ZOO/200/52/56-59Rathbun, [Richard]
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/8/191Rathbun, Richard.
DF/ZOO/264/1/101Echinodermata correspondence: Smithsonian Institution (USA)
DF/ENT/340/20/28Smith - Snow
DF/TM/1/156/2Oversize correspondence: Merrill; Miller; Mönch
DF/TR/1/1/24/104Cullingford, [Joseph] S
DF/ZOO/232/6/12/20/1Miller, G.S
DF/ZOO/252/12Calman, William Thomas: Correspondence and Papers
DF/ZOO/253/4/5/15Larson, R; Larson, K
WP/16/2/13Letter to William Greenell Wallace from British Museum Department of Ethnography, London
DF/ZOO/200/143/30Smithsonian Institution, centre-punched cards
DF/ZOO/253/4/3/14Haddad - Hutchings
DF/ZOO/253/4/5/19Malin - Müller
DF/ZOO/253/4/2/4Cannon - Costa Belém
DF/ENT/331/8/18Mattingly, Peter F: Southeast Asia Mosquito Project (SEAMP)
DF/ENT/331/8/19Mattingly, Peter F: Southeast Asia Mosquito Project (SEAMP)
DF/ENT/332/3/6/3Fletcher, T Bainbrigge
DF/PAL/128/6/4Correspondence of Francis Arthur Bather
DF/BOT/400/6/52United States National Museum
DF/MIN/1/68/63Henderson, E P
DF/MIN/1/84/5Smithsonian Institution
DF/MIN/1/129USA: Smithsonian Institution, meteorites correspondence
DF/DIR/933Director's Subject Files
DF/ZOO/264Echinodermata and Protochordata Section Correspondence and Papers
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/6/184Rathbun, Richard.
DF/ZOO/235/1/1/9/210Rathbun, R
DF/ZOO/230/122/325USA (Washington DC - Smithsonian Institution): US National Museum
DF/ZOO/200/38/131-132Goode, [George] Brown
DF/ZOO/200/47/46-47Goode, [George] Brown
DF/ZOO/200/49/158Ashmead, William H
DF/ZOO/200/52/129Wesley and Son, [William]
DF/ZOO/200/52/310-313Rathbun, [Richard]
DF/ZOO/200/51/255-256Ashmead, William H
DF/ZOO/200/52/162Barber, [Herbert Spencer]
DF/TM/1/39/15Correspondence T: Trimen; True; Trubner; Tschapek; Tsczusi zu Schmidhoffen
DF/TR/1/1/31/487Richmond, [Charles] [Wallace]
DF/TR/1/1/31/613United States National Museum
DF/ZOO/202/1'Miscellaneous documents': letters, lists, memoranda and reports relating to the work of the department, gathered by Dr A Günther
WP/16/2/47Letter, draft or copy in William Greenell Wallace's hand to T K Penniman, Curator, Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, from William Greenell Wallace, Bournemouth,
WP/7/76'The Method of Organic Evolution'
WP/6/6/8Papers re Studies Scientific and Social
WP/6/6/9Papers re Studies Scientific and Social
Add to My Items

    Useful Links

    Showcase items

    A list of our latest and most exciting new items.

    Entomology Artwork
    Entomology Artwork
    George Robert Milne Murray Papers
    George Robert Milne Murray Papers
    Museum at War
    Museum at War
    Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act – the campaign to end the plumage trade
    Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act – the campaign to end the plumage trade
    Tring Museum Photographs
    Tring Museum Photographs
    Explore Showcase