Have You Seen Me?

Portrait of America (detail), 1933

We’ve mentioned on this blog before how valuable the Peter A. Juley & Son Collection is to scholars and historians in their research. The Juley firm worked with artists and galleries throughout New York City and beyond, spanning several important decades in art history. Their tireless work has resulted in an archives collection rich in subject matter, and often times the images in the collection are the only documentation we may have of an artwork that has been lost, altered or destroyed.

While cataloging the collection, I’ve come across artworks that are easily confirmed destroyed, such as Diego Rivera’s mural, “Portrait of America." Originally installed in 1933 at the New Workers School in New York, in 1942 it was moved to Unity House in Forest Park, Pennsylvania. A fire broke out in the building in 1969, destroying all of the mural panels.

Unlike the Rivera mural, other artworks documented in the Juley Collection are not so easy to find. Information may not be readily available about where they may have ended up, or if they even still exist. Aside from those that are destroyed, works can disappear by becoming part of an unknown private collection, or simply by being forgotten about or packed away a la the recent story about several Arthur Pinajian paintings found in a Long Island garage.

So, in my research, I’ve certainly hit a few walls in trying to locate a painting or sculpture. Perhaps I can turn to our blog readers for help?

John Sloan, Movies, Five Cents, 1907

As an inaugural post for a semi-regular feature searching for unlocated artworks, and inspired by the life of great film critic Roger Ebert, I thought I’d post this John Sloan painting that depicts the popularity and fascination with the cinema and nickelodeons in the beginning of the 20th century (noted in Katherine Manthorne's, "John Sloan's Moving Picture Eye"). Entitled “Movies, Five Cents,” its last known location was in a private collection.

Any leads out there on the whereabouts of this painting? Let us know in the comments!

 
Rachel Brooks
Photograph Archives, Smithsonian American Art Museum

October is American Archives Month!

The stacks in the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Photograph by Stephanie Smith.

Blogs across the Smithsonian will give an inside look at the Institution’s archival collections and practices during a month long blogathon in celebration of October’s American Archives Month. See additional posts from our other participating blogs, as well as related events and resources, on the Smithsonian’s Archives Month website.

Happy American Archives Month, dear readers, and welcome to the Smithsonian Collections Blog third annual blogathon! You can look forward to posts every day in October by archivists, librarians, interns, and researchers from all across the Smithsonian.

This year's theme is Revealing Hidden Treasures, so you can look forward to posts about weird and wonderful finds from our collections, how we as archivists, librarians, interns and volunteers make these finds accessible to our researchers, and how our researchers make these treasures come alive.

Want to celebrate American Archives Month with us? Start a conversation in the comments, ask a question during the online Q & A on the Smithsonian's Facebook page on Wednesday, October 17th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, or come see us in person! The 2012 Archives Fair will take place on Friday, October 19th, at the S. Dillon Ripley Center right off the National Mall. Check out a lecture or film, or make an appointment to participate in our Ask-the-Smithsonian event, where you can consult with experts including archivists, conservators and librarians on how to better care for your own archives-worthy items.

See you tomorrow!

-Cecilia Peterson, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

Discovering Treasures in the National Anthropological Archives

Ms 2560a – (front cover) Field Notes on Arapahoan
languages and culture (1899 – 1901)

I keep making amazing discoveries in the NAA collection! Hidden treasures! Well, admittedly my main discovery tool is SIRIS (and now the Collections Search Center), so one could argue that I’m only discovering things that someone else created, collected, cataloged, and entered into the database - available online to the world and accessed by hundreds of thousands of people annually. Maybe it’s not on a par with discovering a new moon of Jupiter, but for me such discoveries remain incredibly exciting, a potent reaffirmation of the importance of preserving these materials and making them accessible in ways that allow other people to make their own exciting discoveries.
Working on our Save America’s Treasures project to preserve early manuscripts, especially those relating to endangered languages, and to digitize as much material as possible for web access has led me into new areas of the collection. I’m not a linguist and don’t usually get excited by manuscripts about "vowel length" – but as an anthropologist I know how much people treasure their native languages and how precious documentation of past speech and speakers can be. Check out these "discoveries."

Ms 338c - Chukchee Vocabularies 1852-1855,
in process of conservation 

Chukchee Vocabularies 1852-1855 Extract from SIRIS entry: Chuckchi ("Yerigen") and Asiatic Eskimo ("Chak-lock") Vocabularies. Rodgers North Pacific Expedition, 1852-55; includes 366 Chukchi and 150 Eskimo words, with phonetic notes on vowel length and pitch. Languages include Chuckchi (Tchuktchi) and Yerigen (Chukchi) vocabulary, Korak (Koriaks), Siberian stock; Glasenap Harbor, Straits of Seniavine, west side of Behring Straits. Chaklock vocabulary (Asiatic Eskimo, Eskimauan stock).

Here’s what Dr. Igor Krupnik, Curator of Arctic Ethnology, had to say about it: "The dictionaries you have asked about are very famous linguistic records from 1852. These are truly precious documents and the ones we referred to back in 1979 while working on the historical distribution of indigenous languages and dialects at the Bering Strait. They actually recorded two languages, one Chukchi and another Siberian Yupik (Eskimo) being spoken just two miles apart, but exactly as we reconstructed it for the mid-1800s based on other historical and oral records. I did my field work in that same area and I have passed the site where they collected these dictionaries on several occasions during the late 1970s and early 1980s." At that time, Igor and his Russian colleagues were glad to have access to photocopies of photocopies from the NAA collections. The material is now scheduled for conservation and digitization, after which it will be placed online.

Ms 2560b – Field Notes on Arapahoan
languages and culture (1899 – 1901)

Field Notes on Arapahoan languages and culture (1899 – 1901) 
Extract from SIRIS entry: 29 notebooks.
Well, there is really nothing more in this record, except noting the creator as A.L. Kroeber – but we’re working on that now that I’ve discovered this gem.

Kroeber field notes – that’s huge! Alfred L. Kroeber , a student of Franz Boas, was one of the first PhDs in the field of anthropology, and went on to shape the discipline in enduring ways. These notebooks from his earliest fieldwork include a wealth of rich detail, enlivening his generalized publications on culture and language with the names of individuals, prices paid for objects purchased, and shadowy suggestions of the enormous linguistic diversity already slipping away. When Kroeber was doing his fieldwork among the Southern Arapaho in 1899 he not only collected extensive linguistic data on Arapaho proper and its close relative Gros Ventre (or Atsina), he also located speakers of the languages of two groups that had “long since coalesced with the Arapaho,”  Besawunena and the Nawathinehena.  Working with Tall Bear and Kaniib, he recorded unique information on the vocabularies of these two languages, including many words and much phonetic detail that never made it into his 1916 publication “Arapaho Dialects.”

Kroeber used cheap paper (typical grad student!) and these notebooks are now in serious need of conservation attention before they can be digitized.

Ms 7235 - Vocabularies and notes based
on material from Brazilian slaves

Vocabularies and notes based on material from Brazilian slaves
Extract from SIRIS entry: This manuscript probably represents what Horatio Hale originally intended to publish on southern Africa in his Philology and Ethnology that is one of the volumes of the report of the United States Exploring Expedition (Wilkes Expedition). It includes several vocabularies, comparative vocabularies, and notes on the location and appearance (especially the cicatrization and other body decoration) of African tribes.

The U.S. Ex Ex (led by Lt. Charles Wilkes) was a scientific expedition that circumnavigated the globe 1838-42 making observations and collecting specimens that formed the historical nucleus of Smithsonian collections. Expedition members collected many things that suggest the level of global exchange already taking place, but nothing that speaks so poignantly to the darkest side of that exchange – the trade in human lives that brought Africans to Brazil. While in Rio de Janeiro, Hale interviewed "natives of Africa" and obtained notes on more than a dozen languages. He also made drawings of facial scarification marks (cicatrixes) and indicated the particular places associated with each type of mark. Real people, real places. The manuscript is now digitized – look for it online soon.

--Candace Greene, Special Projects, National Anthropological Archives

Finding Family in Finding Aids

In a conversation about complacency, a good friend shared a common word used in her country that changed my worldview about life: heimskur. The word heimskur, which means “stupid” in Icelandic, carries a negative connotation to describe a person who is narrow-minded in his/her thinking because of one’s failure to venture outside of his/her comfort zone to explore the ways of non-Icelandic Islanders, a mindset that counters cultural practice. Reflecting upon my personal experiences of traveling abroad and teaching in different countries, I am reminded of how heimskur could hinder one from exploring opportunities that may create personal and business enhancements.

A lot of Americans, including myself, have experienced lay-offs that have resulted in personal setbacks and financial challenges because of the state of the economy. Some people decide to stay at home, while others venture to discover ways to improve professional skills that are already in place. Thus, I chose the latter course. Dissatisfied with my current unemployment situation, I began to seek volunteer jobs to complement my educational objectives, passion for fine arts, and fascination for history.

My break came when I applied for a behind-the-scenes volunteer position at the Smithsonian, where I now assist with projects in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives. And now that I reflect upon my capacity at the museum, I clearly see how my recent discussion about the word heimskur is relevant to my life going forward, yet in a positive connotation. I am now better informed about world views as seen through the eyes of a researcher and the work of archivists.

Upon discovery of this position, I immediately saw the advantage of my joining the institution because it complemented my 15 years of research and compilation of genealogy work that was conducted on my maternal relatives, resulting in tracing ancestors to the 14th century. Thus, my passion for lineage and my research experience are skill sets that will be applied to my educational goals as I aspire to be a historian once I complete my graduate degree. Therefore, I share my anecdote to attest that achieving a personal goal is possible with determination, commitment, and sacrifice.

My first project consisted of audio reviews of Langston Hughes' lectures present in the Lorenzo Dow Turner papers; I compiled content descriptions so that information can be accessed by researchers by way of electronic media. Occasionally I assist researchers in the reading room with queries on where to locate additional resources in support of their professional or personal objectives. I have also become familiar with arranging and describing archival materials through finding aids. Through this process I made a surprising discovery in the John H. Pye papers.

White House retirement card,John H. Pye papers.

Stumbling across a document presented to John H. Pye that commemorated his job well done as a White House chauffeur led me to a recent discovery of a relative who was a colleague of Mr. Pye in the early 1950s. This finding was different than that of my own; it was a pleasant surprise for me to locate ancestral literature almost at my finger tips in an archival repository instead of only finding materials through traditional methods of months and months of library searching and courthouse visits. Through this volunteer position, I have gained an understanding of the benefits in consulting archival resources, whether it is for personal or business use. Knowledge about archival materials may assist you in locating the correct information or you just might find a piece of your family puzzle in a finding aid!

Antony Arnold
Behind-the-scenes Volunteer

On SIRIS, Something to Bear in Mind

For about a month now, I have been using SIRIS and the Collections Search Center as an intern in the Smithsonian Institution Archives’ Institutional History Division (SIA).  As an undergraduate history student, I am not a stranger to collections search databases.   For my schoolwork I constantly use the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC) online catalog, which combines the holdings of eight Washington area universities.  At previous internships I have worked with the Library of Congress online catalog and THOMAS, the legislative information search tool.  But SIRIS, like the Smithsonian itself, is unique in comparison to these other systems.

The Smithsonian Institution consists of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and nine research facilities.  This broad span supplies a multitude of different collections – from records in the Smithsonian Institution Archives to books in the Smithsonian Institution Library, from pieces of artwork in the National Museum of American Art to taxidermy animals in the National Museum of Natural History.  And SIRIS gathers all of these various collections into one database.

Original Teddy Bear
Courtesy SIA

A search on SIRIS can unveil artifacts and information beyond what you may have anticipated.  Recently, I turned to SIRIS to investigate the original teddy bear.  This children’s toy was created in 1902 and named for then President Theodore Roosevelt after a newspaper cartoon was published portraying Roosevelt on a merciful hunting trip.  I knew that one of the first stuffed bears made is held in the National Museum of American History, so I entered the term “teddy bear” in the SIRIS search box.

Knowing that my SIRIS search would scan the collections from all Smithsonian branches, I expected results from multiple collections.  Of course the American History toy appeared, and I was not surprised to see a teddy bear stamp from the National Postal Museum or the several artworks and photographs that SIRIS offered.  Perhaps the last place I would have thought a “teddy bear” search would return a result was from the National Air and Space Museum (NASM).



Magellan T. Bear
Courtesy NASM



But lo and behold, the NASM, full of airplanes and space suits, also holds one Magellan T. Bear, the first teddy bear in space. The SIRIS description informed me of this astonishing astronaut, stating: “The bear flew as the "education specialist" aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-63 mission in February 1995. The bear's journey was part of an ambitious educational project to stimulate interest in geography, science, and social studies. Students and faculty of Elk Creek Elementary School in Pine, Colorado, worked with NASA and Spacehab to have the teddy bear certified for spaceflight. The school also arranged for the bear to fly around the world, visit the South Pole, fly on United Airlines' first Boeing 777 flight, and attend U.S. Space Camp. Presented to the National Air and Space Museum in May 1998 by librarian Penny Wiedeke and principal Jerry Williams, Magellan T. Bear is on display in the "How Things Fly" gallery.  Magellan T. Bear was fully outfitted for all of his flights, wearing a blue astronaut jumpsuit in space and aviator cap, goggles and scarf in the planes.





Space Camp Pin
Courtesy NASM

And so I came away from my research with an interesting bit of trivia.  But SIRIS discoveries like this one can lead to more than my impressive factoid.  Researchers might stumble upon a catalog entry that informs or reforms their argument, or inspires them to further inquire into a new subject.  The beauty of SIRIS is the beauty of the Smithsonian: you never know what you’re going to get. 

Aly DesRochers, IHD Intern, Smithsonian Institution Archives

Guess Who

While watching Jeopardy the other night I was excited to see that the final question was about the National Portrait Gallery (NPG).

OF THE 9 PRESIDENTS WHOSE IMAGES HAVE A BEARD OR MUSTACHE, THIS LATE 19th CENTURY MAN IS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT


Who is......Click here for answer



Smithsonian Circular: Portrait Photograph Request
Smithsonian Institution Archives


The next day at work I decided to scroll through some of the portrait photographs on the Collections Search Center. NPG had a host of images since the Smithsonian collected portraits of famous people from its earliest days, which eventually led to the creation of the National Portrait Gallery in 1962. I also noticed that here at the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives we had numerous portrait photographs preserved in our collections. Scrolling through I noticed the variety of individuals represented. There were presidents, scientists, statesmen and explorers, but also a host of lesser known individuals that never worked at the Smithsonian. I wondered how and why the Institution procured the images from these individuals.  



Later that week, while working on an entirely different project, the answer to my portrait collection question appeared right before my eyes. I have found that the archives work in mysterious ways. And though I was yielding few results on one project, out of nowhere the answer to the other appears!  There in a book of circulars was a copy of a letter adorned with the bust of James Smithson and elegant script. I scanned the letter and to my fortune in a Castellar-like font was the word: PORTRAITS. I carefully read the rest of the letter and learned that this document was the circular that was used to ask noteworthy Smithsonian correspondents or their families for their images, signed by the Smithsonian Secretary (Spencer F. Baird) himself! With this in mind, I decided to dig a little further.





List of Potential Names
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Draft of Follow-Up Letter
Smithsonian Institution Archives

I learned that in 1875, the Smithsonian Institution decided to create a list of individuals important in the fields of study and work who should be documented in the national collection. With a list in mind, the Smithsonian sent out this circular and kept a record of who responded. The list also revealed that the Institution sent the circular to its foreign correspondents as well.  Once the Institution obtained the portrait, the individual received a follow up circular asking detailed information for a registry.



Draft of Letter to Photographers
Smithsonian Institution Archives



The project was very active, filling the log book with numerous names and in 1880 the Institution began sending circulars not just to their correspondents, but to well known photographers. This draft circular solicits images from photographers and notes that “the collection does not embrace those who have attained prominence as actors only.”

Today the fruits of this labor can be searched across the Institution in the Collections Search Center. Photographs of naturalists, scientists, authors, and educators, who were leaders in their fields of expertise, but not necessarily household names, have been preserved at the Smithsonian thanks to its early curator’s forward thinking. 

Courtney Esposito, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Institutional History Division

Remember, Remember the Fifth of November

Across the pond tonight and tomorrow, the United Kingdom and V for Vendetta movie fans are celebrating Guy Fawkes Day celebrations. Enjoying any excuse for celebration and fireworks I began wondering if the Smithsonian had any connection to the Gunpowder Plot and or Guy Fawkes.  To my delight, after searching in our SIRIS database I found it in the Archives. It always amazes me what can be found in this collection.

Thomas Percy
Courtesy of the
Smithsonian Institution Archives

James Smithson, founding donor of the Smithsonian Institution, was related to a man named Thomas Percy. Thomas Percy was one of the conspirators in the Gun Powder Plot.  The failed plot was an attempt to assassinate King James I of England and the House of Parliament by blowing up barrels of gunpowder hidden in a cellar below Parliament’s buildings. On November 4, 1605, authorities caught Guy Fawkes in the cellar with all the materials necessary for explosives. Guy Fawkes Day celebrates Fawkes capture on that fateful day.


This interesting revelation led me to think how little people know about James Smithson. In fact, Smithson is a man shrouded in mystery. His personal papers were lost in a fire in the Smithsonian Castle in 1865 and until Heather Ewing reconstructed his correspondence in The Lost World of James Smithson: Science, Revolution and the Birth of the Smithsonian, much of Smithson’s story remained unknown.  So who was this enigmatic man who left his inheritance to a country he never visited?

James Smithson
Courtesy of the
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Born in France, Smithson was the illegitimate son of the first Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Smithson and Elizabeth Hungerford Keate Macie. Originally named Macie, after his parents’ deaths he changed his name to Smithson. Smithson was a naturalized Englishmen and was educated at Oxford’s Pembroke College. He studied the natural sciences and became a skilled chemist and mineralogist. Smithson spent most of his life in pursuit of scientific knowledge desiring to make it on merit, not his inheritance. In 1826, Smithson drafted his will and left a unique clause stating that if his nephew Henry James Hungerford died without any heirs, that the whole of his property was to go to the United States of America “to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase and diffusion among men.” Three years later in Genoa, Italy Smithson died and the rest is history.



Thus, in honor of James and his more conspiratorial relative let’s take a note from the famous Guy Fawkes poem and …

Smithsonian Institution Castle
Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

                                           Remember, remember Smithson forever,

                                               The donor of the Smithsonian’s spot

                                       I know of no reason why Smithson was feeling,

                                                  To increase our knowledge a lot.

Courtney Esposito, Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives

I Found My Mom In the Archives

The theme the Society of American Archivists (SAA) set forth for October is American Archives Month 2010 was "I found my [blank] in the Archives."  The festivities this October are part of a larger effort by the Society of American Archivists to celebrate their upcoming 75th anniversary with 2010-2011 focusing on "I found It in the Archives!"  Their goal is as follows, "Public awareness. And building a greater understanding of who archivists are and what archivists do."  In an essence it is like celebrating October is American Archives Month - all year long. 

So here is my contribution November 1st.  We are post-Archives Month, and I write this knowing that the libraries, archives and special collections of the Smithsonian Institution will continue to share their thoughts on the profession, their passion for the collections, and their current project obsessions here with you.  What I hope for now is that YOU will start to add your thoughts, your passion, and share your current projects with the collections at the Smithsonian Institution or within your own home.  SAA is launching a nation wide contest idea, but for this post I'm going to keep it simple.  

I found my mom in the Archives.  Well, I knew she was coming actually; I invited her.  As the Smithsonian Institution Archives and Special Collections (SIASC) council and the October is American Archives Month (OAAM) subcommittee went into high planning gear in August I knew I was going to need my mom.  Mom (real name Rebecca) was a project manager in her former corporate life, not to mention quite the baker.  I inherited my obsession with post its, penchant for color-coding, and love of spreadsheets from her.  I brought my mom in for the month of October so that essentially there could be two of me in one place.  She helped me plan for and manage the 35+ volunteers we had for the day of the Fair by putting together action packets, creating buttons, and making sure no one went hungry.  Literally... see the spread to the right.

Having my mom here for the month was so efficient I was able to utilize her for other projects that have been laying around the Archives, begging to be done.  First I had her  help me pack and inventory 300+ squeezes from the Ernst Herzfeld papers, (see image to the left).  That kept her busy for all of 3 days, and ensured I didn't need to spend one more full day of my time packing and tracking them for the next 3 months.  

I then set her upon the Charles Lang Freer correspondence.  Freer is our founder and one of our most important collection of papers here are the Freer|Sackler Archives.  (See a youtube video showing highlights of his papers).  Over the years, and an archivist or two before me, the correspondence appears to have been added to physically but no updates had been made to the folder numbers, the box labels or the finding aid.  For example any given box can start with folder number 8, go to 25, then start over at 1 with many correspondents being bumped to the next box.  Normally this is not enough to warrant a "red alert" or a high prioritization for fixing the 29 document boxes of correspondence, but lately there has been a surge in researchers interested in Freer leading to more frequent frustrations on my part for having to double check every correspondence box I pulled.  I'm an archivist.  I like to have things in order.

Mom went through the boxes of Freer correspondence, and as she neared the end of her time here in the Archives she shared with me her thoughts and revelations based on her experiences this month.  They were things that I knew all along, but to have some one "from the outside" be able to articulate so clearly what I knew to be true inspired me to write and share her thoughts with you.  Here is what my Mom found in the Archives:

Rachael: First things, first.  What's the coolest thing you've seen here?

Mom: Peacock Room. [Why?] I think it best represents Mr. Freer and his gift to the nation, by helping artists who were struggling and trying to make a name for themselves, and it demonstrates his loyalty to his friends. I just feel a sense of peace when I go in there.  After reading through his correspondence, I realize how important his collection was to him, and why he was so passionate to share it with the nation.

Rachael: Can you talk a little bit about your first perceptions of what being an archivist is like?

Mom:  I really didn't understand the passion behind what was housed, and the importance it has in helping people to understand the gifts that Freer gave to the nation.  One of the first jobs I was tasked with was packing squeezes from ancient archaeological sites such as Persepolis, Pasargadae, etc., and realizing the history that they represented, and why it is important to have a repository for documents such as this.  Many of the important historical places and documentation of historical events are no longer accessible.

Rachael: Now that you've had an opportunity to come to work with me, what are some of your observations on the day to day stuff?

Mom: Busy.  I had the wonderful opportunity of watching many researchers visit your archives, and watch in wonder as they discovered the answers to what they were searching for.  It was like Christmas morning!

Rachael: You were here for a very big month for us archivists.  Can you talk about some of your interactions with my colleagues the day of the Fair?  What was the general feeling?

Mom:  That they are all very excited about what they are doing.   And the general feeling of importance of continued interaction to spread the wealth and knowledge that they have the honor of caring for.

Rachael: Based on your experience of being a project manager, did the Archives Fair unfold like typical projects do?

Mom: Yes and no.  A lot of up front work paid off to make it appear as though the Fair was set up and run flawlessly.  I think a lot of this has to do with the passion of those you work with, and their belief that this sort of outreach is important.  One thing that I found disappointing was that there were people who wanted to be involved, but were not supported by their larger units to contribute to the event that benefited everyone.  The lack of funding of such an important event was stressful.  In my experience in the corporate world, when a mandate comes down to authorize a project or event; funding and staff sources were made available.  The Smithsonian has mandated that you make collections available online, coupled with a need to hold outreach events such as the Fair - I don't know how the staff can try and do all that is expected and hoped for of them without more help in staff power and financial assistance.

Rachael: In going through the Freer correspondence, what revelations did you have on the importance of his papers?

Mom: That he was a self-made man and that he worked hard for what he had.  He was passionate about what he collected and continually shared his thoughts and his collections to better disseminate his knowledge and appreciation of Asian art.  He was a very giving person, and he definitely had a vision for what he collected, why it was important, and that it needed to be shared with people from all walks of life.  He continued patronage, and even through a long illness he fought to continue to make sure that others had what they needed - whether it was money, prints, catalogs, or whatever was needed to continue to share his beliefs.  He did not suffer fools gladly...

Rachael: Any other little gems you found while reading his letters?

Mom: I thoroughly enjoyed reading correspondence between him and Frederick Stuart Church.  Church's letters and envelopes were always covered in sketches and doodles.  The most humorous of course was when they involved Church and Freer hiking the Appalachian Trail together.

"No danger from Rattle Snakes bile if you only take proper precaution."

Rachael: What has the archives come to mean to you now?

Mom: That it wont be enough for me in the future just to go to a gallery and look at the art being exhibited. By learning the history of each art object and how it came be created, collected, and cared for by Freer (and now the Smithsonian) it gives me a much greater or deeper appreciation for what I am viewing.  After reading these documents I felt a need to go back to the Gallery to see the art he wrote about. And on a completely different note: the importance of volunteerism and support of institutions such as this.

Rachael: Any closing thoughts your have for us?

Mom: Now I understand why you are so dedicated to what you do as well as your sincere desire and commitment to ensure that all have access to the wonderful treasures housed in the Archives.  Having the opportunity to go through some of Freer's correspondence, and understanding the history behind the artwork, as well as a deeper understanding of world history at that time, it gave me a much deeper satisfaction to view the art work housed in this wonderful institution.  In a broader sense, having met many of your colleagues, I see the importance of collaboration and of public outreach so that others have the opportunity to see and learn from the wonderful treasures that are available.

Rachael Cristine Woody

Freer|Sackler Archives