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Smithsonian Libraries and Archives / Unbound

‘The whole man at once:’ scientific identities at the Dibner Library – Augustin-Louis Cauchy

Morgan E. Aronson
August 21, 2017
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“George Sarton, a founder of the history of science as an academic discipline, argued that scholars should pay close attention to portraits. These images, he said, can give you ‘the whole man at once.’ With a ‘great portrait,’ Sarton believed, ‘you are given immediately some fundamental knowledge of him, which even the longest descriptions and discussions would fail to evoke.’ Sarton’s ideas led Bern Dibner to purchase portrait prints of men and women of science and technology. Many of these are now in the Smithsonian’s Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology.” – Deborah Jean Warner, Curator, Physical Sciences Collection

A picture may tell 1000 words, but another 500 for context can add depth to the image. Follow this blog series to discover the people behind the portraits available online in the Scientific Identity collection.

 

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The Fix: Repairing “Home Life in Tokyo”’s Original, Protective Portfolio Enclosure

John M. Keeling
August 18, 2017
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Home Life in Tokyo, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Library

A few months ago, a book from the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Library came for treatment to the Book Conservation Lab: Home Life in Tokyo.  Our copy, printed in 1911, is a softback binding, common for Japanese publications, and according to the bibliographic record, it was “issued in a portfolio.”

Cloth covered portfolio enclosure (note the bone clasps)

The book itself was in very good condition, however, after many years of protecting the soft-backed book, the portfolio enclosure had become damaged and was no longer functional. One spine piece of the structure had completely failed at its hinges; the decorative printed cloth and the paper linings had broken.  The spine cloth fortunately was saved and sent along with the item.

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New Dazzling Diversity Exhibition Open Now!

Abigail Espiritu
August 16, 2017
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New Dazzling Diversity Exhibition Open Now!

This post was written by Abigail Espiritu, a summer intern focusing on social media and the Libraries’ blog. This fall, Abigail will be entering her freshmen year at the University of Maryland where she will be majoring in journalism.

On August 8th, 2017, the Smithsonian Libraries opened their newest exhibition in the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), Dazzling Diversity: The Insect World. The exhibition is located on the Ground Floor of the museum, showcasing a selection of the Libraries’ very own books that go along with the “Dazzling Diversity” insect display featured in Objects of Wonder on the second floor of NMNH.

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Support the Warren M. Robbins Library at the National Museum of African Art

Allie Swislocki
August 14, 2017
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Librarian Janet Stanley with a researcher in the Warren M. Robbins Library at the National Museum of African Art.

Every day, librarian Janet Stanley and the staff of the Warren M. Robbins Library at the National Museum of African Art work tirelessly in support of the Smithsonian’s guiding purpose: to foster the increase and diffusion of knowledge. This African Art Library plays an essential role in connecting colleagues, researchers, and artists around the world to engage in promoting the critical work that ensures a future of knowledge and discovery of African art.

Make your gift by September 15th and it will be matched by a special anonymous donor, doubling your impact.

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The ABC’s of the Corcoran Artist Files: the F’s

Alexandra Reigle
August 7, 2017
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The ABC’s of the Corcoran Artist Files: the F’sPhoto of Harriet FeBland wall relief "Quartet" at "Women in Art" exhibition, Brainerd Art Gallery Museum, State University of New York, 1972
Photo of Harriet FeBland wall relief "Quartet" at "Women in Art" exhibition, Brainerd Art Gallery Museum, State University of New York, 1972
Photo of Harriet FeBland wall relief “Quartet” at “Women in Art” exhibition, Brainerd Art Gallery Museum, State University of New York, 1972

In the series called “The ABCs of the Corcoran Artist Files” the American Art and Portrait Gallery (AA/PG) Library will explore artists through the materials from the recent Corcoran Vertical File Collection donation by featuring artists whose surnames begin with that letter. This time we are looking at the artists whose last names that start with F.

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