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Smithsonian Institute: Evolution of the Library System

By bgourley46

  • James Smithson Dies

    James Smithson dies in Genoa, Italy. His will is found among his personal possessions and is put into motion. Ewing, Heather. The Lost World of James Smithson. Bloomsbury, New York: 2007. Print. (pp.311-312)

  • Andrew Jackson Recives Notice

    President Andrew Jackson receives official notification of Smithson's bequest. He initially refuses the bequest as "he is not sure he held the authority to accept such a bequest. Jackson turned the matter over to Congress to determine if the bequest could be received."
    Ewing, Heather. “The Lost World of James Smithson”. New York: Bloomsbury, 2007. Print.(pp.317)

  • British Parliment Releases Smithsion's Funds to U.S.

    Parliament decrees the final provisions of Smithson’s will. All heirs have been paid by Parliament decree. 508,318.46 £ are released to the U.S. consulate under armed escort. It arrives in the U.S, and deposited in the U.S. mint in Philadelphia in September, 1838. Ewing, Heather. “The Lost World of James Smithson”. New York: Bloomsbury, 2007. Print. (pp.324)

  • The Ten Year Debate(1838-1846)

    President Martin Van Buren notified Congress that the Smithson funds had arrived in America and had been invested in state stocks. He urged Congress to formulate a plan on how to manifest the Smithson's bequest. It took 3 Presidents, 458 Congressional discussions & 2 bills to make the Smithsonian a reality. source: Burleigh, Nina. The Stranger & The Stateman. HarperCollins Publisher. NewYork: Print (pp. 238)

  • Tappan's Bill (1844-1845)

    Senator Benjamin Tappan proposes the first bill to outlining the components of the institute. It would include, “a natural history museum, mineralogical cabinet, lecture hall, chemical laboratory, a ten-acre agricultural station and a grand and noble public library." the bill was ratified by the Senate January 21, 1845. The bill advances to the house where it flounders.
    Ewing, Heather. “The Lost World of James Smithson”. New York: Bloomsbury, 2007. Print. (pp.328-329)

  • Representative Robert Dale Owens Revises the Tappan bill

    Owens, revises and submits the Tappan Bill under a new name: Smithsonian Legacy bill. With support from Adams and fellow party members. An amendment is made to appropiate funds for a national library. On Apr.30,1846, the house sends word to Senate that they passsed a bill enaction the Smithsonian. This bill goes to the Senate for 6 months. Ewing, Heather. The Lost World of James Smithson Bloomsbury. NewYork: 2007 Print (pp.328-329)

  • Congress Appoints Boardof Regents to Oversee Smithsonian

    The Board of Regents includes: The Vice President, the Chief Justice,the Mayor of Washington DC, three Senators, three Congressman, two members of the National Institute and a hand full of private citizens.
    The board's first action is to hire Joseph Henry as the Secretary of the Institute and Charles Coffin Jewette as the Institute Librarian.
    Ewing, Heather. “The Lost World of James Smithson”. New York: Bloomsbury, 2007. Print. (pp.330)

  • Smithsonian opens it's doors to the public

    .The lower main hall is open to the public. by 1858 the entire structure is completed and open to the public. The National Museum begins to transfer of artifacts and sceintific notes to the Smithsonian.
    Field,Stamm,&Ewing. The Castle: An illustrated history of the Smithsonian building. Smithsonian Institution Press Washingtion: Prints (pp. x)

  • Fire in the Smithsonian

    James Smithson's personal effects and scientific notes were destroyed. Most of the library's holdings were destroyed or serverely damanged.
    Henry made provisions for the remainder of the library's holdings to be stored at the Library of Congress. These holdings would be know as the Smithsonian Deposit.
    source:www.sil.si.edu & Field,Stamm,&Ewing. The Castle: An illustrated history of the Smithsonian building. Smithsonian Institution Press Washingtion: Print (pp.xi)

  • Joseph Henry Died

    Joseph Henry dies.
    The board of Regents appoints Spencer Fullerton Baird as Secretary. Baird serves 9 yrs at the helm. His focus on cataloging artifacts and documents. Arranges for a checkout system and puts moritorium on information exchange program. Source: Field,Stamm,&Ewing. The Castle: An illustrated history of the Smithsonian building. Smithsonian Institution Press Washingtion: Print (pp.x)

  • Spencer Fullerton Baird

    As secretary, he believed the research information should stay with the facility. He insisted on creating libraries for each research facility/museum. Creates a cataloge system to help track the flow of collection pieces borrowed and returned to the SI deposit held at the Library of Congress.
    Source: www.sil.si.edu & Field,Stamm,&Ewing. The Castle: An illustrated history of the Smithsonian building. Smithsonian Institution Press Washingtion: Print (pp. x)

  • James Smithson comes to America

    The remains of James Smithson were moved from Genoa, Italy to Washinton DC. Smithson's remains were brought to America by Alexander Graham Bell by Presidential proclamation.Smithson's remains were laid to rest at the North gate of the Smithsonian Institute March 6, 1905. source: Burleigh, Nina. The Stranger & The Stateman. HarperCollins Publisher. NewYork: Print (pp13)

  • Secretary Alexander Wetmore (1945-1952)

    As secretary,Wetmore focused on managing the collections, library holdings & exhibs of the Institute.
    source: Field,Stamm,&Ewing. The Castle: An illustrated history of the Smithsonian building. Smithsonian Institution Press Washingtion: Print (pp.xiii)

  • Secretary S.Dillon Ripley (1968-1972)

    Hires Fussell Shank as the first director of SI Libraries to renibate and unite the totla SI Library collections into one catalog. Shank reorganizes staff, consolidates holdings, automates operations/collections, switches from dewey to LC classifications.
    discovers est. 600,000 in holding uncataloged and decaying.
    source:www.sil.si.edu

  • Robert Mallory director of SI Libraries (1979-1987)

    By 1999 97% of all SI library holdings were available on the internet. SIRIS is born.
    2002 "Odessey in Print: Adventures in the Smithsonian Library" is the first exhibit to showcase SI Library's extensive rare book collection.
    source: www.sil.si.edu

  • SILibraries Director Barbra Smith (1989-1997)

    First Director to seek outside sources for funding. Focus on securing SIL's financial independence that enable SIL to plan and impliment 5 year goals. source:www.sil.si.edu

  • SI Library Director, Nancy Goodwin(1994-current)

    Nancy expanded SIL's outreach through the advancements in digital technologies.
    With the SIL Board, Nancy outlined and implemented a 5 year Service Excellence plan. The plan was a new philosophy directing service excellence towards all patrons across the globe including digital users.
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    Source: www.sil.si.edu