Smithsonian Libraries

Polaroid Land Camera Introduced in February 1947

Edwin H. Land introduced the Polaroid instant camera on February 21, 1947.

The Libraries has a great and varied assortment of polaroid trade catalogs in its trade literature collection.

Being part of the Smithsonian definitely has it perks. As librarians of the National Museum of American History Library were helping me put together this post it occured to them to also contact the Photographic History Collection of the National Museum of American History. That department's wonderful staff photographed Edwin Land's 95A—with his initials—the first one off the assembly line. Working here, one is never sure what Smithsonian treasures may cross one's path in a day's work.—Elizabeth Periale

Thanks to Alexia MacClain, Chris Cottrill and Lu Rossignol (who photographed the catalogs) of the National Museum of American History Library .

Thanks to Shannon Perich, Ryan Lintelman and Hugh Talman (who photographed the cameras) of the National Museum of American History Photographic History Collection.

Note: The camera, when closed, has Edwin H. Land's initials on the case.

Related links:

Polaroid Archives Provide A Snapshot of History

Polar Bear Day

Polar bears (family name Ursus maritimus) are the largest land carnivore in the world today. Males typically reach an adult weight of between 880 lbs to over 1300 lbs; females are smaller, ranging between 440 to 770 lbs. Their habitat is the southern edge of the Arctic ice cap, mostly on coastal land or nearby annual ice where they dine on their preferred meal: seal. But they are known to also eat whale and walrus carcasses, other smaller land mammals, and some vegetation. The National Zoological Park (NZP) acquired its first polar bears in 1892, shortly after its establishment.

Interestingly, there have been a few instances at the NZP of interbreeding between polar bears and Alaskan Kodiak bears, producing hybrid cubs. This began in 1931 as a ‘love story’ between Snowy, a male polar bear, and Ramona, a female Kodiak bear. When Snowy arrived he was placed in a cage with a female polar bear and Ramona. Apparently the sparks flew between Snowy and Ramona, and in 1935 the first set of hybrid cubs was born. Sadly, the cubs did not survive, but they made zoological history. The following year four cubs were born to Snowy and Ramona; three survived into adulthood. In 1949 NZP recorded another first in zoological history: a hybrid bear was born to hybrid bear parents! Hybrid bears, like mules, were not supposed to reproduce. Second generation hybrids were also born in 1956 and 1959. The cubs born in 1959, named Elmer and Juliet Jones, were the last viable cubs born to hybrid bears.—Polly Lasker

Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber, Die Saugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen

Jody Mussoff—Graphic Master

Certainly, Mussoff’s strong design sense, punchy draftsmanship and gritty, rebellious social attitude make her one of the more interesting representational artists to come down the pike in recent years.”—Joe Shannon, Art in America

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is showing a work by the Libraries' very own Jody Mussoff. Lemur (colored pencil on paper), is part of the exhibition Graphic Masters III. Come visit the exhibition!

Jody received her art training at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA and at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC. Besides the American Art Museum, her work is part of the collections of several other museums in the U.S. and abroad, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Kunsthalle Nuremberg, Princeton University Art Museum, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts. Jody's work has also been exhibited at various art galleries around town and reviewed in major publications.

That Jody loves books is evident not only from the fact that she has worked in libraries for 33 years (first at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Library and now in Catalog Management), but also from some of her art. Shown here are two of her lovely book-themed pieces.

Congratulations, Jody!

SNOW - Friend of the Enemy

Now that it’s melting we can all laugh . . . Right? Right?

—Elizabeth Periale