Smithsonian Libraries

In case you missed it...

L-R: Dr. William Noel, Anne Van Camp (Director, Smithsonian Institution Archives), Nancy Gwinn (Director, Smithsonian Institution Libraries), and Marcia Adams (Assistant Director for Technical Services, Smithsonian Institution Libraries)

Dr. Noel Archived!

If you missed Dr. William Noel’s June 29 lecture, “Deciphering the Archimedes Palimpsest and Creating Digital Manuscripts,” please tune in on our archived webcast! Libraries Director Nancy Gwinn introduces Noel’s lecture, which is the first segment of the Libraries’ 2009 series of speakers to address the Smithsonian Institution on the future of libraries, museums and archives in a digital world.

The lecture was attended by over 70 people, so thanks to all of you who came out to the event!

William Noel, Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books at The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, lectured on the conservation, imaging and scholarship of the Archimedes Palimpsest, a privately owned codex that has been revealed to contain unique texts not only of Archimedes of Syracuse, but also of Hyperides, an Athenian orator from the fourth century BC, and of Alexander of Aphrodisias on Aristotle’s categories. Dr. Noel discussed the history of the book and the history of the project, its digital presentation on the web, and other manuscript imaging projects currently underway at the Walters Art Museum.

Other Libraries webcasts in this series, and on diverse topics, are also available.—Liz O'Brien

Happy Holidays!

Happy holidays in 2008!

All through 2008, the Smithsonian Libraries has been celebrating the 40th (Ruby) anniversary of the year (1968) that Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley created the Smithsonian Institution Libraries as a separate unit with a central administration and Director. We had a party for our Smithsonian friends and colleagues in April, and Acting Secretary Cristián Samper gave us $40,000 for acquisitions, a dollar for every year.  We held a symposium about 18th century naturalist Mark Catesby with the Washington premier of the film “The Curious Mr. Catesby,” which you may see on your local PBS station in the coming year. 

With Smithsonian colleagues, we sponsored a speaker series that brought thinkers and experts from outside the Institution to talk about their views of the future of libraries, archives, and museums. We engaged a consultant to lead us through a strategic planning process that will start us off well for our next 40 years! 

On October 30, we hosted our Ruby Anniversary Gala, “Paint the Town REaD!” to raise funds to support our art libraries.  And we opened two exhibitions: Picturing Words:The Power of Book Illustration in the just re-opened National Museum of American History, and The Art of African Exploration in the National Museum of Natural History. Whew!

It has been a busy time, but now we will all stop and reflect on the needs of others and the joys of the holiday season.  We wish everyone well for the coming year.

Nancy Gwinn

Alexia MacClain Wins Gala Tickets

I am happy to announce that Alexia MacClain, SIL staff member at the National Museum of American History, was the winner of the trivia contest held at the Libraries' 40th anniversary celebration in April at the Smithsonian Castle.  Her name was drawn from among all those who had answered the questions correctly.  She won two free tickets to the SIL "Paint the Town REaD!" ruby gala, to be held on October 30 at the Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard in the Donald W. Reynolds Center.  Congratulations, Alexia!                        -- Nancy Gwinn

Mark Catesby's America

David Elliott, Nancy Gwinn, Leslie Overstreet,
and Cynthia Neal
2008-06-09-dscn4174
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

Smithsonian Libraries presented "Mark Catesby's America: Symposium and Panel Discussion" on June 9, 2008.

The symposium featured Dr. Storrs Olson (National Museum of Natural History), D. Therese O'Malley (National Gallery of Art), and Leslie Overstreet (Curator of Natural History Rare Books, Smithsonian Institution Libraries).

Dr. Alan Feduccia, professor of Biology and Department Chair at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, presented the keynote address, "Mark Catesby and his Natural History of Carolina ... : an Introduction and perspective."

The event, held at the Freer Gallery of Art, was attended by over 150 guests.

Following the symposium, the audience was treated to the Washington premier of The Curious Mr. Catesby. The documentary film, introduced by producers David J. Elliott and Cynthia Neal. The film, an excellent overview to the life and work of Catesby, features Leslie Overstreet and the Cullman Library.

A reception followed at the Freer Gallery of Art.

View images from the Smithsonian Libraries' copy of Catesby's Natural History.