Smithsonian Libraries

The Libraries wants YOU!

Don't worry, not all the work is so glamorous!

Hoover Company, Hoover: The Story of a Crusade, 1926, Hoover test of woman vacuuming

There are many behind-the-scenes folks who volunteer to help out our wonderful staff and libraries. So far the total number of volunteers in 2009 is fifty-three!

The Libraries would like to thank all of our wonderful volunteers.—Vicki Avera

Smithsonian American Art/National Portrait Gallery Library
Elliot Bernstein
George Baker
Valerie Florez
Janet Miyazaki
Donelle O’Meara
Kristen Oravec
Michael Washington

Warren M. Robbins Library, National Museum of African Art
Doris Brunot
Monique Craig
Monique Medalia
Miranda Mims
Lillian Pharr
Judith Schaeffer

Cataloging
Sherry Kelley

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum Library (New York, New York)
Roma Korris
Nina Levy
Kay Badalamente
Jeffrey Figley
Anna Shuster
Ruth Hyman
Renata Rutledge
Margery Masinter
Susan Hermanos
Susan Solnay
Marilyn Friedman
Sue Ellen Appleman

Joseph F. Cullman 3rd, Library of Natural History
Ann Stone 
Marlena Larsen

Digital Services
Lex Grant

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Library
Ling Cui
Isabel Dagata
Anna Gleysteen
Yumi Hendershoot
Bounheng, Inversin
Lynne Kaufman
Hsun Lui
Kinu Matsuyama
Anna Novick
Sirikanya Schaeffer
Kanae Whitlock
Alex Williams
Ling Zhang

National Museum of Natural History Library
Maggie Ansell ---volunteer/ intern
Joan Horn
Lesley Parilla ---- volunteer/intern
James L. Smith
Linda Soto

National Museum of American History Library
Betty Spungen.

Vine Deloria, Jr. Library, National Museum of the American Indian (Suitland, Maryland)
William Gheen.

Preservation
Andra Risch
Genevieve Bieniosek

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Library (Republic of Panama)
Diane Hopkins
Abigail Eden
Carmen Sánchez

Just one perfect rose?

“Why is it no one ever sent me yet one perfect limousine, do you suppose? Ah no, it's always just my luck to get one perfect rose.”—Dorothy Parker

Robert John Thornton, New illustration of the sexual system of Carolus von Linnaeus . . . , 1807, Roses

There are many more wonderful images from this publication.—Elizabeth Periale

This year's CBHL conference

The Libraries was well represented at this year’s annual meeting of the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries (CBHL) on May 12-15, 2009, hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. Robin Everly, Botany-Horticulture Librarian and Leslie Overstreet, Curator of Natural History Rare Books, Joseph F. Cullman 3rd, Library of Natural History, attended the conference. The theme was, "Growing Green: the role of gardens as models of conservation and sustainability". Martin Kalfatovic, Assistant Director for Digital Services, presented to a full audience information on Botanicus, Biodiversity Heritage Library, and TROPICOS at the preconference. The presentation was well-received and discussed amongst participants throughout the conference.

At Wednesday's evening literature awards reception held at the Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park, TL-2 or Taxonomic Literature: a selective guide to botanical publications and collections with dates, commentaries, and types, 2nd edition, was given a special recognition award by the organization. This fifteen-volume work is one of the most important resources in taxonomic literature. Through its over 30-year history, it's been written, organized, and produced by botanists, most recently Laurence Dorr and Dan H. Nicolson of the Smithsonian’s Botany Department. At the reception, many librarians recalled fondly working with many of the botanists involved in TL-2.  

Finally, Robin Everly was elected by the CBHL membership to serve on the Board as Second Vice President. It’s a four-year commitment, with the third year serving as the organization's Board President.  

For over 40 years, CBHL has been an independent, innovative group of primarily botanical, horticultural, and natural history librarians. They work in partnership with researchers.  Their skills and training reach across all aspects of librarianship and information management.—Robin Everly

Bald Eagle Day

Today is Bald Eagle Day.—Elizabeth Periale

William L. Bailey, Our own birds; or a familiar natural history of the birds of the United States, 1863, "Bald eagle, Engraving of the national bird."

Mark Catesby, The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants, 1731-43 [1729-48], "The White headed Eagle [Aquila capite albos]."

Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon, Histoire naturelle: générale et particulière (Oiseaux), 1799-1808, "1. Le Petit Aigle. 2. Le Pygargue."

Singer reception

Above: The beauty of Botanica Magnifica was on display during the event

Below: Guests enjoy a rare opportunity to view an Audubon

On June 10, around 70 guests gathered for “Afternoon Tea with Audubon,” an event celebrating the gift of a double-elephant folio facsimile of John J. Audubon’s Birds of America to the Libraries.

This impressive and valuable work, published by Robert E. Abrams of Abbeville Press, and donated by Jonathan Singer, resides in the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History in the National Museum of Natural History. In addition to a private viewing of this rare book, guests of the tea also got an up-close glance at Jonathan Singer’s famed Botanica Magnifica and the original printed folio of Audubon’s Birds of America.

Singer, Smithsonian research scientist and botany curator John Kress, and the Libraries’ own Leslie Overstreet, Daria Wingreen-Mason and Diane Shaw were on-hand to show attendees the three double-elephant folios and answer questions. Libraries Director Nancy E. Gwinn, Associate Director of the Museum of Natural History Hans Sues, and Jonathan Singer spoke at the event.—Liz O'Brien

National Duckling Month

May is National Duckling Month.—Elizabeth Periale

"Plate 91 - The Pied-bill Dopchick," Mark Catesby, The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants, 1731-43 [1729-48]

Cinco de mayo

The Libraries features the Album Mexicano. The portrait in the upper left is famous general Santa Anna.—Elizabeth Periale

Plate 15,

Album mexicano : retratos de los personages ilustres de la primera y segunda epoca de la independencia Mexicana y notabilidadea de la presente, 185?

Happy Cuckoo Day

He was but as the cuckoo is in June,
Heard, not regarded.
—William Shakespeare

"Plate 165: Le Coucou de Mindenao," François-Nicolas Martinet, Ornithologie [Histoire des Oiseaux Peints dans Tous Leurs Aspects Apparents et Sensibles] [Ornithology], 1773-1792

The cuckoo who is on to himself is halfway out of the clock.
—Wilson Mizner

"Black-billed Cuckoo," Howard Jones, Illustrations of the nests and eggs of birds of Ohio, 1879-1886

This is the weather the cuckoo likes
And so do I.
—Thomas Hardy

"Plate 54: Le Coucou," François-Nicolas Martinet, Ornithologie [Histoire des Oiseaux Peints dans Tous Leurs Aspects Apparents et Sensibles] [Ornithology], 1773-1792

—Elizabeth Periale

Arbor Day

Happy Arbor Day from Smithsonian Libraries.

Hieronymus Bock, Kreütterbuch darin unterscheidt Nammen und Würckung der Kreütter [Herbal], 1587.

Charles Wilkes, Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition..., 1845.

Oscar H. Will & Co., Thirty Fourth Annual 1917, 1917.

Botanica Magnifica

As a follow up to our post from last week…you can watch the CBS News Sunday Morning segment on Botanica Magnifica  in an eight minute clip on YouTube. Enjoy!—Liz O'Brien