Smithsonian Institution Libraries Exhibition Gallery

Chasing Venus: Observing the Transits of Venus, 1631-2004
March 24, 2004 - September 5, 2005
Curator: Ronald Brashear, Head of Special Collections
and Curator of Science and Technology Rare Books, Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Online Version Available

An Odyssey in Print: Adventures in the Smithsonian Libraries
May 16, 2002 - January 2004
Curator: Mary Augusta Thomas, Assistant Director, Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Online Version Available

Underwater Web: Cabling the Seas
March 22, 2001 - March 23, 2002
Guest Curator: Bernard S. Finn, National Museum of American History
Online Version Available || Press Release Available

"Make the Dirt Fly!" Building the Panama Canal
November 1999 - January 5, 2001
Guest Curators, William Worthington and Jeffrey K. Stine
(National Museum of American History)
Online Version Available

Frontier Photographer: Edward S. Curtis
September 23, 1998 - September 27, 1999
Curated by William E. Baxter (Libraries)
Online Version Available

Audubon & the Smithsonian
May 1997 - July 1998
Guest Curator, Helena Wright (national Museum of American History)
Online Brochure Available

From Smithson to Smithsonian: The Birth of an Institution
June 1996 - January 1997
Guest Curators, Pamela M. Henson, with Cynthia R. Field, Marc Rothenberg, Richard E. Stamm, and Lynn M. Wojcik (Smithsonian Institution Archives and Architectural History and Historic Preservation)
Online Version Available

Science and the Artist's Book
May 1995 - May 1996
Guest Curator, Carol Barton (Book Artist) with Diane Shaw (Libraries)
Online Version Available

Balloons: The Birth of Flight, 1783-1793
September 1994 - April 1995
Guest Curators, Tom Crouch and Alex Spencer (National Air and Space Museum)

Tunnels!
September 1993 - March 1994
Curators, Ellen B. Wells (Libraries) with Guest Curators Jeffrey Stine and Paul Forman (National Museum of American History)

Science in the Age of Columbus
October 1992 - March 1993
Curator, Ellen B. Wells (Libraries)

World's Fairs
February - September 1992
Guest Curator, Robert W. Rydell (Montana State University)

Nusantara: Lands and Peoples of Indonesia
April - December 1991
Guest Curator, Paul M. Taylor (National Museum of Natural History, Anthropology Department)

Turning Over Old Leaves: A Sampler of Written Records in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries
November 1990 - March 1991
Curator, Ellen B. Wells (Libraries)

Smithsonian Libraries on Display

Celebrity Caricature
May 8, 2003 - October 2003
Library Hall, National Museum of Natural History
This exhibiton is available to the public exclusively online, click here to visit the exhibition

Smithsonian Institution Libraries Hall

Nile Notes of a Howadji: American Travellers in Egypt, 1837-1903
March - September 1997
Curated by Martin R. Kalfatovic, Info. Access Coord. With books from 5 branches. Handout curator's notes and checklist.

From Easel to Book: Picturing Natural History
(Coordinated with SI 150th observances and anniversary of Guild of Natural Science Illustrators)
July 1, 1996 - January 1997
Curated by Martha Rosen, with assistance from Pamela Henson, OSIA, Elaine Hodges, NMNH, Mayda Riopedre,
Anthro. Branch, and Marilyn Schott, NMNH. Handout of related exhibitions, &c.

Conquistadores del Cielo (Conquerors of the Sky): Latin American Aeronautical Materials in the NASM Branch
Dec. 15, 1995 - June 1, 1996
Curated by Maria Sanjur, NASM Branch, with assistance
from Dan Hagedorn, NASM

Books in the Mode: Nineteenth-century Publishers' Bookbindings
July 27 - Dec. 10, 1995
Curated by Claire Dekle, BCL, Pres. Serv.

Into the Blue: Ballooning Materials in the NASM Branch Library
October 1994-July 11, 1995
(Coordinated with SIL exhibition Balloons: The Birth of Flight, 1783-1793 in SIL Exhibition Gallery)
Curated by Paul McCutcheon, Dave Spencer, and interns, NASM Branch. Handout, "Balloons: A Selected Bibliography"

Moon Festival. SIL Celebrates Asian-Pacific-American Heritage
(Coordinated with SI observance of Asia-Pacific-American Month in September)
May-October 1994
Curated by Sally Chuah, Resident Professional, with books from 5 branches

SIL Ripley Library Endowment
(Coordinated with establishment of S. Dillon Ripley Library Endowment, 25th anniversary of SIL founding by Ripley, and Ripley's 80th birthday)
October 1993-January 1994
Curated by Leslie Overstreet, Spec. Collections

From Mud to MARC: Charles Coffin Jewett, the Smithsonian, and the National Library: "To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the SIL, as established by Secretary Ripley, the SIL looks back to the Institution's first librarian."
April -September 1994
Curated by Bridget Burke, NMAH Branch, Tom Baker, Cataloging Serv., Leslie Overstreet, Spec. Coll.

Cristobal, Christoforo, Christopher, Images from NMAH Branch
(Coordinated with Quincentenniel Anniversary)
August 1992 - January 1993
Curated by Margaret D'Ambrosio, OCI, and Jim Roan, NMAH Branch

Facsimiles of Mexican Manuscripts in the Anthropology [Branch] Library
(Coordinated with Quincentenniel Anniversary)
May - July 1992
Curated by Mary Kay Davies and Mayda Riopedre, Anthro. Branch

Recent Gifts to the Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Gifts and Exchange
November 1991-April 1992
Curated by Ned Kraft, Acq. Serv. Handout, SIL Gift Information for Donors brochure

A Growing Collection: Horticulture Branch
April - September 1991
Curated by Susan Gurney and Marca Woodhams, Horticulture Branch. Handouts, Bibliographies and Hort. Branch description

Magical Pages: Toy and Movable Books from the Cooper-Hewitt Branch Library
September 1990 - January 1991
(Coordinated with Collegium Lecture (World of the Child)
by Carol Barton on "Playful Readings: A History of Children's Movable Books" 9/13/90)
Curated by Jaqueline Coleburn, OCI, and Nancy Seeger, CRLS. Handout, reading list

Library Preservation: Problems and Solutions
December 1989-June, 1990
Curated by Vanessa Piala, Preserv. Services. Handout on preservation areas of interest, and list of 7 wall images from branch library collections

Smithsonian Institution Libraries Exhibitions in New York City

Voyages: A Smithsonian Libraries Exhibition
May 16, 2001 - August 4, 2001
The Grolier Club, New York City
Curator: Mary Augusta Thomas, Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Online Version Available || Press Release Available

National Museum of Natural History, Constitution Ave. Lobby

Wonder Bound: Rare Books on Early Museums
May 24, 2002 through October 31, 2002
Curator: Leslie K. Overstreet, Curator of Natural History Rare Books, SI Libraries
Online Version Available