Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

05/13/2026

Museum libraries have a way of adding a little extra context — and in this case, a very striking one.

A new exhibition case installation near the Warren M. Robbins Library at the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution features Malcolm Payne’s artist’s book "Face Value: Old Heads in Modern Masks", held in the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives collections.

Published in Cape Town by Axeage Private Press in 1993, this limited-edition work examines the Lydenburg heads through visual, archaeological, and historical perspectives, pairing scholarly essays with original hand-printed etchings by Payne.

The installation highlights how museum libraries support exhibitions, research, and interpretation by connecting visitors with the books, artists, histories, and ideas that deepen the museum experience.

A little proof, right outside the library, that sometimes the story continues beyond the gallery walls.

04/29/2026

Did you know that the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art library is considered one of the finest repositories of Asian art resources in the U.S.? And it's open to the public, 5 days a week.

Check out these new additions to the library collections this month and learn more here: https://s.si.edu/41gQHQx

04/21/2026

04/16/2026

We’re celebrating and thanking the librarians across our 21 branches. Their work powers discovery every day — answering questions, supporting research, connecting people with trusted information, and helping make knowledge accessible to all. Their impact is felt across our organization and far beyond it.

04/15/2026

We’re celebrating a big moment at Smithsonian Libraries and Archives and are so glad to share this news. Join us in welcoming Tricia Edwards as we turn the page to a new chapter for SLA.

From the desk of Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III: As the new director of Smithsonian Libraries, Tricia Edwards brings deep institutional knowledge and a lifelong commitment to education and public service. Tricia's breadth of experience across the Smithsonian and her dedicated leadership o...

04/14/2026

DC, this is your last chance!

Join us this Thursday at 6PM for the final City of Knowledge Series #3 program right here in DC at the DC History Center.

Three incredible scholars. One conversation on how knowledge is built, shared, and shaped in this city.

Come curious. Leave smarter.

🔗 Register now: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/d5dpukb

04/13/2026

Did you hear? Next week is !

This image comes from the 1899 volume of "Black & White Illustrated Budget", a British illustrated periodical that documented popular culture, art, literature, and technology at the turn of the twentieth century. It offers a glimpse into the visual language and editorial style of the era—dramatic, theatrical, and just a little extra.

You can explore the entire book online through Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.

04/10/2026

Florals? Yes.
Just… not where you think.

This , we’re taking a cue from "The dining room and its appointments" (1896) and reminding everyone that in the 19th century, florals weren’t just the centerpiece—they were the entire tablescape.

From printed linens and doilies to decorative menu cards and elaborately folded napkins designed to mimic blooms, floral motifs were woven (literally) into every layer of the dining experience.

Because why stop at a bouquet when your entire table can participate?

These details weren’t just aesthetic—they reflected broader domestic design trends of the late 1800s, where coordinated table settings signaled taste, refinement, and attention to social ritual.

So yes, the florals are here… just embroidered, printed, and folded into place.

Be honest—how many of you still have doilies like these at home?

Curious about those napkin folds? The full book—including detailed guidance on table settings and decorative techniques—is available online if you want to dive deeper.

04/03/2026

This , we’re making a trade. With opening weekend for baseball here, it feels like the right moment to switch florals for fields.

From "Spalding's base ball guide, and official league book for 1885", these images offer a late 19th-century view of the game—complete with field diagrams, player imagery, and early statistical records that helped standardize how baseball was played and understood.

Long before modern analytics, these guides shaped the language, structure, and culture of the sport.

No florals, just fields.

Take a look at the 1884 scores—can you find your team? Let us know if they won or lost.

The full guide—including batting averages, additional scores, and more—is available online for you to explore.

03/30/2026

Spring. Winter. A suspicious hint of summer. Repeat.

If you're feeling the meteorological mood swing, you’re not alone—and apparently, neither were early 20th-century illustrators.

These scenes come from "Hans Lustig" (1900) by Karl Mühlmeister. Across its pages, the seasons unfold as a neat, predictable progression—at least on paper. In practice? Lately all four seasons have been delivered before lunch!

What makes "Hans Lustig" especially compelling is how it captures the pedagogical role of seasonal imagery in children’s literature at the turn of the 20th century. These illustrations weren’t just decorative—they reinforced ideas about nature, time, and behavior through repetition and visual storytelling.

If you’d like to explore the full book (and brush up on your German while you’re at it), it’s available online in its entirety.

In the meantime: coat, sunglasses, umbrella. No notes.

03/27/2026

Planning to take cherry blossom photos this weekend? You’re in good company.

These images from our archives—captured in the early 20th century—show that for over a century, people have been drawn to the same views around the Tidal Basin, framing the blossoms against the Washington Monument and surrounding landscape.

What changes isn’t the instinct to document it—it’s how we do it. From early photographs to camera rolls to today’s digital photography, each image becomes part of a larger story about place, season, and memory.

That’s the role of archives: preserving these moments so we can look back, study them, and see both what’s changed—and what hasn’t.

Now it’s your turn: Share your cherry blossom photos and tag us—let’s see how this year compares.