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Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

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Ascending Pikes Peak in a Locomobile

Over 120 years ago, two men climbed Pikes Peak in a new kind of steam-powered vehicle - the locomobile

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Saving Time in the Garden in the Early 20th Century

Creating a beautiful garden takes time, energy, and patience. This labor and time-saving implement might have caught the attention of gardeners in the early 20th Century

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Meet Author, Suffragist, and Minister Phebe Hanaford

Phebe Ann Coffin Hanaford was a successful author of fourteen books, but she was more than a writer. She was a social reformer who was an outspoken advocate for abolition and women’s suffrage and was also one of the first women ordained by the Universalist church

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Celebrating Success With Award Designs From the Past

If you were lucky enough to win big in 1924, you might have proudly displayed one of these designs on your mantle

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Trotting Out the Best for a 19th-Century Horse Sale

Whether you were in the market for a new trotter or a "gentleman's roadster," this special sale of horses from 1896 had a mount for every equestrian

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Reach for the Stars With Sally Ride This Thursday

Upcoming program will share recently digitized video of the famous astronaut

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Taking Vintage Library Shelving for a Spin

A late 19th century library supply catalog provides a glimpse into how libraries might have dealt with space issues over a century ago

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How Artistic Traditions and Natural Materials Combined to Form the Modern Book

Artistry from the Middle East and raw goods traded through European ports both had a profound influence on the style of the modern bound book

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How To Take a Product Line on the Road in the Early 20th Century

In the early 20th century, selling tonics and tinctures door-to-door meant having well-appointed wagons and cases for your wares

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Through the Loupe With NMAAHC’s Video Archive Technician Emily Nabasny

Media archives "Journeyperson" Emily Nabasny cares for film collections at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Introducing the #FunnList

A new campaign from Smithsonian Institution Archives highlights the contributions of Black women in science at the Smithsonian

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Find Organization Inspiration in Old-Fashioned Filing Systems

If one of your New Year's resolutions was to finally organize that paper pile, take a look at the 19th-century devices used to store and protect important documents

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Meet the Experts Who Care for Smithsonian Film Collections

An upcoming event will introduce audiences to the Smithsonian's Audiovisual Media Preservation Initiative, preview recently digitized collections, and meet the staff who make it happen

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Dashing Through the Snow in Vintage Sleighs

Whether you were headed over the fields of snow with family or prepping deliveries with Rudolph, this early 20th century catalog from Sturtevant-Larrabee Co. had the perfect sleigh for your winter activities

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Cooking Up Oven Innovations in the 1860s

As we prepare to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, we're thankful that appliances have come a long way since these models from 1866

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New Exhibit Uncovers the Raw Materials of Rare Books

Explore the natural elements of centuries-old books with upcoming exhibition and online program

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Expressing Elegance in a Funeral Procession

A vintage trade catalog illustrates horse-drawn hearses from long ago, providing a glimpse at funeral processions of the past

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Introducing the Audiovisual Media Preservation Initiative

A new initiative will support care and access for the Smithsonian's audio, video, and film collections

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Meet the Wildflower Artist Who Was a Smithsonian Champion

New book and upcoming program highlight work of artist and naturalist Mary Vaux Walcott

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New Comic Honors Civil Rights Singer Bernice Johnson Reagon on Her 80th Birthday

An educational comic celebrates the life and work of scholar, singer, and activist

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