Collections and Research Aids

All Archives Center collections are described in brief on SIRIS (Smithsonian Institution Research Information System), an on-line catalog shared by Smithsonian archival units, Smithsonian Institution Libraries, and some specialized research projects. This catalog is a powerful tool which permits searches by name, subject, and keyword.

A written finding aid is available for most collections in the Archives Center. These finding aids usually consist of several parts: a biography of an individual (personal papers) or a history (organization or corporate records); a scope and content note describing the content of the collection; and a container list that details the contents of a collection by box and folder. Published finding aids and brochures are available in limited quantities for select collections.

Selected finding aids are available on-line. Click on one of the headings to the left to see a list of finding aids in that topical area. Finding aids are only listed in one topical area, although many collections have information that crosses categories.  Click here to reach the search engine for all the Museum's web pages.  This search will locate keywords within Archives Center finding aids as well as in other Museum web pages.

TOP