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"An Odyssey in Print:
Adventures in the Smithsonian Libraries"
With Mary Augusta Thomas
Exhibition Curator
Monday, July 8, 2002; Noon EDT
"An Odyssey in Print: Adventures in the Smithsonian Libraries," currently on display in the National Museum of American History, displays over 100 examples of the Libraries' 1.5 million-volume collection. Divided into three parts and shown over a period of 18 months, the new exhibit takes visitors through six centuries of rare books, manuscripts, art, and artifacts.
Smithsonian Institution Libraries exhibition curator Mary Augusta Thomas was online to discuss "An Odyssey in Print," other books in the Libraries' collection and what it takes to mount such a large exhibit.
The transcript follows.
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Mary Augusta Thomas: An Odyssey in Print began with the desire to let the public share a wonderful but hidden treasure The Smithsonian Institution Libraries. The exhibition opened in New York City in the summer of 2001 as Voyages, the Libraries first traveling exhibition. With publication of the catalogue by Smithsonian Press this spring the exhibition has now been retitled Odyssey in Print. Odyssey will be at the National Museum of American History through December 2003. Over the months the libraries will change the books on display to give visitors a better sense of the rich and surprising collections.
Alexandria, Va.:
How does one judge an exhibit of this nature "successful?"
Mary Augusta Thomas: Since the major point of doing Odyssey was to make people aware of Smithsonian Libraries we will be a success if more people come to use the Libraries, either in person or online through our World Wide Web site.
Somewhere, USA:
I loved the bookwheel! Did it really exist in that large size, or was it just an imaginary creation of an artist long ago?
Mary Augusta Thomas: As far as I know the wheel was never built, but most readers do know the image. The Smithsonian Office of Exhibit Central Model Shop took the challenge of turning a 1588 illustration into a three dimensional wheel. While this one doesn't turn, they have decided that it could have worked but it would have been very heavy. I am glad you like it. I wanted something fun at the opening of the exhibition.
Washington, D.C.:
Congratulations on the fine exhibit! It must have been a challenge to select these books from so many possible choices.
Does the library plan to digitize any of these works and put them on their Web site? What is the library's general plan or schedule for digitizing rare books? How about the Smithsonian's own research publications?
I am surprised that the "Smithsonian Contributions to..." are not more readily available online, or the older publication series.
Mary Augusta Thomas: Selecting the books was really a challenge. Many of our librarians participated by suggesting the books that best represented their libraries. Smithsonian Libraries comprises 20 branch libraries in different subjects. The exhibition is not comprehensive but instead suggests the breadth of the collections through some of the more unusual books. Odyssey is divided into three sections, each representing a type of journey. Many of the books could have been in any of the sections so the decisions on which book to place where came down to what was the best way to represent the scope of the libraries.
Smithsonian Libraries has already begun to digitize and make available electronic editions of its rare books. Several of the books in Odyssey can be found on the Libraries' Web site at www.sil.si.edu
As time and money permit we will continue to produce electronic editions since its one of the best ways to make rare materials available to a wider audience.
The Libraries and the Smithsonian are also producing electronic editions of more modern research.
Washington DC:
Can you give examples of the books and manuscripts you've included in the exhibit and why you chose them?
Mary Augusta Thomas: Certainly. In the first section called Journeys Over Land and Sea we have displayed accounts by early travelers starting with some of the earliest maps and the first panoramic view - an engraving done in 1486 of the Holy Land in a book called Peregrinatio in Terram Sanctum by Bernhard von Breydenbach. We have also included William Gilbert On the Magnet (1600) to show how navigators were freed to cross oceans and discover new lands. This section also includes works by Jules Verne, Charles Lindbergh and children's pop-up books of space adventures.
In the second section which is called Journeys or the Mind we feature the great books of scientific discovery from Galileo and Newton to Darwin and Robert Goddard. Many of the books on display contain the handwritten notes of later owners showing how scientific ideas evolved. The books in the Smithsonian Libraries are used daily, even the older ones, by staff in their research.
The third section of the exhibition Journeys of the Imagination looks at the creative solutions writers and artists have found for showing art on the printed page. Durer in 1525 wrote about the importance of understanding perspective for any artist. That book is currently on display. We also have wonderful illustrated books on architecture, furniture, photography and garden design. In the third section we have also given you a taste of our large Trade Literature collection which contains over 300,000 pieces of commercial catalogues in all areas from rubber shoes to Sears homes and steel pen nibs.
To see all of these books you will have to come back several times over the next 18 months. Check the Web site for a complete listing.
Washington, D.C.:
How long did it take to put together this exhibit, and was it difficult to get the various Smithsonian libraries to cooperate?
Mary Augusta Thomas: In 1997 The Smithsonian Libraries Director Nancy E. Gwinn proposed doing an exhibition that highlighted our own collections. Library staff have been working on that exhibition ever since. All of the Libraries at the Smithsonian have been willing participants in the exhibition and contributed books to the exhibition and information for the catalogue.
Washington, D.C.:
Can anyone use the libraries? And what is your Web site address? washingtonpost.com:
Odyssey in Print Web site
Mary Augusta Thomas: Yes, the Libraries are open to anyone but we do request that you call ahead for an appointment since many of our locations are behind the scenes. You may also use the Libraries through our Web site at www.sil.si.edu .
Arlington, Va.:
Is there a working relationship or joint operation between The Smithsonian Libraries and The Library of Congress? How does your mission differ from that of the Library of Congress? Thank you.
Mary Augusta Thomas: The Smithsonian Libraries and the Library of Congress have a very long working relationship. You can find more detail in the essay in An Odyssey in Print called A voyage through the Smithsonian Libraries. In short the Smithsonian Libraries dates to the founding of the Institution which, had Congressional action been different, might have been a national library. Instead when a disastrous fire in 1865 damaged the Smithsonian Castle the first Secretary of the Smithsonian, Joseph Henry, sent almost the entire library to the Library of Congress which served as the Smithsonian's Library. Smithsonian staff received special privileges at the Library of Congress - an arrangement that lasted into the 1950s. Almost as soon as the books were sent to the Hill curators began buying new books to support their research, keeping those working collections at the Smithsonian. By 1968 there were so many libraries and so many collections that Secretary Dillon Ripley created the centralized Smithsonian Institution Libraries.
There are areas of overlap of course in the collections. This Smithsonian Institution Libraries support all of the research, exhibitions and education programs at the Institution so our collections are much more narrowly defined than those of the Library of Congress.
Richmond, Va.:
Have you thought of touring the show, or at least a portion of it? My university library could use a nice exhibit, and I'm sure it would be quite popular.
Mary Augusta Thomas: The exhibition was in New York City last summer for three months but at the present there are no plans for another traveling version. The Libraries would like to do more traveling exhibitions so please contact us if you have ideas for another exhibition.
Oakland , Mich.:
Has there been published material concerning this exhibit? If so where can it be purchased?
Mary Augusta Thomas: A book called An Odyssey in Print: Adventures in the Smithsonian Libraries is available from the Smithsonian Institution Press. There is an online version of the exhibition which you can find above.
Wheaton, Md.:
Recently there has been some discussion about private donors having influence on the decisions curators in museums and libraries make. Are there any private sponsors for this exhibit and do they have any input on the selections for display? I realize that private funds are necessary and beneficial in these endeavors, but am concerned that money may inappropriately influence collection policy and materials available for scholarly research.
I haven't seen the exhibit yet, but certainly will. Thanks for your comments.
Mary Augusta Thomas: Exhibitions would not be possible without the generous support of private donors. None of the donors to Odyssey in Print asked to have any input in the selection process.
Greenwood, S.C.:
Ms. Thomas I was delighted when I saw you were available for questions. My question: How would I find and verify the name of a certain person I think was employed at the Philadelphia Mint during the year 1800-1804? Does this type of record still exist?
Thank you
Mary Augusta Thomas: My suggestion would be to try the National Archives who may have records who were employed by the federal government in the 19th century.
Mary Augusta Thomas: I have really enjoyed the opportunity to answer questions about An Odyssey in Print and the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Please visit the exhibition in the National Museum of American History. Take a look at the book An Odyssey in Print which includes a great essay on reading by Michael Dirda of the Washington Post, an introduction to how scientists at the Smithsonian do their work by Storrs Olson and a forward by Nancy E. Gwinn, The Libraries' Director. And visit our Web site www.sil.si.edu
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