Reports of the Museums and Research Institutes 



Office of the Provost 

 /. Dennis O'Connor, Provost 



The Provost serves as the Smithsonian's chief programs offi- 

 cer, providing leadership and integrated oversight for all of 

 the Institution's program activities carried out in the muse- 

 ums, research institutes, and education and scholarly service 

 units. The Provost reviews and evaluates the management of 

 programs in research, exhibitions, and education outreach in 

 the sciences, arts, and humanities; provides operational facil- 

 itation to the program units; maintains close working 

 relationships with directors and their boards and commis- 

 sions; and assists the units in undettaking collaborative 

 initiatives. 



The Accessibility Program collaborates with all Smithson- 

 ian organizations to ensure that current and planned 

 programs, exhibitions, and facilities are fully accessible to 

 staff and visitors with disabilities. The Scientific Diving Pro- 

 gram oversees all diving activities conducted under the 

 auspices of the Institution, including establishing safety 

 standards and providing training and certification. 



The Institutional Studies Office produces analyses of in- 

 ternal Smithsonian data, and conducts studies of visitors, 

 exhibitions, and activities for administrators, curators, and 

 program staff. Important secondary products are long-term 

 databases and an increasing body of scientific knowledge 

 about Smithsonian visitors and their experiences. 



The Provost is responsible for managing the new Affilia- 

 tions Program, which enables qualified museums across the 

 country to receive long-term loans of Smithsonian collec- 

 tions. He oversees the Institute for Conservation Biology 

 which was established to improve coordination among the 

 Institution's existing conservation biology programs, en- 

 hance their effectiveness, and increase efforts to obtain 

 private and government funding for related research. The 



Office is also responsible for coordinating and facilitating 

 Latino and Asian Pacific American initiatives. 



Anacostia Museum and Center for 

 African American History and Culture 



Steven Cameron Newsome, Director 



It was the Year of Spirituality for the Anacostia Museum 

 and Center for African American History and Culture. To 

 explore the rich African American tradition of worship, 

 praise, and keeping faith at the center of life and commu- 

 nity, in-house historians and curators created exhibitions, 

 workshops, lectures, and a series of music, dance, and 

 theater performances. 



Building on the momentum created by the exhibition 

 "Speak to My Heart: Communities of Faith and Contempo- 

 rary African American Life," the museum produced and 

 released its first compact disc recording, Praise the Lord! 

 Gospel Musk in Washington, D.C. Project coordinators se- 

 lected eight vocal ensembles and 1 5 songs to display the 

 creative and spiritual continuity that runs from traditional 

 hymns through the rousing rhythm and blues now standard 

 in contemporary gospel. Billboard magazine called the 

 Smithsonian Folkways release "indispensable to aficionados 

 and a perfect starting place for anyone just discovering the 

 rich heritage of gospel music." 



With the exhibition "Locating the Spirit: Religion and 

 Spirituality in African American Art," the museum showed 

 how art gives a clear voice to complex and personal expres- 

 sions of faith. Curator Deborah Willis assembled some 1 15 

 paintings, photographs, sculptures, and textile pieces to 

 spotlight the impact of more than 70 African American 

 artists, including Henry Ossawa Tanner, William H. John- 



