Report of the 

 Under Secretary 



Constance Berry Newman 



One of the best ways to understand the essence of the 

 Smithsonian Institution is to look around not just at the 

 intriguing objects on exhibit or at the rapt faces of visiting 

 youngsters, but at the people who work here. Inside each 

 building, security personnel welcome staff and visitors while 

 keeping trained eyes out for their safety and the safety of the 

 collections. At museum information desks, volunteers field 

 questions, give directions, and suggest places to visit. 

 Computer specialists make sure the Institution's information 

 systems are humming, electricians maintain the systems that 

 illuminate the nation's treasures, and painters prepare gallery 

 walls to display magnificent works of art. The Smithsonian's 

 success is all about the people. Curators, scientists, educators, 

 collections managers, and conservators make visible, 

 indisputable contributions to what we do. Yet, we may take 

 for granted the equally valuable contributions of many other 

 employees, often working behind the scenes. Knowledge is 

 "increased and diffused" thanks to every one of them, 

 whatever their job descriptions might be. 



We began this year with a challenging act to follow: the 

 Smithsonian's 150th anniversary celebration in fiscal year 

 1996. We sustained the anniversary spirit throughout the 

 Institution, in team efforts to engage the American people in 

 their Smithsonian. The Institution's service, financial, and 

 administrative organizations were critical to those efforts, as 

 they continued to provide a strong foundation for education 

 and outreach. 



A Continuing Celebration 



The 150th anniversary traveling exhibition "America's 

 Smithsonian" was in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the beginning of 

 the fiscal year and then traveled to Houston, Texas; Portland, 



Oregon; Birmingham, Alabama; and San Jose, California. 

 More than 3 million visitors have had the opportunity to see 

 highlights of the nation's collections since the exhibition 

 opened in February 1996. "Voices of Discovery," administered 

 by The Smithsonian Associates, again brought Smithsonian 

 scholars to the exhibition venues for nearly 400 free programs 

 at museums, schools, libraries, senior centers, and other sites. 

 An advertising, marketing, and publicity campaign in each 

 city, designed and implemented by the Office of Public 

 Affairs (OPA), raised public awareness of the exhibition. 

 OPA's work on "America's Smithsonian" and othet 

 anniversary projects earned the Silver Anvil Award of 

 Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America. In 

 the spring, the Smithsonian contracted with Rathe 

 Production, Inc., and PGI, Inc., to manage transportation, 

 installation and deinstallation, special events, and public 

 relations for the exhibition in future locations. 



Welcoming a Diverse Audience 



We should never assume that people know what the 

 Smithsonian has to offet. We need to communicate actively 

 with those who visit and those who do not, with loyal 

 audiences and with others who are new to the Institution. We 

 must also recognize that some groups have not been well 

 represented in our collections, exhibitions, and programs. We 

 are taking steps to broaden the coverage, and we are being 

 more aggressive in our effort to teach out to a wider audience. 



Outreach to the Latino community was an emphasis this 

 year. OPA's ongoing projects reached Latino audiences in the 

 Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and across the nation. 

 The office represented the Smithsonian at local and national 

 Hispanic events such as the annual U.S. Hispanic Chamber of 



