enhance development of web sites operated by individual mu- 

 seums and offices throughout the Institution. 



In collaboration with the Filmmakers Collaborative of Bos- 

 ton and KajimaVision Productions of Toyko, the Office began 

 developing a four-part television series exploring music along 

 the Mississippi River. Called River of Song, this project will 

 travel through the heartland of America focusing on the musi- 

 cians, storytellers, and writers who share the unique culture of 

 their communities along the Mississippi. Other components 

 of the project include a radio series produced by Radio 

 Smithsonian and a book/CD package to be developed with SI 

 Press. 



Office of the Senior Information Officer 



Arthur Denny. Director 



The Office of the Senior Information Officer was established 

 this year to develop Smithsonian information technology pol- 

 icy and coordinate strategic management. It incorporates the 

 Office of Information Technology (formerly the Office of In- 

 formation Resource Management). In this year of restructur- 

 ing, the office began evaluating functional and organizational 

 models and established a strategic planning advisory group. 

 The office was also at the forefront of the Smithsonian's elec- 

 tronic transformation. 



In April, the office cohosted the "21st-century Classroom" 

 demonstration project, which showcased an array of educa- 

 tional technology for the kindergarten through izth-grade au- 

 dience. 



In May, the office launched the Smithsonian's home page 

 on the World Wide Web (http://www.si.edu). The home page 

 supplements the office's other online initiatives with extensive 

 general information, colorful exhibitions, and research mate- 

 rial. It attracted favorable notice in the general and trade press 

 and remains one of the most popular World Wide Web sites. 



The Smithsonian Associates 



Mara Mayor, Director 



During 1995, The Smithsonian Associates (TSA) reached out 

 to Smithsonian members and to the general public with an en- 

 ticing array of educational and cultural programs that were 

 carefully designed to highlight and complement the work of 

 the Institution. The Resident Associate and Young Benefac- 

 tors programs offered a wide array of events for those in the 

 greater Washington, D.C., area. Opportunities to experience 

 the Smithsonian's riches away from the National Mall were 



available to those who participated in special regional pro- 

 grams and in national and international study tours and 

 seminars. 



TSA's offerings provide audiences in the greater Washing- 

 ton area with a Campus on the Mall that truly is unlike any 

 other campus in the world. Participants were enthralled with 

 lectures across a wide spectrum of subjects. Some of the more 

 notable speakers included Nobel Peace Prize recipient Arch- 

 bishop Desmond Tutu, playwright Neil Simon, British mys- 

 tery writer P. D.James, Pulitzer Prize recipients David 

 McCullough and Carl Sagan, and former Secretary of Defense 

 Robert McNamara. The public's fascination with food and its 

 cultural meaning was affirmed by the 1,600 people who at- 

 tended a Smithsonian Gala Celebration featuring Master 

 Chefs Julia Child and Jacques Pepin, with food critic Phyllis 

 Richman as moderator. Associates were also dazzled by per- 

 sonal appearances from such well-know personalities as Betty 

 White, Charlton Heston, Lauren Bacall, Gregory Hines, and 

 Carol Channing, each of whom discussed their life and art. 



TSA's Campus on the Mall also offered a wide variery of 

 weekend seminars. This year's favorites included "The Spirit 

 of Finland: A Celebration of the Senses," "Treasures from the 

 Royal Tombs of Sipan," "Ancient Nubia: Egypt's Rival in Af- 

 rica" and "Frank Lloyd Wright: Visionary Genius of Modern 

 Architecture." 



For a still more penetrating examination of a sub]ect, TSA 

 offered an expansive range of multi-week courses in rhe arts, 

 humanities, and sciences. Popular courses included "Robert E. 

 Lee: A Study in Leadership," "The Great Books of Western 

 Civilizarion," "Whodunit — And How: Criminal Investiga- 

 tion with Forensic Scientists," and "Interacting with the Inter- 

 net: Its Impact on Society." Theater-lovers delved into the 

 creation of the American musical as it evolved from a book to 

 a full-blown, live production in "American Musical Theater: 

 From the Page to the Stage," which was offered in conjunc- 

 tion with Signature Theater. A five-week course celebrating 

 the 75th anniversary of the National Football League featured 

 NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, former Dallas Cowboy 

 coach Tom Landry, ABC's Frank Giftord, and former players 

 Gale Sayers, Mel Blunt, Ray Nitschke, Otto Graham, and 

 Marion Motley. 



The ever-popular performers of the Emerson String Quartet 

 played to sold-out audiences for the 15th straight year, while 

 the Smithsonian Chamber Music Sociery presented a com- 

 prehensive season of extraordinary music performed on origi- 

 nal instruments from the National Museum of American 

 History's prestigious collection. Additional performing artists 

 gracing Smithsonian stages mirrored the cultural diversity of 

 the nation including "Chinese Kunqu Opera Theater," "Boca 

 Livre — Sounds of Brazil," "Altan: The Heartbeat of Ireland," 

 the first U.S. performance by the Vietnamese "Perfume River 

 Traditional Ensemble," "Con|unto Cespedes: Sizzling Sounds 

 of Cuba," "Cuatro Tablas — Teatro de Protesta from Peru," 

 "Jose Greco and Company." and the "T.S. Monk Sextet," to 

 name just a few. 



So 



