Statement by 

 the Provost 



J. Dennis O'Connor 



This year we celebrated che 150th anniversary of that 

 remarkably eclectic blend of activity known as the 

 Smithsonian. As we worked together to shape the celebration, 

 an impressive spirit of community and collaboration drove the 

 efforts of the many organizations that make up this complex 

 institution. 



When che Smithsonian was founded, its first Secretary, 

 Joseph Henry, envisioned a research institute devoted to 

 scientific accomplishment and the dissemination of 

 knowledge. His successor Spencer Baird enlarged this vision, 

 vigorously leading the accumulation of a comprehensive 

 national collection. Baird's Smithsonian foreshadowed 

 something of today's Smithsonian: research activity, vast 

 collections, and public exhibitions and programs, all aimed at 

 advancing knowledge and fostering public education. 



The historical patterns of the Smithsonian's 150 

 years — weaving together research, collections, and the 

 diffusion of knowledge — are especially evident in the Office 

 of che Provost. This office unites the various museums and 

 research institutes, the National Zoo, and other units 

 providing educational, museum, and scholarly services. Its 

 creation this year was a conscious attempt to better coordinate 

 the arts and humanities, the sciences, and educational and 

 scholarly support programs, emphasizing shared goals and 

 endeavors. 



In my first year as Provost, I have been impressed by the 

 diversity of activity that takes place here, as independent 

 entities come together in a rnulti-dimensional whole to 

 pursue the Smithsonian's mission as a research institution and 

 a national museum. We are one of the world s most prominent 

 research centers, with scientists and scholars at work around 

 the globe. Their investigations range from using xenon gas to 



make magnetic resonance images of water-deficient parts of 

 the human body to studying the challenges of conserving 

 giant Asian elephants. Our museums educate, delight, and 

 inspire the millions of people who visit them each year. They 

 are our public face, the principal keyhole through which 

 people see the ob|ects and consider che ideas that are a 

 distinguishing feacure of the Smithsonian. 



We have an educational purpose as well. It is based on che 

 notion that we are the repository of the nation's culture and 

 heritage. The Smithsonian is not a formal institution of 

 learning, but we have much to offer as a resource for educators 

 and as a center of informal education, that essential lifelong 

 process that enriches people's lives beyond the classroom. 



Although each museum and research center is a major 

 organization in its own right, with its own focus and 

 strengths (even its own audience), the emphasis on 

 collaboration was clear during the 150th anniversary year. For 

 che exhibicion "America's Smichsonian," che museums took 

 the lead in suggesting which objects to include and how to 

 present them. During che Birchday Party on the National 

 Mall on August 10 and II, the museums, research institutes, 

 and offices created lively pavilions that conveyed the flavor of 

 the Smithsonian. Visitors could learn how a museum 

 exhibition is developed, hear curators describe collecting 

 expeditions, ask astronomers about theit research on distant 

 planets, or watch arc conservators practice their craft. Inside 

 the museums, chere was Irish music, African dance, cowboy 

 poetry, chamber music, and much more. 



Even in a large organization like the Smithsonian, we must 

 make choices about what we can do in our research, in our 

 museum activities, and in education. The 150th anniversary, 

 and parcicularly "America's Smichsonian," poinced to 



14 



