WASHINGTON, DC.- Today the
Smithsonian抯 National Museum of the American Indian launched its collections online. The ever-expanding digital access to the museum抯 800,000-plus items includes more than 5,500 photographs; eventually it will be one of the largest Native American online collections. It is available at
www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/searchcollections.
The launch is a milestone in the museum抯 揊ourth Museum project to bring the collections to those who may not have the opportunity to visit the museum抯 three buildings in New York City, Suitland, Md., and Washington, D.C. The launch is also in keeping with Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough抯 strategic planning initiative to serve the Smithsonian抯 growing number of virtual visitors and fulfill its mission to increase and diffuse knowledge.
揂s the museum on the National Mall approaches its fifth anniversary (Sept. 21), our promise to reach out to tribal communities, schools, libraries, museums, indeed to all throughout the world is being realized, said Kevin Gover (Pawnee/Comanche), director of the museum.
揟hough we have a long way to go before completing this project, I am pleased to offer the first phase of our fourth museum梠ur museum without walls. The goal of the project is to include as many items as possible on the Web. As staff research is completed, items will be published online.
During the course of the project, curators unearthed new evidence about the collections origins. Though George Gustav Heye (1874-1957) is often credited with building the museum抯 collections (approximately 85% were acquired during his lifetime), thousands of previously unidentified individuals including farmers, missionaries, soldiers and teachers contributed. Their stories provide fascinating details behind the objects and open up new research possibilities for investigating the relationships between Native and non-Native people and the political, economic and social histories throughout the Western Hemisphere.
