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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 80

United States National Museum. Administrative Assistant

National Museum Building Construction Records, 1902-1909, 1917-1919, 1928-1929

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:United States National Museum. Administrative Assistant
Title:National Museum Building Construction Records
Dates:1902-1909, 1917-1919, 1928-1929
Quantity:0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box) (1 folder oversize materials)
Collection:Record Unit 80
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

These records, together with record units 79, 81, and 187 contain full documentation of construction of the 1911 National Museum Building from internal planning and contracts to construction details and costs. Rathbun prepared a history of the museum construction, which was published as "A Descriptive Account of the Building Recently Erected for the Departments of Natural History of the United States National Museum." United States National Museum Bulletin 80, Washington, 1913.

Historical Note

In 1903 Congress authorized the Board of Regents to begin a new museum building, construction to be under the direction of Bernard R. Green, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds of the Library of Congress. Construction began in June 1904 and ended in 1911. Richard Rathbun, Assistant Secretary, spent much of his time from 1901 to 1911 planning and supervising construction of the new building, including extensive consultation with foreign and domestic museum experts.

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Descriptive Entry

These records, together with record units 79, 81, and 187 contain full documentation of construction of the 1911 National Museum Building, from internal planning and contracts to construction details and costs. Rathbun prepared a history of the museum construction, which was published as A Descriptive Account of the Building Recently Erected for the Departments of Natural History of the United States National Museum. United States National Museum Bulletin 80, Washington, 1913.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 80, United States National Museum. Administrative Assistant, National Museum Building Construction Records

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Container List

Box 1

Folders 1-2 Correspondence, mostly copies, regarding construction of the museum (1902-1909)

Box 1 of 1

Folders 3-6 Correspondence 1917-1919 regarding the use of Museum of Natural History (MNH) building by Bureau of War Risk Insurance

Box 1 of 1

Folder 7 Correspondence 1928-1929 regarding repair of dome of MNH building

Box 1 of 1
Oversize

Architectural Drawings

Oversize

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