Past Events

In honor of our newest exhibition, Music HerStory: Women and Music of Social Change , Smithsonian Libraries and Archives is co-presenting an evening concert with Alice Gerrard and Leyla McCalla. 

We're welcoming attendees of American Libraries Association Annual Conference to Washington with tours of four of our locations and our new exhibition! 

Whether you are a job seeker or just curious, join us to explore career opportunities at the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. 

Please join the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives for virtual Adopt-a-Book Salons!

Please join the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives for virtual Adopt-a-Book Salons!

Attend the second program in our Women’s History with Smithsonian Libraries and Archives series, sponsored by Deloitte, to learn about historical women at work and hear from Under Secretary for Science and Research Ellen Stofan, leaders from the Biden administration, and from Deloitte about their experiences and understanding of the modern situation of women at work and how we can continue to make progress.

Join us for a screening of Putting Triceratops Together Again (2001). In the short videos in this series, the Museum’s paleobiology staff discussed how they used 3D scanning to restore, maintain, and better understand Hatcher, the world’s first ​skeletal mount of Triceratops to ever go on exhibit.  

We recently added Wikidata profiles about 100 women in science, and we need your help to write and strengthen their Wikipedia articles! Join us for our edit-a-thon January 20th at 1 p.m. ET to learn more about these women in science in Smithsonian history.

In this year’s Dibner Library Lecture, Steven Turner will dig deeper into some of the lesser-known tales of James Smithson’s work, like how Smithson’s interest in cooking helped him solve a scientific puzzle. He’ll also discuss the unexpected story of Smithson’s interest in scientific education – a lifelong interest that may have led to the founding of the Smithsonian.

Join curators of Magnificent Obsessions Mary Augusta Thomas and Stephen Van Dyk as they share the stories of some of the fascinating collectors and incredible objects featured in the exhibition, as well as behind-the-scenes insights into the process of developing it.

Join conservator William Bennett as he shares details about his preservation of the Hungerford Deed, divulges the sensational stories and fascinating history that emerged from his research about it, and provides a behind-the-scenes deep dive into the virtual exhibition featuring the Deed that will be launching August 10.

Join Nora Lockshin, senior conservator, and Katie Wagner, senior book conservator, to hear how they plan for and respond to potential emergency situations that could pose risks to the safety of our precious collections at the Smithsonian and those of our fellow cultural institutions around the country. They’ll also discuss how they are called on to assist with protecting and recovering cultural heritage around the world.

Please join the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives for virtual Adopt-a-Book Salons!

Please join the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives for virtual Adopt-a-Book Salons!

Please join the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives for virtual Adopt-a-Book Salons!