Wikipedia:Visiting Scholars/Participating institutions/Smithsonian Institution

About the Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution, established in 1846 "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge," is a group of museums and research centers administered by the Government of the United States. Termed "the nation's attic" for its eclectic holdings of 138 million items, the Institution's Washington, D.C., nucleus of nineteen museums, nine research centers, and zoo--many of them historical or architectural landmarks--is the largest such complex in the world. Additional facilities are located in Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York City, Virginia, Panama and elsewhere, and 168 other museums are Smithsonian Affiliates. The Institution's thirty million annual visitors are admitted without charge.

About the National Museum of African Art
The National Museum of African Art is the Smithsonian's African art museum. It was founded in 1964 by Warren M. Robbins as a private museum to "foster an understanding of African art in the U.S." In 1979, after a request by Robbins to Congress, ownership of the museum was transferred to the Smithsonian. Its mission is to "foster the discovery and appreciation of the visual arts of Africa, the cradle of humanity."

When the National Museum of African Art was first transferred to the Smithsonian, the collection included approximately 8,000 objects. Today, with about 9,000 objects, it is the largest publicly held collection of African art in the United States. The collection includes musical instruments, sculpture, jewelry, regalia, textiles, early maps, educational materials, films, slides, and photographs. The museum's Warren M. Robbins Library houses more than 32,000 volumes about African art and culture. In 1996, the Washington Post said "there is no more important research facility in America for the study of African art."


 * National Museum of African Art website
 * Warren M. Robbins Library website

Position announcements
''The Smithsonian Institution is not currently accepting applications. Please see Visiting Scholars/Apply for other options.''