In 1996, Steve Jobs remarked, “Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it’s really how it works.” Continue reading From the Secretary: A Grand Design

The Smithsonian proudly embraces a tradition of preserving history and bringing it to life for new generations. Nothing is more illustrative of that ethos than the archival collections from our museums, galleries and research facilities. Continue reading From the Secretary: The institutional memory of archives

After the earthquake I could have titled this article “there’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on,” but we are not going to let a little earthquake damage get in the way of some big plans we have. Continue reading From the Secretary: Top 10 Reasons I get excited about facilities

Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Continue reading From the Secretary: The Jefferson Bible: Sharing a National Treasure

“If you want to destroy a country, destroy its memory,” Czech Novelist Milan Kundera once said. That almost came true for Haiti after the devastating January 2010 earthquake, when Haiti’s art and historical documents lay in the rubble of collapsed museums and public buildings. Continue reading From the Secretary: The Smithsonian’s shining moment: The Haiti Cultural Recovery Project

This summer will mark my third anniversary here at the Smithsonian. I was pleased to arrive in 2008 when the Folklife Festival was in full swing. Continue reading From the Secretary: Celebrating Cultural Innovations at the Folklife Festival

Innovation begins with creative ideas, but it is not complete until inventive ideas are put to practical use. Innovation abounds at the Smithsonian, but too often, it is too little celebrated. Continue reading From the Secretary: Celebrating innovation