Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an American scientific body which fostered the development of aeronautic and aviation in various ways. From the early days through the present it has also played an active role in aviation history, through its research archives and its popularization efforts. For the purposes of this project it is important to note that this organization is prominent both as an actor in the period under study, and as a source of information about that period, in retrospect.
In 1849 Smithsonian initiated a North American meteorology project, which waned after the Civil War and was supplanted by the formation of the U.S. Weather Bureau in 1870.[1]
In 1861 its assistance was requested in planning for a trans-Atlantic balloon flight. In 1863 it published two papers on aeronautics, one a translation from François Arago entitled "Aeronautical Voyages Performed with a View to the Advancement of Science", the other an account of ascents by James Glaisher.[2]
Samuel Pierpont Langley became Secretary in 1887. In the years following, much of Langley's energy went towards developing an airplane.
In 1910 the Smithsonian's Paul Brockett published a comprehensive bibliography on aeronautics and aviation.
In 1917, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and the Aircraft Production Board initiated an exhibit of aircraft materials at the Smithsonian. "A building to house the exhibit is now being constructed by the Government south of the Smithsonian Institution, and the display will be made available to all aircraft manufacturers and kept up to date as the science develops. It is expected to be of very material assistance to the new aircraft building project in that it will enable American manufacturers to become familiar with the latest developments in the art."[3]
The National Air Museum, later called the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) was formed in 1946.
Notes
The Annual report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1913 should be handy to us. Upon quick examination, p. 685 seems to be a good tentative starting point.
References
- ↑ Canning, 2012, Forecasting the Future, p. 5.
- ↑ Brockett 1910, p. v.
- ↑ "Aircraft to be Exhibited at Smithsonian Institution", Air Service Journal, Vol. 1, No. 1., July 12, 1917, p. 25.
Publications referring to Smithsonian or Smithsonian Institution
- Hertz, 1891, A Graphic Method of Determining the Adiabatic Changes in the Condition of Moist Air. Translated and republished by Abbe/Smithsonian (Simple title: A Graphic Method of Determining the Adiabatic Changes in the Condition of Moist Air. Translated and republished by Abbe/Smithsonian, Journal: The Mechanics of the Earth's Atmosphere)
- Abbe, 1891, The Mechanics of the Earth's Atmosphere. A Collection of Translations (Simple title: The Mechanics of the Earth's Atmosphere. A Collection of Translations, Journal: Smith Misc. Collections • The Mechanics of the Earth's Atmosphere)
- Publication 11310, 1893, Smithsonian meteorological tables (Simple title: Smithsonian meteorological tables, Journal: Smiths. Misc. Coll.)
- Clayton, 1894, The Eddy Malay tailless kite (Simple title: The Eddy Malay tailless kite, Journal: Scient. Amer.)
- Publication 5638, 1897, Langley's Flugmaschine (Simple title: Langley's flying machine, Journal: Ill. Aër. Mitt.)
- Hergesell, 1898, Neue Drachen-Versuche auf dem Blue Hill Observatorium (Simple title: New kite trials at the Blue Hill Observatory, Journal: Ill. Aër. Mitt.)
- Janssen, 1900, The progress of aeronautics (Simple title: The progress of aeronautics, Journal: Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution)
- Publication 11285, 1903, Graham Bell's tetrahedral kites (Simple title: Graham Bell's tetrahedral kites, Journal: Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution)
- Chanute, 1903, Aerial navigation (Simple title: Aerial navigation, Journal: Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution)
- Bell, 1907, Aerial locomotion, Appendix B, Partial bibliography, Smithsonian Institution, by Dr. Cyrus Adler (Simple title: Aerial locomotion, Appendix B, Partial bibliography, Smithsonian Institution, by Dr. Cyrus Adler)
- Bell, 1907, Aërial Locomotion (Simple title: Aërial locomotion, progress in the construction of an aërodrome, Journal: National Geographic Magazine)
- Adler, 1907, Samuel Pierpont Langley (Simple title: Samuel Pierpont Langley)
- Aero Club of America, 1907, Third annual exhibition (Simple title: Third annual exhibition, Journal: Amer. Mag. Aeronautics)
- Zahm, 1908, Invention of the Chanute Glider (Simple title: Invention of the Chanute Glider, Journal: American Aeronaut)
- Aeronautics (US), 1909, Smithsonian's Aero Bibliography (Simple title: Smithsonian's Aero Bibliography, Journal: Aeronautics (US))
- Bell, 1910, Presentation of the Langley medal to the Wright brothers. Historical address at the Smithsonian Institution, Feb. 10, 1910 (Simple title: Presentation of the Langley medal to the Wright brothers. Historical address at the Smithsonian Institution, Feb. 10, 1910, Journal: Science)
- Advisory Board for Aeronautics, 1913, Washington, Smithsonian Institution, 1913, pp. 5 (Simple title: Washington, Smithsonian Institution, 1913, pp. 5, Journal: Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections)
- Brockett, 1921 (Simple title: Bibliography of Aeronautics 1909-1916)
- Brewer, 1921, The Langley Machine and the Hammondsport Trials (Simple title: The Langley Machine and the Hammondsport Trials, Journal: Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society)
| Organization names | Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian |
|---|---|
| Entity type | |
| Country | US |
| City | Washington, DC |
| Affiliated with | |
| Scope | National |
| Started aero | 1849 |
| Ended aero | |
| Keywords | |
| Key people | Samuel Pierpont Langley, Paul Brockett, Cyrus Adler |
| Wikidata id | Q131626 |
