Explore anthropological archives and the diverse cultures they document
Examine the ways anthropologists have recorded and shared their field observations using the technologies of their time. Drawing on rare print and archival collections of the National Anthropological Archives, Human Studies Film Archives, and Smithsonian Libraries, the exhibition demonstrates the continued relevance of these remarkable records of our global diversity for communities and scholars alike.
We acknowledge the traditional landowners whose territory the Smithsonian inhabits, and the continued presence and resilience of Indigenous, Migrant, and Displaced communities and nations today
Image
Did you know?
Smithsonian scientists were instrumental in founding the fields of anthropology and archaeology.
Look For
Photographs of textile industries in Indonesia by anthropologist Stanley Ann Dunham, mother of Barack Obama.
Early recordings of Indigenous languages on aluminum disks and wax cylinders.
A calendar or "winter count" from 1904 drawn by Kiowa master illustrator Silver Horn.
Previous
Next
Things to Do
Watch clips from ground-breaking ethnographic films documenting communities in Namibia, Argentina, Indonesia, and Nepal
Meet the women who helped shaped American anthropology through their field notes, photographs, published books, and films
Be inspired to create your own archives! What tools and technologies would you use to document your observations?