National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian)
http://www.nmai.si.edu/

Organization Overview:
The National Museum of the American Indian is the sixteenth museum of the Smithsonian Institution. It is the first national museum dedicated to the preservation, study, and exhibition of the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of Native Americans. Established by an act of Congress in 1989, the museum works in collaboration with the Native peoples of the Western Hemisphere to protect and foster their cultures by reaffirming traditions and beliefs, encouraging contemporary artistic expression, and empowering the Indian voice.

Projects:

Brian Wade Garrison worked in the NMAI Library at the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, Maryland.  He assisted the head librarian in work to provide online access to the Smithsonian Art & Artist's Files.  These files are an exceptionally valuable resource for art historical research done on emerging regional and local artists and often are the only obtainable sources of information. Until now, the files were largely unavailable to those who did not travel to Washington DC. In 2004, several efforts were combined to produce an electronic list as the first step toward universal accessibility.  Brian gained valuable experience in database development and sorting and preparing vertical file materials for entry into a database.  He also spent time researching artists to determine name authority, tribal affiliation, etc.  

The database is available at http://www.sil.si.edu/ .  (Click on the picture labeled Art & Design and on that page click on the entry Art & Artist's Files.)

See what past ASB students did at the National Museum of the American Indian in 2005.

Original Projects:

1) NMAI Library at the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, Maryland.  The head librarian is developing a section on Native American Artists in the NMAI Library for the Art & Artist's Files in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries Collections project.  The Smithsonian Art & Artist's Files are an exceptionally valuable resource for art historical research done on emerging regional and local artists and often are the only obtainable sources of information. Until now, the files were largely unavailable to those who did not travel to Washington DC. In 2004, several efforts were combined to produce an electronic list as the first step toward universal accessibility.  Student would prepare and enter Native American artist's records into the database.

Lynne Altstatt would be the supervisor for the project and the student would be gaining experience in sorting and preparing vertical file materials for entry into a database.  In addition the student would be learning how to research an artist to determine name authority, tribal affiliation, etc. and experience in developing a database.

If the student is interested in seeing the database it is available on the library homepage  http://www.sil.si.edu/ .  Click on the picture labeled Art & Design and on that page click on the entry Art & Artist's Files.