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Collections Search Center

The Smithsonian Collections Search Center is an online catalog containing most of Smithsonian major collections from our museums, archives, libraries, and research units. There are 13.5 million catalog records relating to areas for Art & Design, History & Culture, and Science & Technology with over 3.1 million images, videos, audio files, podcasts, blog posts and electronic journals.

This catalog is regularly updated as catalog records are being added and revised. To learn more about this "One Stop Search" Center, please see the related blog post and the Tutorial. For more information about individual collection objects please contact the individual museums, archives or libraries listed below.

The Collection Search Center currently contains collections from the following Smithsonian units:

Smithsonian

Museum Collections

Smithsonian Museum Collections contain objects from the Smithsonian's permanent collection as well as images, audio, videos, blogs, and other born-digital content.

Anacostia Community Museum

1500 online records of photographs, paintings, drawings, posters, and quilts representing the art, culture and history of African Americans and the Anacostia community.
Contact: 202-633-4820
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

700 online records of wall coverings, textiles, drawings, fill papers, decorative arts, embroidery, samplers, borders, furniture and others representing art and design.
Contact: 212-849-8400
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection

42,050 online records of paintings, vessels, ceramics, photographs, manuscripts, sculptures and calligraphy representing art, culture and history of Asia.
Contact: publicaffairsAsia@si.edu, 202-633-4880
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Collection

12,550 online records of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Collection.
Contact: 202.633.4674
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

National Air and Space Museum Collection

28,300 online records of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, navigational instruments, presentation models, awards, memorabilia and art works from the collection of the National Air and Space Museum Collection.
Contact: 202-633-2320
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

New records for objects and archival materials from the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture are regularly added to the online catalog. Cataloging is an ongoing process and records may be updated as we conduct additional research and review. Please contact us if you have more information about an object.
Contact: NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

National Museum of African Art

3,700 online records of Sculpture, Paintings, Containers, Costumes, Textiles, Tools and equipment, Masks, Furnishings, Armor and more representing the art, culture and history of Africa.
Contact: nmafaweb@si.edu, 202-633-4600
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center

113,250 online records with a wide variety of museum objects from all the museum's curatorial divisions: Political History, Armed Forces History, Home & Community Life, Work & Industry, Culture & the Arts, and Medicine & Science.
Contact: 202-633-3129
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

National Museum of the American Indian Collections

Objects, archival collections, blog posts, and videos representing the indigenous cultures of the Western Hemisphere are added to this site regularly. NMAI makes no warranty regarding the completeness or accuracy of the information provided. Please contact us to correct errors you may encounter, provide more information, or notify us of potential cultural sensitivities for items on this site.
Contact: NMAIcollections@si.edu
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

National Museum of Natural History Collections

850 online records from the National Museum of Natural History
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu
Browse Collection   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

466,700 online records from the Department of Anthropology objects collection.
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu, 202-633-1920
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

2,460,400 online records from the Department of Botany specimen collection.
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu, 202-633-0920
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

506,650 online records from the Department of Entomology.
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

1,816,000 online records from the Department of Invertebrate Zoology.
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu, 202-633-1740
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

436,450 online records from the Department of Mineral Sciences.
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu, 202-633-1860
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

659,900 online records from the Department of Paleobiology.
Contact: paleodept@si.edu
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

578,600 online records from the Department of Vertebrate Zoology - Division of Amphibians and Reptiles.
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

524,700 online records from the Department of Vertebrate Zoology - Division of Birds.
Contact: ContactSmithBirds@si.edu, 202-633-0800
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

442,400 online records from the Department of Vertebrate Zoology - Division of Fishes.
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu, 301-238-1736
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

608,550 online records from the Department of Vertebrate Zoology - Division of Mammals.
Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

National Portrait Gallery Collection

18,250 online records of paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs and documents from the collection of National Portrait Gallery. 94,050 records from the Catalog of American Portraits.
Contact: NPGResearch@si.edu, 202-633-8320
Browse Collection   |   Browse Catalog of American Portraits   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

National Postal Museum Collection

20,400 online records of collection objects including postage stamps, letters and envelopes, postal operation equipment, military mail, postal employee gear, and archival documents.
Contact: 202-633-5555
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

National Zoological Park

500 online records from the National Zoological Park.
Contact: nationalzoo.si.edu/Contact, 202-633-4888
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian American Art Museum

44,800 online records of painting, sculpture, photographs, prints, drawings, contemporary crafts and folk art from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Contact: AmericanArtInfo@si.edu, 202-633-7970
Browse Collection   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian Gardens Collections

Over 12,000 online records from the Smithsonian Gardens.
Contact: gardens@si.edu 202-633-5840

Over 11,000 records from the Living Plant Collections including orchids and trees. Browse Collection

Over 1,000 records of collection objects from the Horticultural Artifacts Collection including nineteenth and twentieth century garden furnishings, garden ornaments, floral design accessories, horticultural trade memorabilia, Victorian fancywork and costume accessories such as hair-work, pressed botanical albums, and bouquet holders. Browse Collection

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Archives Collections

Archival collections contain more than 2.1 million descriptions of personal papers, manuscripts, photographs, oral histories, films, works of art, organizational records as well as images, audio, videos, blogs, and other born-digital content.

Anacostia Community Museum Archives.

Contact: ACMarchives@si.edu 202-633-4853

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Contact: archivescenter@si.edu 202-633-3270

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

Archives of American Art

Contact: www.aaa.si.edu/askus, 202-633-7950

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Archives of American Gardens

Contact: aag@si.edu, 202-633-5840

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Contact: elisofonarchives@si.edu, 202-633-4690

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

Contact: avrref@si.edu, 202-633-0329

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

Human Studies Film Archives

Contact: hsfa@si.edu, 301-238-2875

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

National Air and Space Museum Archives Division

Contact: NASMRefDesk@si.edu, 703-572-4045

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

National Anthropological Archives

Contact: naa@si.edu, 301-238-1300

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

National Museum of the American Indian Archives Center

Contact: nmaiarchives@si.edu, 301-238-1400

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian American Art Museum Photo Archives

Contact: sapa@si.edu, 202-633-8390

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |     |   Catalog Record Source

Nam June Paik Archive, Smithsonian American Art Museum

Contact: AmericanArtInfo@si.edu, 202-633-7970

Browse Collection   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Contact: rinzlerarchives@si.edu, 202-633-7322

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian Institution Archives

Contact: osiaref@si.edu, 202-633-5870

Browse Collections   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

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Smithsonian Libraries Databases


Smithsonian Libraries collections are particularly strong in natural history, tropical biology, and Chesapeake Bay area ecology; Anthropology; American and African American history and culture; postal, horticulture and garden history; the history of science and technology; aerospace history, astronomy, and planetary sciences; African, American Asian, contemporary, and design and decorative art; conservation science, and museum studies.

Smithsonian Institution Libraries Collections:
The Smithsonian's library collections contain over 1.7 million volumes, including print and electronic serials, rare books and manuscripts.
Contact: askalibrarian@si.edu, 202-633-1680
Browse Collections   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Art and Artists Files:
Over 100,000 files that contain exhibition announcements, newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, brochures, reviews, invitations, illustrations, resumes, artists' statements, and exhibition catalogs.
Contact: askalibrarian@si.edu, 202-633-8230
Browse Collections   |   Catalog Record Source

Trade Literature Collections:
Over 400,000 historical trade catalogs, representing over 30,000 companies featuring predominantly American-manufactured products for industry, agriculture, business, and decorative arts. Primarily from 1880-1945, the collection includes product catalogs, technical manuals, advertising brochures, price lists, and company histories.
Contact: askalibrarian@si.edu, 202-633-3865
Browse Collections   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian Research Online:
Over 49,630 staff publications. Smithsonian Research Online is a set of services to the research community both within and outside the Smithsonian Institution.
Contact: hutchinsona@si.edu, 202-633-1031
Browse Collections   |   Catalog Record Source

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Research Databases and Centers

The Research Databases and Centers listed below contain catalog records of materials that may or may not be owned by the Smithsonian Institution.


- Art -

Catalog of American Portraits, National Portrait Gallery

Contact: NPGResearch@si.edu, 202-633-8320

Browse Portraits   |   Catalog Record Source

Inventories of American Painting & Sculpture Database

Contact: artref@si.edu, 202-633-8380

Browse Sculptures   |   Browse Paintings   |   Catalog Record Source

Pre-1877 Art Exhibition Catalogue Index Database

Contact: artref@si.edu, 202-633-8380

Browse Index   |   Catalog Record Source


- Science -

History of the Smithsonian Database

Contact: osiaref@si.edu, 202-633-5870

Browse References   |   Catalog Record Source

Museum Studies Bibliographies Database

Contact: educate@si.edu

Browse Museum Studies Bibliography   |   Catalog Record Source

National Science Resources Center

Online records from the National Science Resources Center.
Contact: 202-633-5555
Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Online records from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
Contact: 617-495-7461
Browse Collection   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Online records from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Contact: 443-482-2200
Browse Collection   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Contact: Panama: 507-212-8000 Washington: 202-633-4700

Browse Bibliography   |   Browse Images   |   Browse Social Media   |   Catalog Record Source

Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History

Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu

Browse Marine Mammals Bibliography   |   Catalog Record Source

Department of Invertebrate Zoology - Mollusks, National Museum of Natural History

Contact: naturalexperience@si.edu

Browse Cephalopod Bibliography   |   Browse Images   |   Catalog Record Source

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Other Smithsonian Institution Resources

Smithsonian Institution

Online records from the Smithsonian Institution.
Contact: 202-633-1000
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Affiliations

Online records from the Smithsonian Affiliations.
Contact: 202-633-5500
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program

Online records from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program.
Contact: 202-633-3595
Browse resouce   |   Home page

Smithsonian Channel

Online records from the Smithsonian Channel.
Contact: smithsonianchannel.com
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Education

Online records from the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
Contact: educate@si.edu, 202-633-5330
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Journeys

Online records from the Smithsonian Journeys.
Contact: 855-330-1542
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Magazine

Online records from the Smithsonian Magazine.
Contact: 202-633-1000
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Migratory Birds Center

Online records from the Smithsonian Migratory Birds Center.
Contact: nationalzoo.si.edu/Contact, 202-633-4888
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Insitution Traveling Exhibitions

Online records from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibitions.
Contact: 202-633-3168
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Latino Center

Online records from the Smithsonian Latino Center.
Contact: 202-633-1240
Browse resource   |   Home page

Smithsonian Office of the Chief Information Officer

Online records from the Smithsonian Office of the Chief Information Officer.
Browse resource

Smithsonian Office of Public Affairs

Online records from the Smithsonian Office of Public Affairs.
Contact: 202-633-2400
Browse resource   |   Home page


To find more information about these and other data sources try browsing the Museums pages: www.si.edu/Museums or Research Centers pages: www.si.edu/ResearchCenters

General questions: 202-633-1000, info@si.edu

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This Gallery contains a sampling of visual records that are part of the Collections Search Center.

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The Technology

The Collections Search Center leverages a Smithsonian-developed metadata index and web services middle-layer that provides the Institution with a unified view across its multiple collection repositories. The Smithsonian name for this index and services middle-layer is EDAN - "Enterprise Digital Asset Network". In developing EDAN, the Smithsonian reviewed a number of commercial and open-source products. The functional requirements included the support of faceted metadata searching, Boolean / simple search logic, synonym/stemming matching, proximity matching, customizable relevance ranking, and highlighting display capability. It also would need to support a wide range of documents and objects from libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs) and be accessible via standard web services. In the end, the Smithsonian selected the open-source Apache Lucene/Solr indexing software for the project and built a set of complementary request and delivery services using Java. A common Index Metadata Model was developed to handle the large variety of data formats from SI's underlying collections systems. In developing the model, SI incorporated elements and best practices from established standards such as Dublin Core, MARC, and METS as well as elements reflected in the underlying COTS museum and library systems. Data mappings were performed and processes were put in place to provide regular record ingest and updates from more than 50 Institution data sources (systems and databases). This iterative process continues and the intent is for EDAN to index all major cataloged Smithsonian collections holdings. EDAN and the Collections Search Center are therefore dynamic and continually growing.

EDAN has offered the Smithsonian a flexible and scalable indexing, metadata and image delivery platform to support Smithsonian web and mobile application access to its fast growing online collections. The Collections Search Center, a web application that uses EDAN, has provided a strong, user-friendly search interface, enhanced through Java and CSS style sheets, for navigating these online collections. In doing so, it furthers the Institution's goal of making its collections available to a worldwide audience.

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