New Acquisitions

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Five screens with digital images against black backdrop and red carpet floor.

Installation view, Isaac Julien: “Lessons of the Hour,” SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, Sept. 24–Dec. 15, 2019. Copyright Isaac Julien, courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro. Image courtesy of SCAD.

Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery Acquire Visionary Film Installation “Lessons of the Hour” by Isaac Julien
First Joint Acquisition Between the Two Smithsonian Museums Debuts in Washington, D.C., Friday, Dec. 8
11.02.2023
American Art Museum Portrait Gallery New Acquisitions
Handwritten manuscript pages

Ocean Manuscript poem by Phillis Wheatley, 1773. Credit: Collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

National Museum of African American History and Culture Acquires Major Collection of Work Attributed to Poet Phillis Wheatley Peters
New Objects Are Available Online in Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Publication of Wheatley Peters’ Poems, Including the Only Copy of the Poet’s Long-Lost “Ocean” Poem in Her Handwriting
10.10.2023
African American Museum New Acquisitions
Portrait of older Black woman holding white twigs

Betye Saar by Michele Mattei, inkjet print, 2012 (printed 2018). National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

Copyright 2003 Michele Mattei.

National Portrait Gallery Premieres More Than 20 Newly Acquired Portraits and Two New Commissions in “Recent Acquisitions”
On View Nov. 3–Oct. 27, 2024
10.06.2023
Portrait Gallery New Acquisitions
Brown beer bottle with Anchor Steam lable
National Museum of American History Acquires Objects and Archives From America’s First Microbrewery
Historic Anchor Brewing Co. Donates Collection to the Museum
09.29.2023
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Black and white photo of Byron Lewis, sitting at half-moon-shaped desk
Smithsonian Adds Collections From Byron Lewis, Groundbreaking Advertising Entrepreneur and Executive
Donation Highlights Advertising Pioneer and Civil Rights Activist
09.28.2023
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Screenshot of newborn cheetah cubs with their mother

Animal care staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, welcomed a litter of five cheetah cubs to second-time mother Echo Sept. 12.  Image courtesy Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Litter of Five Cheetah Cubs Are Born at Front Royal Campus, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Viewers Can Watch Lots of Spots on Cheetah Cub Cam
09.21.2023
National Zoo New Acquisitions
Congressional Gold Medal

Congressional Gold Medal. Photo by Jaclyn Nash.

Smithsonian Continues Collecting Artifacts From Jan. 6 Capitol Attack
Congressional Medal for the Jan. 6 Defenders, Photographs, Law Enforcement Gear and Personal Effects Added to National Museum of American History’s Collections
08.21.2023
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Composite photo of infant gorilla and adult gorlla

Left: Newborn gorilla cradled by mother Calaya, a 20-year-old female western lowland gorilla. She gave birth to her second offspring May 27 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. (Photo by Valerie Schultz, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

Right: Calaya, a 20-year-old female western lowland gorilla, gave birth to her second offspring May 27 at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.(Photo by Skip Brown, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

Western Lowland Gorilla Born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
05.30.2023
Conservation Biology Institute National Zoo Exhibitions New Acquisitions Administrative News
Gilded dish

Writing box (suzuribako) in the form of a plum blossom, Japan, Edo period, late 18th century, Lacquer, gold, silver, tin alloy, wood,

Diameter: 24.8cm (9 ¾ in), RLS2023.4.29, Gift of the Avant Family, Credit: National
Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

National Museum of Asian Art Announces Major Gift of Japanese Lacquer Objects From the Avant Family, Leaders in the Arts, Philanthropy and Politics
From the Prized Collection of Jacqueline Avant, the Late Wife of Music Industry Legend Clarence Avant, This Gift Is Her Legacy to the Nation
05.16.2023
Asian Art Museum New Acquisitions
Nuro self-driving delivery vehicle

Photo by Jaclyn Nash

Nuro’s Autonomous Delivery Vehicle Drives Into the Smithsonian’s Collections This Earth Day
Self-Driving Prototype Powered by Sustainable Energy
04.17.2023
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Exterior of Brutalist style building with green grass and flowers in front of it
Smithsonian Adds Collections From Lillian Vernon, Kitchen Table Entrepreneur
Women’s History Month Donation Highlights Her Business Acumen and Achievement
03.20.2023
American History Museum New Acquisitions
A white dress, white overcoat and blue coat ensemble with matching accessories

Photo by Jaclyn Nash

Smithsonian Adds First Lady Jill Biden’s Inaugural Ensembles to Its Historic First Ladies Collection
Addition to First Ladies Collection Continues a 100-Year Tradition
01.25.2023
American History Museum Exhibitions New Acquisitions
Multiple large open shelving units filled with gray archival boxes
National Museum of American History Adds Key Blues Archive
Legendary McCormick Archive Is Foundational To Understanding American Music
11.17.2022
New Acquisitions
Official portrait of man in military uniform holding an American flag

Cpl. Joseph O. “Jose” Quintero with his flag. Credit: Smithsonian Institution

WWII POW Flag Added to National Museum of American History Collections
Flag Reflects Pacific-Front Survival and Resilience Story of Cpl. Jose Quintero
11.10.2022
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Two well-dressed people standing together

Delbert and Dottie McKinney in a South Texas railway station as part of their labor organizing work. Circa 1940s. 

Texas Family Donates Rare 1932 Ford Model B Car Purchased by Pullman Porter Patriarch to the National Museum of American History
10.13.2022
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Architectural detail of brutalist style Hirshhorn building
Landmark Acquisitions Reflect the Hirshhorn’s Expansive Curatorial Mission and Programming
Additions by 60 Artists Deepen International Holdings in the Permanent Collection of the National Museum of Modern Art
08.24.2022
Hirshhorn Museum New Acquisitions
Black and white backstage image of singer James Brown in a suit, with a person behind him running their hand over James's hair

Singer James Brown is captured off stage around Memphis, Tenn. (Ted Williams/Johnson Publishing Company Archive). Courtesy Ford Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution.

Ford, Mellon and MacArthur Foundations Transfer Sole Ownership of Historic Ebony and Jet Photo Archive to Getty and NMAAHC
Getty Trust Commits $30 Million to Digitize the Johnson Publishing Company Archive Which Features More Than 4 Million Prints and Negatives That Chronicle 20th Century Black Life
07.28.2022
African American Museum New Acquisitions
Chris Haslam performs a skateboard trick on a ramp in front of NMAH

Chris Haslam gives a skateboarding demonstration at Innoskate 2013 in front of the National Museum of American History. Image courtesy Innoskate.

Smithsonian To Collect Skateboard Decks and Iconic Skate Film
Professional Skateboarders and Filmmakers Jason Lee and Chris “Dune” Pastras Donate Personal Objects to the National Collections During Ceremony at Innoskate Festival
07.07.2022
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Smithsonian logo
Cast From First Tommy John Surgery To Be Donated to Smithsonian
Cast Was Worn in 1974 After the First Elbow Surgery To Save a Pitcher’s Career
06.01.2022
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Quilt of multiple figures in lush background

Courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Smithsonian American Art Museum Acquires More than 200 Artworks for its Craft Collection Including Major Works by Bisa Butler, Sonya Clark, Roberto Lugo, Preston Singletary and Wanxin Zhang
New Acquisitions Will Debut at the Renwick Gallery in the Exhibition “This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World”
05.10.2022
American Art Museum New Acquisitions
Group of people stand outside with a protest banner
Smithsonian Accepts “Fight the Virus, NOT the People” COVID-19 Banner
San Francisco Donation Ceremony May 10 Heralds Banner Being Added to National Collections
05.05.2022
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Evidence collection kit for sexual assault examination

Vitullo Evidence Collection Kit for Sexual Assault Examination; photo by Jaclyn Nash, courtesy of the Smithsonian.

In Recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Smithsonian Acquires Pathbreaking Evidence Collection Kit
National Museum of American History and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Partner in Documenting Invention by Martha “Marty” Goddard
04.29.2022
American History Museum Cooper Hewitt New Acquisitions
Vial of COVID-19 vaccine
Smithsonian Collects COVID-19 Artifacts in Pandemic’s Second Year
Masks, PPE, Health and Safety Signs, Fundraising- and Vaccine-Related Materials and Oral-History Interviews Added to National Museum of American History’s Collections
03.17.2022
American History Museum New Acquisitions
Colorful spheres with polka-dots in a mirrored room

Yayoi Kusama, “Infinity Mirrored Room—My Heart Is Dancing into the Universe,” 2018. Wood and glass mirrored room with paper lanterns, 119 5/8 x 245 1/8 x 245 1/8 in. (304 x 622.4 x 622.4 cm). Courtesy Ota Fine Arts and Victoria Miro, London/Venice. © YAYOI KUSAMA. Purchased jointly by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (Joseph H. Hirshhorn Purchase Fund, 2020), and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, with funds from the George B. and Jenny R. Mathews Fund, by exchange.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and Albright-Knox Art Gallery Jointly Acquire Yayoi Kusama’s “Infinity Mirrored Room—My Heart Is Dancing into the Universe”
01.20.2022
Hirshhorn Museum Exhibitions New Acquisitions

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