Science & Mathematics - Overview
The Museum's collections hold thousands of objects related to chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, and other sciences. Instruments range from early American telescopes to lasers. Rare glassware and other artifacts from the laboratory of Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, are among the scientific treasures here. A Gilbert chemistry set of about 1937 and other objects testify to the pleasures of amateur science. Artifacts also help illuminate the social and political history of biology and the roles of women and minorities in science.
The mathematics collection holds artifacts from slide rules and flash cards to code-breaking equipment. More than 1,000 models demonstrate some of the problems and principles of mathematics, and 80 abstract paintings by illustrator and cartoonist Crockett Johnson show his visual interpretations of mathematical theorems.
"Science & Mathematics - Overview" showing 66 items.
Page 5 of 7
Engraved woodblock of the "Signal for 'buffalo discovered'"
- Description
- This engraved woodblock of “Signal for ‘buffalo discovered’” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 337 on page 532 in an article by Garrick Mallery (1831-1894) entitled “Sign Language Among the North American Indians” in the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1879-80.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1881
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- maker
- Nichols, H. H.
- author
- Mallery, Garrick
- ID Number
- 1980.0219.1523
- accession number
- 1980.0219
- catalog number
- 1980.0219.1523
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraved woodblock of the "Dance of the Nahikai"
- Description
- This engraved woodblock of the “Dance of the Nahikai” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XII (p.438) in an article by Dr. Washington Matthews (1843-1905) entitled “The Mountain Chant: a Navajo ceremony” in the Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1883-84. The illustration was engraved by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1887
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- graphic artist
- Nichols, H. H.
- author
- Matthews, Washington
- block maker
- A. P. J. & Co.
- ID Number
- 1980.0219.1539
- accession number
- 1980.0219
- catalog number
- 1980.0219.1539
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraved woodblock of a "Dipper - province of Tusayan"
- Description
- This engraved woodblock of a “Dipper - province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 299 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1886
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- author
- Holmes, William Henry
- ID Number
- 1980.0219.1725
- catalog number
- 1980.0219.1725
- accession number
- 1980.0219
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraved woodblock of a "Handled cup, province of Tusayan"
- Description
- This engraved woodblock of a “Handled Cup – Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 297 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1886
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- author
- Holmes, William Henry
- ID Number
- 1980.0219.1796
- catalog number
- 1980.0219.1796
- accession number
- 1980.0219
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraved woodblock of hilltop pueblos
- Description
- This engraved woodblock of hilltop pueblos was engraved and printed by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of American Ethnology in about 1880.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1880
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- block maker
- A. P. J. & Co.
- ID Number
- 1980.0219.1813
- catalog number
- 1980.0219.1813
- accession number
- 1980.0219
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraved woodblock of the "Moki method of dressing hair"
- Description
- This engraved woodblock of a “Moki method of dressing hair” was prepared, after a photograph, by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XLIII (p.583) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Pueblos of Zuni, New Mexico, and Wolpi, Arizona, in 1881” in the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1881-82.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1884
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- graphic artist
- Nichols, H. H.
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- author
- Stevenson, James
- block maker
- J. J. & Co.
- ID Number
- 1980.0219.1879
- catalog number
- 1980.0219.1879
- accession number
- 1980.0219
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Electrotype of "Hu'petha"
- Description
- This electrotype of “Hu’petha” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate 28 (p.163) in an article by Alice C. Fletcher (1838-1923) and Francis La Flesche (1857-1932) entitled “The Omaha Tribe” in the Twenty-Seventh Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1905-1906.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1911
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- author
- Flecher, Alice C.
- LaFlesche, Francis
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- ID Number
- 2000.0207.066
- catalog number
- 2000.0207.066
- accession number
- 2000.0207
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Electroytpe of a "Carrying-basket in usual position"
- Description
- This electrotype of “Carrying-basket in usual position” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate 15 (p.37) in an article by David I. Bushnell, Jr. (1875-1941) entitled “The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana” in the Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 48, (1909).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1909
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- author
- Bushnell, Jr., David I.
- ID Number
- 2000.0207.089
- catalog number
- 2000.0207.089
- accession number
- 2000.0207
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Electrotype of "Toshkachito holds a Choctow blowgun in shooting position"
- Description
- This electrotype of “Toshkachito holds a Choctow blowgun in shooting position” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate 20 (p.37) in an article by David I. Bushnell, Jr. (1875-1941) entitled “The Choctaw of Bayou Lacomb St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana” in Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 48, (1909).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1909
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- author
- Bushnell, Jr., David I.
- ID Number
- 2000.0207.091
- catalog number
- 2000.0207.091
- accession number
- 2000.0207
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Electrotype of "Incidents in the life of Jaw (drawing by himself)"
- Description
- This electrotype of “Incidents in the life of Jaw (drawing by himself)” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate 63 (p.392) in an article by David I. Bushnell, Jr. (1875-1941) entitled Frances Densmore (1867-1957) entitled “Teton Sioux Music” in Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 61, (1918).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- publisher
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- printer
- Government Printing Office
- author
- Densmore, Frances
- ID Number
- 2000.0207.104
- catalog number
- 2000.0207.104
- accession number
- 2000.0207
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center