Resources at Smithsonian Institution Archives

Collage of photos and objects related to women's service during World War One

The objects highlighted below are held by the Smithsonian Institution Archives (SIA) and represent only a preliminary survey of the museum’s holdings that are related to women in World War I.  Please also keep in mind that we have a very broad definition of what constitutes women's involvement in the war.

These objects relate to the closure of the Natural History Building of the U.S. National Museum at the Smithsonian. The Natural History Building, now the National Museum of Natural History, closed to the public on July 16, 1918, in order to accommodate the Bureau of War Risk Insurance.  Many of the Bureau's clerks who worked in the museum were women. The building reopened to the public in April 1919.

Also, check out SIA's blog post about Smithsonian employees' contributions to the war effort during World War I—including the charwomen of the Natural History Building!

Search term: *:* Date: 1920s Clear All

Letter from Charles D. Walcott to President Woodrow Wilson, November 26, 1917

Historic Images of the SmithsonianThe Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the US Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during WWI.
Category
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Notes
The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the US Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during WWI. The bureau was located within the US Department of the Treasury and provided insurance policies and paid claims to sailors during WWI.
Summary
Letter from fourth Smithsonian Secretary Charles D. Walcott in response to President Woodrow Wilson's request to use all of the Smithsonian's Natural History Building for the Bureau of War Risk Insurance. Secretary Walcott enumerates all of the delays and difficulties in making space available and offers other suggestions, such as building temporary quarters on Smithsonian grounds.
Contained within
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 192, Box 194, Folder: 1
Contact information
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
Date
November 26, 1917
20th century
Author
Walcott, Charles D (Charles Doolittle) 1850-1927
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow 1856-1924
United States National Museum
United States Bureau of War Risk Insurance
Natural History Building
Standard number
SIA2014-06990 and SIA2014-6991

Letter from Henry White to Richard Rathbun

Historic Images of the SmithsonianThe Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the United States Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during World War I.
Category
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Notes
The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the United States Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during World War I. The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was established within the Treasury Department to provide insurance policies and pay claims to sailors during World War I.
Summary
Letter from Henry White, Smithsonian Regent and Chairman of the Committee on the Use of the National Museum Buildings, informing Richard Rathbun, Assistant Secretary and Director of the United States National Museum, that the Board of Regents has adopted a resolution to close the Natural History Building for use by the Bureau of War Risk Insurance during World War I.
Contained within
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 192, Box 194, Folder: 1
Contact information
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
Date
July 15, 1918
20th century
Author
White, Henry 1850-1927
Subject
Rathbun, Richard 1852-1918
United States National Museum
United States Bureau of War Risk Insurance
Natural History Building
Regents Smithsonian Institution
Assistant Secretary in charge of the United States National Museum
Standard number
SIA2014-06993

Letter from William deC. Ravenel to President Woodrow Wilson

Historic Images of the SmithsonianThe Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the United States Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during World War I.
Category
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Notes
The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the United States Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during World War I. The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was established within the Treasury Department to provide insurance policies and pay claims to sailors during World War I.
Summary
Letter from William deC. Ravenel, Administrative Assistant to Secretary Walcott, to President Woodrow Wilson informing him of the approval by the Committee of the Board of Regents for the Natural History Building closure and ithe use of space in the exhibition halls by the Bureau of War Risk Insurance.
Contained within
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 192, Box 194, Folder: 1
Contact information
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
Date
July 15, 1918
20th century
Author
Ravenel, William deC
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow 1856-1924
United States National Museum
United States Bureau of War Risk Insurance
Natural History Building
Administrative Assistant in charge of the United States National Museum
Standard number
SIA2014-06992

Letter from Woodrow Wilson to Charles D. Walcott, October 13, 1917

Historic Images of the SmithsonianThe Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the US Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during WWI.
Category
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Notes
The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the US Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during WWI. The bureau was located within the US Department of the Treasury and provided insurance policies and paid claims to sailors during WWI.
Summary
Letter from President Woodrow Wilson to fourth Smithsonian Secretary Charles D. Walcott requesting to use space in the US National Museum, now the National Museum of Natural History, for the Bureau of War Risk Insurance during WWI. After negotiations, the Bureau of War Risk Insurance was given space in the Natural History Building.
Contained within
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 192, Box 194, Folder: 1
Contact information
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
Date
October 13,1917
20th century
Author
Wilson, Woodrow 1856-1924
Subject
Walcott, Charles D (Charles Doolittle) 1850-1927
United States National Museum
United States Bureau of War Risk Insurance
Natural History Building
Standard number
SIA2014-06989

Letter from William deC. Ravenel to Mr. Henderson, Oct. 19 1918

Historic Images of the SmithsonianThe Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the United States Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during World War I.
Category
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
Notes
The Bureau of War Risk Insurance was founded in 1914 by the United States Congress to ensure the availability of marine insurance during World War I. The Bureau was established within the Treasury Department to provide insurance policies and pay claims to sailors during World War I.
Summary
Letter from William deC. Ravenel, Administrative Assistant to Secretary Walcott, notifying Mr. Henderson that the space in the Natural History Building previously occupied by the Bureau of War Risk Insurance will be filled with the new war collection materials, e.g. the Natural History Building rotunda, foyer, etc. He stated that the United States War Department and Navy Department were fully cooperating with the Smithsonian's collecting efforts, and also, General John J. Pershing expressed his willingness to make collections from our allies and enemies in Europe.
Contained within
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 192, Box 194, Folder: 2
Contact information
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
Date
October 19, 1918
20th century
Author
Ravenel, William deC
Subject
Pershing, John J (John Joseph) 1860-1948
United States National Museum
United States Bureau of War Risk Insurance
Natural History Building
Standard number
SIA2014-06995

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.