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Welcome Welcome to the Smithsonian Photography Initiative (SPI), a division of the Smithsonian Institution Archives. We hope this website will introduce you to Smithsonian's extraordinary collections of photographs and to an understanding of the integral roles photographs play in our lives. Photography and the Smithsonian were born within a decade of each other in the mid-19th century. The fledgling Smithsonian was quick to adopt the camera to advance its mission, cataloging plant and animal species, and documenting the grandeur of the American landscape as well as its original inhabitants. Photography brought the faraway near and made visible the previously invisible. Today we have more than 13 million images in some seven hundred collections throughout our museums and research centers. The collections are organized by museum and discipline—for instance, the National Museum of Natural History holds natural science images in its collections, the National Air and Space Museum houses images of flight in its archives, and the National Museum of African Art holds photographs of Africa in its collections. We believe that the Smithsonian's ability to look at photography broadly and in context makes the Institution unique. Beyond locating and describing the hundreds of Smithsonian photography collections, the SPI website lists all the current and upcoming photography programs that happen at the Smithsonian, both online and on the ground. The strengths of the Photography Initiative derive from the innovative ideas behind our programs. SPI creates timely, relevant resources in the field of visual culture, all of which strive to provide interactive components geared at encouraging the public to join our experts in a dialogue about the various issues in the world of images. Through our blog, THE BIGGER PICTURE, readers can follow and comment alongside the observations posted by our Smithsonian editorial team on matters ranging from current news on issues related to visual culture, to studies on how collections of photography are organized, maintained, and displayed here at the Smithsonian. Education is central to our mission at SPI. We strive to educate all members of this global society on the power of photography and its impact on our lives. Through interactive, online programs such as click! photography changes everything SPI provided approximately a hundred authors with a gathering place to post their observations on the active role photography has and continues to have on shaping our lives. The collective result is a timeless resource for educators, students, and photography enthusiasts of all kinds. We hope click! continues to inspire all of its online visitors to contemplate the power of visual media for many years to come. As the Smithsonian Photography Initiative continues to develop our programs in association with the Smithsonian Institution Archives, we remain dedicated to our audience: anyone who wishes to study, explore, and enjoy photographs of all kinds. I hope you enjoy your experience here! Merry A. Foresta, Director
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