History of SPI

Established in 2001, the Smithsonian Photography Initiative (SPI) is a web-based program dedicated to fully utilizing the Smithsonian Institution’s vast photographic assets and expertise to create innovative online programming. SPI exists to broaden public understanding and appreciation of photography at the Smithsonian; enhance the Smithsonian’s public programming and educational outreach efforts in photography; and use innovative technologies to create new opportunities for research and scholarship about the cultural impact of photographs.

In 2003, SPI published At First Sight: Photography and the Smithsonian, with Smithsonian Books. Edited by SPI Director, Merry Foresta, this book features a broad range of photographs culled from collections throughout the Institution and includes writings by Smithsonian experts in science, history, and the arts.

The Smithsonian Photography Initiative launched photography.si.eduAugust 2006 to bring greater public awareness to the Smithsonian’s vast photographic collections. In addition to highlighting collections, exhibitions, and publications, this website presents over five thousand images as a cross sampling of photographs contained in the art, history, and science collections of the Institution’s nineteen museums, nine research centers, and the National Zoo. Thousands more photographs are available through a broader collection search now available at collections.si.edu.

click! photography changes everything launched in 2008 with the purpose of stimulating an unprecedented dialogue about the ways photography enables people to document and interact with the world. Led by guest curator, Marvin Heiferman, SPI actively grew the click! website from 2008–2010 with commentaries by approximately one hundred authors, each writing about the ways photography has impacted all aspects of modern life since its invention. As a result, click! now provides a valuable resource for teachers, researchers, and the general public to continue to explore the way photography touches all of us.

In January 2009, the Smithsonian Photography Initiative launched THE BIGGER PICTURE, a blog that presents an inside look at the Smithsonian’s photography collections and invites audiences to engage in an online discussion about photography’s powerful impact on our world. Produced by SPI in collaboration with guest contributors from throughout the Smithsonian, THE BIGGER PICTURE offers multiple perspectives about the impact of photography while highlighting the work of curators, photographers, historians, and other Smithsonian staff members. It invites the general public to participate in the dialogue by commenting on Smithsonian posts.

The Smithsonian Photography Initiative became a division of the Smithsonian Institution Archives in March 2009. As the Institution moves closer to the capability of bringing its collections together in a virtual environment, SPI and the Archives are natural partners. With similar goals of use and access, our partnership provides the focus for greater awareness, access, and use of Smithsonian’s important photography collections. SPI remains focused on creating programs that function as valuable online educational resources, and we actively seek opportunities to create and share free classroom curriculum guides via our websites.