Upper Darby library to host chat with Smithsonian history expert TODAY
If you have ever visited a Smithsonian museum and wondered about the history of the institution that runs it, Upper Darby Township Library is hosting an upcoming virtual event that you may want to check out.
On Feb. 24 at 2 p.m., the library is inviting members of the public to take part in a livestreamed conversation with author Tom Crouch “about the trials, errors, and incredible legacy of the Smithsonian’s foundation.”
Crouch joined the Smithsonian in 1974 and has served in a variety of curatorial and administrative posts at the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History. He also authored the book “Smithson’s Gamble: The Smithsonian Institution in American Life, 1836-1906.” James Smithson was the English chemist and mineralogist who bequeathed his estate to the country to establish the Smithsonian Institution.
Crouch’s book documents how the Smithsonian evolved from a small, narrowly focused organization into an institution that led the way in fields from astrophysics to zoology — and planted the roots for the American conservation movement and a national weather service. Today, the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum complex, consisting of more than 17 museums, the National Zoo, and education and research centers.
But Crouch’s book also offers drama alongside the history lesson. As the township library notes, “’Smithson’s Gamble’ is filled with fascinating characters, twists and turns, and moments of triumph and tragedy, complete with political machinations, a bit of backstabbing, accusations of murder, and the occasional scandal.”
Members of the public can register for the event and subject questions for Crouch here.
