Smithsonite with James Smithson Medal

Smithsonite with James Smithson Medallion
view Smithsonite with James Smithson Medallion digital asset number 1
AUTHOR:
Unknown
SUBJECT:
Smithson, James 1765-1829
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.) Dept. of Mineral Sciences
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.)
United States National Museum Dept. of Geology
United States National Museum Division of Mineralogy and Petrology
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:
Color: Black and White; Size: 2 1/2w x 8h x 6d - 5w x 2.5h x 2.5d; Type of Image: Object; Medium: Photographic print
TYPE:
Photographic print
Object
DATE:
1995
CATEGORY:
Historic Images of the Smithsonian
NOTES:
NMNH Specimen #s R2518-3, 147625, R17868, R15675
SUMMARY:
Sample of Smithsonite, a carbonate of zinc named in honor of James Smithson, mineralogist and founding donor of the Smithsonian Institution, in 1832, three years after his death. In an 1802 paper, Smithson proved calamines were true minerals, not oxides of zinc as the renowned mineralogist l'abbe Rene Just Hauy (1743-1822) had claimed. The James Smithson medallion has been placed in front of the Smithsonite.
CONTAINED WITHIN:
Smithsonian Institution Archives Record Unit 95 Box 21 Folder 4
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
TOPIC:
Smithsonite
Specimens
National Collections
Mineralogy
STANDARD NUMBER:
95-3573-10
RESTRICTIONS:
No restrictions
DATA SOURCE:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div