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Washington, DC
si.edu
Joined March 2008
Born August 10
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  1. Pinned Tweet
    Mar 1

    Her story changed history. Our Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative will tell a more complete American story and empower future generations. This , we'll share stories of the women who changed ours: .

    Graphic on teal background with white text: “because of her story.” About 10 black and white photos of women’s faces. One wears a top hat. Another works in a chemistry lab.
    21 replies 768 retweets 1,374 likes
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  2. Retweeted
    5 hours ago

    Alma Thomas taught at Shaw Junior High School from 1924-1960. She was described as a “capable, imaginative and dedicated teacher” and established a community arts program to encourage an appreciation of fine arts in her students.

    7 retweets 23 likes
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  3. 7 hours ago

    See collections related to Asian Pacific American heritage from across the Smithsonian:

    10 retweets 27 likes
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  4. 23 hours ago

    . Ramadan started last night. This 1598 Qur’an manuscript is from the Safavid period in Iran, with calligraphy by Ahmad Sayri. It's now in the collection of our .

    An open book with tan pages. They are covered in a symmetrical, intricate medallion pattern in gold and blue. There are many small flowers and vines in different colors within it, and Arabic script incorporated into the design.
    3 replies 22 retweets 77 likes
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  5. May 6

    In "Shimomura Crossing the Delaware," based on Emanuel Leutze's 1851 painting, artist Roger Shimomura presents himself as America's founding father. He replaces Washington’s troops with samurai warriors. This 2010 painting is in our :

    A brightly colored painting in three panels, in a compositional style to a woodblock print. Ten men are on a boat in blue waves. They are dressed as samurai warriors, and many hold oars. One man with gray hair is dressed as a general and stands int he center. An American flag is behind him. In the background, mountainous sky line and the shadow of another boat.
    5 replies 38 retweets 109 likes
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  6. May 6

    Take a memo: This microcasette tape recorder flew on 14 Space Shuttle missions in the 1990s. Astronauts use devices like this to record mission activities, as well as listen to music or messages from home. NASA transferred this one to our in 2005.

    Microcasette tape player that reads Olympus on the slot for a microcasette tape. There are buttons on the side and top.
    13 retweets 46 likes
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  7. May 3

    The hashtag is really growing on us. Artist and conservationist Margaret Mee devoted her life to recording the beauty and diversity of the Amazon. Her Brazilian bromeliads are in our 's collection.

    Illustration of a red/pink/orange plant stalk bursting forth from a cluster of long green leaves freckled with small purple spots. The stalk ends in bursts of yellow, oval-shaped flowers.
    Floating in white space, a blue, purple, and green leafy plant reaches its leaves upward as one dangling flower stalk hangs down, its blush pink petal-like pieces pointing downward. Illustration.
    3 replies 35 retweets 150 likes
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  8. Retweeted
    May 3

    Flowers for , from Yoko Ono's “Wish Tree for Washington, DC” 🌳 Visitors can whisper their wishes to the flowering dogwood🌸

    A large blooming tree fills the frame, lush green foliage and white flowers. Back-lit with morning light.
    1 reply 22 retweets 80 likes
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  9. Retweeted
    May 3

    Today in 1918: Protest singer Pete Seeger is born. For over sixty years, he performed powerful songs and lent his energies to causes he believed in. Seeger appeared on countless records including this one from our collection.

    Album cover for "This Land Is My Land" featuring, among others, Pete Seeger
    4 replies 67 retweets 167 likes
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  10. May 3

    Pete Seeger was born 100 years ago today. For decades, he performed powerful songs and lent his energies to causes he believed in. Celebrate by recording yourself singing or playing a Seeger tune. Tag and through May 5.

    Black and white photo of a man and a woman, taken from behind. The background is dark with a few bright lights. He is holding a banjo and pointing to the left of the frame.
    2 replies 79 retweets 156 likes
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  11. May 2

    Anna Walinska's world travels and Jewish heritage informed her modernist paintings and collages, and she is known for her work related to the Holocaust. Explore her papers in our :

    15 retweets 53 likes
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  12. May 2

    April showers bring May flowers. 🌸🌺🌼 Each corner of this Woods Cree beaded saddle blanket (ca. 1885 from Canada) has a different design. More saddles and blankets in our :

    A dark blue black in a rectangular shape with curved sides. It has an orange border. Each corner has a floral embroidered design in bright blues, yellows and pinks.
    1 reply 21 retweets 84 likes
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  13. May 1

    Today is the start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The Google Doodle features Ruth Asawa, who sculpted airy and evocative pieces made from wire. Interview in our :

    Teal and white graphic with a black and white close-up portrait of a woman with black hair. She looks right at the camera, a steady expression on her face. Her hair is parted. She wears a black top with a white collar. Text says: Ruth Asawa studied art in a Japanese American incarceration camp and became an advocate for arts education. #BecauseOfHerStory
    30 retweets 68 likes
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  14. Retweeted
    Apr 3

    Calling all musicians and singers! Join us in celebrating Pete Seeger’s 100th birthday, May 3-5 by sharing videos of yourself singing Pete’s music with your local community. Tag us and and we’ll share you spreading the joy of Pete’s life, legacy, and music.

    1 reply 27 retweets 52 likes
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  15. May 1

    This is one part of 's celebration this year. Join us as we look back at the legacy of the first small steps on the Moon and look forward to the next giant leap:

    White spacesuit with a U.S. flag patch on right left arm and NASA emblem on the breast. White helmet with black, reflective visor. The suit has large, grey gloves. Photo is ¾ length.
    14 retweets 54 likes
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  16. May 1

    Armstrong’s spacesuit will go on display July 16 for the first time in 13 years. A state-of-the-art display case and mannequin were created to help protect it while on display. The suit was 3D scanned and digitized so anyone in the world can experience with us.

    Photograph from overhead a white NASA spacesuit. Shown in the full, the suit includes a U.S. flag on the left arm, grey gloves, and white boots. Prominent in the photo is a white helmet with black, reflective visor.
    1 reply 32 retweets 105 likes
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  17. May 1

    Like onions, space suits have layers. Their combination of complex materials—21 layers in places—makes preserving a spacesuit a challenge. We can't disassemble the suit, see what's inside and conserve each part separately. That's where CT scans come in.

    Three women stand around a flat surface next to a CT scanner. A white spacesuit is laying on its back on the surface. There is foam surrounding the suit's boots.
    2 replies 7 retweets 53 likes
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  18. May 1

    Thanks to the thousands of Kickstarter backers who supported our campaign, we learned the best way to halt or slow down deterioration. This knowledge can also be applied to the rest of the museum's spacesuit collection.

    Close up photograph of the chest portion of a white spacesuit. Two circular emblems on each side of the astronauts name: ARMSTRONG. On left, a blue, white, and red NASA logo. On right, an Apollo II emblem including an eagle landing on the Moon with Earth in the background.
    2 replies 11 retweets 78 likes
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  19. May 1

    Does it look different to the naked eye? No. But conservation doesn't aim to make the suit look brand new—it preserves and stabilizes the object, moon dust and all.

    Leg and foot portions of a white spacesuit. Bulky, white boots, padded knees.
    1 reply 9 retweets 68 likes
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  20. May 1

    Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 spacesuit was made for a very specific purpose: preserving human life in space and on the Moon for a short time. Not for decades in a museum. Today our revealed new post-conservation photos of the suit, ready to go on view for .

    Photograph of a white NASA spacesuit. Shown in the full, the suit includes a U.S. flag on the left arm, grey gloves, and white boots. The white helmet has a black, reflective visor.
    Close up photograph of the U.S. flag on the shoulder/arm portion of a white spacesuit. The flag appears slightly worn and aged. Also visible is an Apollo II emblem on the chest with an image of an eagle.
    Bulky, grey glove with light blue fingertips. Connected to white spacesuit. Detail photo of larger suit.
    6 replies 154 retweets 482 likes
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  21. Retweeted
    May 1

    John Singleton was the first African American filmmaker nominated for best director at the Oscars. He will be remembered for his courage, commitment, candor & unshakeable respect for Black America. Our Museum Mourns The Loss of Director, John Singleton:

    2 replies 113 retweets 291 likes
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