National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources had its origins in a Department of Mineral Technology created in the United States National Museum in 1904. It became a Division in 1913, along with a Division of Mechanical Technology, reporting to the Department of Arts and Industries. In 1931 the two divisions were made sections in a new Division of Engineering. In 1938 they were attached to a new Division of Crafts and Industries, remaining there until the creation of the Museum of History and Technology in 1957.

In 1932 a Section of Agricultural History had been created as part of the Division of Textiles. In 1938 it was also attached to the Division of Crafts and Industries, Department of Engineering and Industries, where it remained until 1957.

In a 1957 reorganization, a new Department of Science and Technology inherited a Division of Agriculture and Wood Products from the old Division of Crafts and Industries. At the same time, a new Department of Arts and Manufactures housed a Division of Industrial Cooperation, which included the study of mining. In 1961 the Division of Industrial Cooperation was renamed the Division of Manufactures and Heavy Industries. A Department of Industries was created in 1969, along with the Division of Agriculture and Mining (formerly Agriculture and Forest Products). In 1976 Agriculture and Mining and the Division of Manufcturing merged to form a Division of Extractive Industries. In 1985 the Division of Extractive Industries became the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and in 1995 Agriculture and Natural Resources was absorbed into a newly created Division of the History of Technology.

Staff have included Charles D. Walcott, Honorary Curator, 1904-1912; Chester Garfield Gilbert, Curator, 1912-1919; Carl Weaver Mitman, Assistant Curator, 1915-1919, Curator of Mineral and Mechanical Technology, 1921-1931; Frederick Lewis Lewton, Curator, 1921-1946; Fred C. Reed, Associate Curator, 1947-1951; William N. Watkins, Associate Curator, 1951; Edward C. Kendall, Associate Curator, 1952-1965; John T. Schlebecker, Curator, 1965-1984; Philip W. Bishop, Curator, 1957-1966; Charles O. Houston, Jr., Associate Curator, 1960-1962; John Nathan Hoffman, Associate Curator, 1966-1981, Curator, 1982; Pete Daniel, Curator, 1984-1994; and G. Terry Sharrer, Associate Curator, 1982, Curator, 1983-1994.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 222941