National Museum of American History (U.S.). Dept. of the History of Science and Technology.

In 1957 a Department of Science and Technology was formed from elements of the United States National Museum's Divisions of Engineering and Crafts and Industries. It included a Division of Physical Sciences, Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Transportation, Agriculture and Wood Products, Electricity, and Medical Sciences. In 1959 the Division of Agriculture and Wood Products was moved to the Department of Arts and Manufactures. In 1965 the title of Head Curator was changed to Chairman. In that same year a Section of Mathematics and one of Antique Instruments were created.

In 1969 the Museum of History and Technology was renamed the National Museum of History and Technology. At that time the Division of Electricity was renamed the Division of Electricity and Nuclear Energy. The Division of Transportation was reassigned to the Department of Industries. A 1978 reorganization saw the creation of two departments from the old Department of Science and Technology, a Department of the History of Science and a Department of the History of Technology. Components of the older department were assigned as follows: to History of Science went the Division of Physical Sciences, Medical Sciences, Electricity and Modern Physics (formerly Electricity and Nuclear Energy), a Division of Mechanisms, and the Division of Mathematics (formerly a section). To History of Technology were assigned the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, the Division of Extractive Industries, the Division of Textiles, and the Division of Photographic History. The Division of Ceramics and Glass was transferred to the Department of Cultural History.

In 1980 during a reorganization of the National Museum of American History the previously existing Departments of the History of Science and of the History of Technology were combined into a single Department of the History of Science and Technology. At that time the Division of Textiles was shifted to the Department of Social and National History, while the Divisions of Military and of Naval History moved into the new Department. In 1984 they merged as the Division of Armed Forces History. In 1985 the Division of Extractive Industries was renamed the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In 1986 the Divisions of Mechanical and Civil Engineering and of Mechanisms merged into a Division of Engineering and Industry, while the Division of Photographic History was shifted to the Department of Social and Cultural History. The Divisions of Mathematics and of Physical Sciences were joined into the Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics. In 1994 another reorganization of the National Museum of American History led to the inclusion of the Department as part of a new Division of the History of Technology.

Chairmen of the Department included Robert P. Multhauf, 1957-1966; Susan Faye Cannon, 1967-1968; Bernard S. Finn, 1969-1973, 1979-1982; Robert M. Vogel, 1973-1975; Otto Mayr, 1976-1977; John T. Schlebecker, 1978; Arthur P. Molella, 1983-1991, 1993-1994; and Edward Clinton Ezell (Acting), 1992.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 218127