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Show Z3 V COMMITTEE FOR ISLAMIC CULTURE SUITE 43. 1789 LANIER PLACE. N . W. WASHINGTON 9, D.C. August, 1971! ISLAMIC ARCHIVES Now In Custody Of The Smithsonian The Committee for Islamic Culture is pleased to announce that the Islamic Archives it formerly sponsored was transferred on June Ik, 1972, to the Smithsonian Institution. The late Myron Bement Smith started the Archives while studying Islamic monuments in Iran (1933-37). Until his death in 1970, Dr. Smith continued to augment the Archives through his own efforts as well as through generous cooperation from scholars, teachers, and friends of the Near and Middle East interested in recording the richness of its culture and the genius of its builders, artisans, and artists. The Smithsonian has undertaken, as conditions permit, to advance the purposes of the Archives in accordance with the desires of Dr. Smith as expressed in Appendix A of his study, Investigation of the Use of Photodocu-ments in the Teaching of the Languages, Cultures, and Civilization of the Near East (U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, June 1970). The Islamic Archives consists of photographs, negatives, photoprints, architectural drawings, field notes, and maps illustrating and documenting contemporary and historical cultures of the Near/Middle East and North Africa during the Islamic period. The Archives - presently numbering over 80,000 items,concerning Islamic culture, especially anthropology, archaeology, architecture, art, epigraphy, geography, and history - now may be consulted by scholars. The staff will endeavor to answer specific queries as fully as possible. Items that can be readily reproduced will be available for purchase (at cost of servicing). Written inquiries concerning the Archives may be sent to the National Anthropological Archives, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560. Now that the Archives is in the custody of the Smithsonian, the Committee for Islamic Culture considers its responsibilities discharged and itself hereby dissolved. It is hoped that present gaps in the coverage of the Islamic Archives may be filled by contributions of users and friends sympathetic with its purposes. The Committee finally wishes to express gratitude to the Smithsonian and to Dr. Herman J. Viola, Director of the National Anthropological Archives, for undertaking to maintain and service the Islamic Archives and to promote its further growth for the benefit of serious students of Islamic culture. Katharine Dennis Smith |