Beautifully designed and illustrated with color photographs throughout, The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects is a rich and fascinating journey through America's collective memory, and a beautiful object in its own right.
Richard Kurin serves as the Smithsonian Institution's Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture, with responsibility for most of its museums and many of its educational programs. He is an anthropologist and cultural historian, a former Fulbright fellow with a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He is the author of several books, including Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem, and his scholarship and museological work have been recognized by the International Council of Museums, UNESCO, and Harvard's Peabody Museum. Awarded the Smithsonian Secretary's Gold Medal for Exceptional Service, he represents the Smithsonian on the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the White House Historical Association, and numerous other boards.
Publishers Weekly (starred):
“Kurin [has] done a masterful job. Even… well-known items have
surprising and significant back stories. Unexpected selections…
make the book even more engrossing, and… can make for some
emotional reading. Kurin does a terrific job of expanding upon the
story of each object, whether it’s a pair of slave shackles or a
damaged door from one of the New York City fire trucks that
responded to 9/11. This humanistic approach to storytelling makes
for immersive, addictive reading.”
Kirkus Reviews:
“Smithsonian Undersecretary Kurin’s tales are abundant, so much so
that it seems almost a shame to stop at a mere 101 items....A
well-conceived and well-illustrated pleasure to read, combining
narrative history and keepsake volume.”
Library Journal:
“A guide like this is all the more useful since such a small
percentage of the Smithsonian's holdings can ever be on exhibit.
The book is much more descriptive than analytical, as Kurin sets
each object, beautifully photographed, in its historical and
institutional context.”
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