Smithson's Gamble: The Smithsonian Institution in American Life, 1836–1906

by Tom D. Crouch

Genres: History, Nonfiction

416 pages, Hardcover

Published April 29, 2025

About the author

Tom Day Crouch is curator emeritus of the Smithsonian, where he served both the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History in a variety of curatorial and administrative posts. Prior to coming to the Smithsonian he was employed by the Ohio Historical Society as director of education (1969-1973) and as director, Ohio American Revolution Bicentennial Advisory Commission (1973-1974).

Crouch earned a BA in history from Ohio University in 1962, an MA in history from Miami University in 1968, and a PhD in history from the Ohio State University in 1976.

Reviews

[David Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully informative book detailing the creation of the Smithsonian Institution through the often-turbulent administrations of the first three secretaries: Joseph Henry, Spencer Fullerton Baird, and Samuel Pierpont Langley. The author brings out the complicated natures of these three men, along with the political realities they had to wade through to bring James Smithson's vision to fruition and keep it alive during tentative times until it became the national treasure it is today.

David J. Kent
Author, "Lincoln: The Fire of Genius" and "Lincoln in New England"