Libraries Launches Electronic Publishing Program

On June 1, 1996 the Libraries published its first Electronic Edition on its Home Page, http://www.sil.si.edu/elecedns.htm. The illustrated work by John C. Ewers, "Hair Pipes in Plains Indian Adornment: A Study in Indian and White Ingenuity," was originally published as Anthropological Papers, No. 50 (1957), Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 164 (pp. 29-85, plates. 13-37). The digital publication reproduces the complete text of the original and several color images in place of the black-and-white half-tones printed in the 1957 edition. John Canfield Ewers, the author, cooperated with the Libraries in the preparation of this electronic version. The June publication coincided with Ewers's 50th anniversary at the Smithsonian Institution. Currently ethnologist emeritus in the Anthropology Department of the National Museum of Natural History, Ewers served as Director of the Museum of History and Technology, now the National Museum of American History, in the 1960s. The American Association of Museums recently honored Ewers with the Distinguished Service to Museums Award for his 60 years of contributions to the museum profession. On May 29, the Libraries hosted a Book Party for its first Electronic Edition where Ewers was honored. Staff of the National Museum of Natural History Department of Anthropology and of the National Museum of the American Indian attended along with Libraries' staff and friends, family, and colleagues of Ewers.

In progress now is an electronic edition of the Index to the BAE series (vol. 200), which the Libraries will publish in February 1997.