As reported here two years ago, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is planning a new exhibition, American Enterprise, which will open in the spring of 2015 (moved back from 2014). The exhibition will focus primarily on stories from five economic
sectors: agriculture, finance, information and communication technology,
manufacturing, and retail/service. In conjunction with the physical exhibit, the NMAH created a website to track the exhibit's progress and to allow public interaction with the curators. Readers can learn about additions to the exhibit and read articles by following the project's blog. Posts include an article on pawning by Wendy Woloson; on Alfred Bloomingdale's cartoon collection by Robin Einhorn; a series of posts (generated by Steven Lubar's class at Brown University) on the significance of business board games; on the making of Labor Day by Paul Buhle; and on the business of philanthropy by Amanda Moniz. Interested readers can subscribe to the "American Enterprise" blog to receive updates automatically.
The Princeton University Library has digitized a number of posters from the Interborough Rapid Transit Subway Company . The posters, designed by the public relations firm Ivy Lee, were displayed in subway cars to provide information to riders about changes in fares and routes, safety issues, and other matters of interest. The collection consists of 385 images dating from 1918 to 1932; many of them provide financial information about rates, company dividends, and a general look at an early rapid transit system. October 29, update: Jonathan Rees over at "More or Less Bunk" was moved by this post to go off in search of a better site, and found the massive collection of the London Transport Museum , which displays over 5,000 items in a searchable collection .
