New name for CAL

On January 26, 1998 the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution voted to rename the Conservation Analytical Laboratory
to: Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education (SCMRE).

The new name was chosen to reflect better the present mission of
SCMRE, of research and education in the conservation, preservation,
technical study and analysis of museum collection items and related
materials. This action by the Board of Regents serves as a formal
approval of this mission and a recognition of SCMRE's status as a
Smithsonian research institute.

Originally established in 1963, principally to provide technical
support to the Smithsonian museums in the analysis and conservation
needs of the collections, CAL moved in 1983 to the then newly
completed Museum Support Center, to embark on a mission of
independently formulated programs in research and education in
conservation and scientific studies of collection materials, serving
a nationwide and international professional audience. Since then, it
has obtained international recognition as a major research and
training facility in its field.

SCMRE will continue building on the existing CAL programs with the
same staff and under the same direction. As a research institute of
the Smithsonian Institution, SCMRE reports to the Provost .

   "It is the purpose of the Smithsonian Center for Materials
    Research and Education to increase and disseminate scientific
    knowledge that contributes to improved preservation and
    conservation of museum collections and related materials and to
    the enhancement of their contextual interpretation."

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:65
                 Distributed: Friday, January 30, 1998
                       Message Id: cdl-11-65-005
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