The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is set to launch a Cosmetics and Personal Care Collections Digitization Project with the support of Kiehl’s—an American skincare company. The museum’s Division of Medicine and Science documents the advances and changes made in health and wellness throughout American history. It has approximately 90,000 artifacts, including a collection of 2,000 personal care and beauty products. This collection documents America’s ever-changing conceptions of health, beauty and well-being. The collection reflects the use of botanical and natural ingredients within cosmetic products and how Americans have perceived connections between health and beauty. Kiehl’s have donated more than 100 artifacts, along with 11 new products and an archival collection of original formulas, which will further enhance this collection.
There are also plans to extend the collection to the Web through the Cosmetics and Personal Care Collections Digitization Project. A museum specialist will identify, photograph and provide descriptive information for the cosmetic and personal care objects collection on the Web. This project will allow the museum’s collection of cosmetics and personal products to be accessed online not only for educational purposes, but also for research around the world. Initiatives like these area a priority for The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and all it’s branches. naturalhistory.si.edu