President Obama Awards 2009 National Humanities Medals

President Barack Obama recently presented the 2009 National Humanities Medals to eight Americans for their outstanding achievements in history, literature, cultural philanthropy, and museum leadership. Medals were given to historians Robert A. Caro, Annette Gordon-Reed, David Levering Lewis, and William H. McNeill; museum director Philippe de Montebello; philanthropist Albert H. Small; author Theodore C. Sorensen; and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel.


Smithsonian Reaches Publishing Deal With Random House

Smithsonian Books recently reached an agreement with Random House Publisher Services for worldwide sales and distribution of its title catalog beginning at the end of March. Smithsonian Books publishes illustrated, photography, reference and narrative nonfiction books in categories such as history, art, culture, anthropology, archaeology, science and technology, aviation and space.