Smith, Monica M.
Former Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation, Lemelson Center
0000-0002-9216-3346
Smith, Monica M.
Former Head of Exhibitions and Interpretation, Lemelson Center
U.S. history and process of invention and innovation, including the role of place and community networks and the relationships among invention, creativity, and play.
Background And Education
Education And Training
- Georgetown University , Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate Program 2016
- B.A. in History, Pomona College 1988 - 1992
Research And Grants
Investigator On
Publications
Selected Publications
-
Article
- Smith, Monica M. 2016. "Playful Invention, Inventive Play." International Journal of Play, 244–261. https://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2016.1203549. 2016
- Smith, Monica M. 2016. "Why There? Why Then? Examining Places of Invention." Dimensions, 18, (3) 30–35. 2016
- Smith, Monica M. and Molella, Arthur P. 2014. "The Lemelson Center's Places of Invention Project." Technology and Innovation, 16, (3-4) 175–185. https://doi.org/10.3727/194982414X14138187301498. 2014
-
Blog Posting
- Smith, Monica M. 2020. "Disaster Board Games." Lemelson Center Blog Washington, DC: Lemelson Center, Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Apr 10, 2020. https://invention.si.edu/disaster-board-games. 2020
- Smith, Monica M. 2020. "Sports Innovator Howard Head." Lemelson Center Blog Washington, D.C.: Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Sep 8, 2020. https://invention.si.edu/sports-innovator-howard-head. 2020
- Smith, Monica M. 2019. "How Do We Know Exactly When the New Year Begins?" Lemelson Center Blog Washington, DC: Lemelson Center, Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Dec 30, 2019. https://invention.si.edu/how-do-we-know-exactly-when-new-year-begins. 2019
- Smith, Monica M. 2019. "Human Computation Pioneer Luis von Ahn." Lemelson Center Blog Smithsonian's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Apr 3, 2019. https://invention.si.edu/human-computation-pioneer-luis-von-ahn. 2019
- Smith, Monica M. 2019. "Inspirational Innovative Lives." Lemelson Center Blog Washington, DC: Lemelson Center, Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Aug 13, 2019. https://invention.si.edu/inspirational-innovative-lives. 2019
- Smith, Monica M. 2018. "Grab Bag Inventing at the DC STEM Fair." Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/grab-bag-inventing-dc-stem-fair. 2018
- Smith, Monica M. 2018. "Lincoln Logs Inventor John LLoyd Wright." Lemelson Center Blog Washington, DC: Lemelson Center, Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Aug 23, 2018. https://invention.si.edu/lincoln-logs-inventor-john-lloyd-wright. 2018
- Smith, Monica M. 2018. "Lost Histories of African American Inventors." Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/lost-histories-african-american-inventors. 2018
- Smith, Monica M. 2017. "Deep in the Heart of Texas?" Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/deep-heart-texas. 2017
- Smith, Monica M. 2017. "Highlighting Hispanic Inventors and Innovators." Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/highlighting-hispanic-inventors-and-innovators. 2017
- Smith, Monica M. 2017. "Meet Lonnie Johnson, the Man Behind the Super Soaker." Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/meet-lonnie-johnson-man-behind-super-soaker. 2017
- Smith, Monica M. 2017. "O Canada! Inventors from Across the Border." Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/o-canada-inventors-across-border. 2017
- Smith, Monica M. 2017. "Who Invented the George Foreman Grill?" Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/who-invented-george-foreman-grill. 2017
- Smith, Monica M. 2016. "Exploring Sports and Innovation at the Lemelson Center." Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/exploring-sports-and-innovation-lemelson-center. 2016
- Smith, Monica M. 2016. "The Devil is in the Details: Researching an Inventor's Biography." Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/devil-details-researching-inventor-s-biography. 2016
- Smith, Monica M. 2016. "The Summer Olympics Starring Scientists and Engineers." Lemelson Center Blog http://invention.si.edu/summer-olympics-starring-scientists-and-engineers. 2016
- Smith, Monica M. 2016. "When Doves Cry." O Say Can You See? Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Apr 22, 2016. https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/when-doves-cry. 2016
- Smith, Monica M. 2015. "The Woman Inventor Behind Monopoly." Lemelson Center Blog Washington, DC: Lemelson Center, Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Mar 26, 2015. https://invention.si.edu/woman-inventor-behind-monopoly. 2015
- Smith, Monica M. 2014. "A Twist of Fate: The Invention of the Rubik's Cube." Lemelson Center Blog Washington, DC: Lemelson Center, Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Jul 15, 2014. https://invention.si.edu/twist-fate-invention-rubik-s-cube. 2014
- Molella, Arthur P., Hintz, Eric S., Bedi, Joyce, Smith, Monica, and Brodie, Jeffrey. 2011. "Remembering Steve Jobs." O Say Can You See? Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Oct 6, 2011. http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/osaycanyousee/2011/10/remembering-steve-jobs.html. 2011
- Smith, Monica M. 2009. "Striking a Chord: In Memory of Les Paul." O Say Can You See? Washington, DC: Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Aug 14, 2009. https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2009/08/striking-a-chord-in-memory-of-les-paul.html. 2009
-
Chapter
- Smith, Monica M. 2025. "Fun for Everyone." In Inventing for Sports. Hintz, Eric S. and Daemmrich, Arthur A., editors. 79–100. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. In A Smithsonian Contribution to Knowledge. 2025
- Smith, Monica M. 2015. "Medical Alley. Minnesota (1950s): Tight-Knit Community of Tinkerers Keeps Hearts Ticking." In Places of Invention: A Companion to the Exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Molella, Arthur P. and Karvellas, Anna, editors. 86–109. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. 2015
- Smith, Monica M. 2011. "Invention at Play: An Award-Winning Interactive Travelling Exhibition." In Museums at Play: Games, Interaction and Learning. Beale, Katy,ed., editor. 440–459. Edinburgh, Scotland: MuseumsEtc. 2011
- Smith, Monica M. 2011. "The Electric Guitar: How We Got from Andres Segovia to Kurt Cobain." In Regional Cultures in American Rock 'N' Roll: An Anthology. Stuart, David and Anderson, Scott, editors. 29–37. San Diego, CA: Cognella. 2011
-
Conference Paper
- Smith, Monica M. 2022. "Designing for Diverse Museum Visitors' Identity Exploration around Inventiveness." from Unpacking Situated Perspectives on Identity, Engagement, and Motivation: Implications for Designing Equitable Learning Environments in American Educational Research Association. 2022 American Educational Research Association (San Diego, California) 2022-04-23. American Educational Research Association. 2022
-
Webpage
- Smith, Monica M. 2018. Spencer, Percy LeBaron. Oxford University Press. 2018
Affiliation
Member Of
Contact
Location
- National Museum of American History Department
