Soviet Space Exhibition Records

Collection

Identifier: A2024-02-01

Staff Only

Content Description

The records in this collection document the creation, planning, funding, and implementation of the Soviet Space exhibition. Materials include correspondence, financial and legal documents, plans and drafts, and promotional and marketing materials. Photographic materials include photographs and contact sheets from Museum staff's scouting trips to Moscow, and color slides and prints of Museum displays and artifacts. The exhibition was a collaboration between the Museum of Science, Glavkosmos in Moscow, and SICO/FinnEast, and there is extensive correspondence between these bodies, some of which is in Russian. Records were created starting in 1986 with the conception of the exhibit, with the bulk of the materials created between 1989 and 1990.

Dates

1986 - 2011
Majority of material found within 1989 - 1990

Creator

Museum of Science, Boston (Boston, Massachusetts) (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research with the exception of certain files that are listed as restricted. Files containing sensitive legal, financial, or personal information are restricted.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection contains materials that are still under copyright. In particular, the Museum of Science maintains copyright over many of these materials. The records also contain works whose copyright is held by other individuals and organizations. The researcher assumes all responsibility for identifying copyright holders and attaining permission for reproduction.

Biographical / Historical

Soviet Space was a traveling exhibition created by the Museum of Science in conjunction with Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of the Russian State Space Corporation, and brokered by consultant company SICO/FinnEast. The exhibit was meant to be a retrospective of the U.S.S.R.’s space program, showcasing real Soviet spacecrafts and other space-related artifacts, and featuring visiting Soviet cosmonauts and engineers.

The goals of the exhibit were to increase public awareness of the history and achievements of the U.S.S.R. space program, highlight international participation in the program, and educate visitors about space science and the work being done to solve problems around living and working in space. The Museum ran a number of programs to accompany the exhibition, including a Science Theater production entitled “Partners to Mars,” and slideshow and video presentations.

As the first hosting institution in the United States, the Museum of Science spearheaded exhibit content creation, marketing, and logistics such as planning shipments from the Soviet Union and coordinating visits from Soviet cosmonauts and engineers. Originally expected to be a blockbuster exhibition hosted by a number of institutions across the country, public interest and attendance rates did not match projections. Coupled with the tumultuous political issues and fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, this led to the exhibition tour being much more limited than planned.

The exhibition was on view at the Museum of Science from June 1, 1990 until September 23, 1990. It went on to be hosted by the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and Industry.

Extent

3.77 Linear Feet (6 letter document boxers and 1 bankers box; 70 folders and 2 oversized photograph albums)

Language of Materials

English

Russian

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series, with folders in each series arranged chronologically.
Series 1: Administrative (1986-2011)
Series 2: Exhibit & Programs (1989-1991)
Series 3: Marketing & Publicity (1990)

Custodial History

Materials found in storage in April 2024.

Related Materials

See the Science Theater Department Records for more information on "Partners to Mars," the play produced by the department to accompany the Soviet Space exhibition.