Dr. G Wayne Clough, Things New and Strange: A Southerner’s Journey through the Smithsonian Collections

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, I’m Paul Vogelzang and this is episode #359.

As part of our Smithsonian Associates Art of Living  Author Interview Series, we are joined today by historian, award winning author and former Smithsonian Institute Secretary, Dr. G. Wayne Clough.

As a big supporter of the Smithsonian, I of course, know this name, and have gotten to know this man, G. Wayne Clough.  You’ll meet him in just a moment, and if you don’t know yet, you’ll know soon what a wonderful, articulate, and kind man we’ll be speaking with.  One introduction of Dr. G. Wayne Clough from the New York Times, describes Dr. Clough as “someone in government who sets a good example.”  I also found in my research the use of the phrase “widely respected” a lot.  Dr. Clough has done that, and much more, as we’ll learn.

I get to speak with many people in my work.  Some wonderful people.  But, Dr. G. Wayne Clough ranks very high on my list of people I’d like to talk with for a lot more time than I’m able, to spend time with and learn from.

Dr. G Wayne Clough will be appearing at the Smithsonian Associates program, Thursday, June 20, 2019.  Dr Clough will be joined by Fredie Adelman, Director of Smithsonian Associates, who’ll serve as moderator.  As I say, we’ll hear from Dr. Clough in just a moment, but I caught up with Fredie Adelman, and asked her about Dr. Clough’s contribution to the Smithsonian, and what makes Dr. Clough so special.

Dr. Clough’s aptly titled presentation Things New and Strange:  Secretary Clough Finds Personal Links in the Smithsonian’s Collections, will draw from his new book, Things New and Strange: A Southerner’s Journey through the Smithsonian Collections,

Before his retirement in 2014, G. Wayne Clough, the first Southern-born secretary of the Smithsonian, had become curious to learn what the institution’s collections could tell him about South Georgia, where five generations of his family had lived and he spent his childhood. The investigation that followed, which began as something of a quixotic scavenger hunt, became a journey filled with unexpected outcomes, and we’ll hear Dr. Clough read from his book about some of those unexpected outcomes, his discovery, river boats and Dr. Clough’s family history in the Georgia south.

Thanks to G Wayne Clough who’ll be appearing at the Smithsonian Associates program,  Thursday, June 20, 2019.  Dr. Clough’s aptly titled presentation Things New and Strange:  Secretary Clough Finds Personal Links in the Smithsonian’s Collections, will draw from his new book, Things New and Strange: A Southerner’s Journey through the Smithsonian Collections, which will be available for sale and signing following the presentation.  More details available on our web site.  Thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show, and thanks to you our wonderful Not Old Better Show audience.

The Not Old Better Show.  Talk About Better.  Thanks everybody.