Volunteers Document Smithsonian Wall Text Amid Cultural Review

Citizen Historians group compiles over 50,000 images of museum labels as Trump administration pushes for changes.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A group of historians and volunteers has been documenting wall labels across the Smithsonian Institution as the Trump administration calls for reviews of content at several museums and urges the removal of what it describes as 'divisive narratives.' The Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian group has compiled over 50,000 images of publicly accessible wall text throughout the Smithsonian system in an effort to preserve historical records.

Why it matters

The Smithsonian, which comprises 21 museums and the National Zoo, has increasingly become a focal point in debates over historical interpretation. The documentation campaign is a grassroots response to the Trump administration's directives aimed at eliminating what it calls 'improper ideology' in cultural institutions, highlighting how museum labels have become part of a broader national debate over how American history is presented.

The details

The Citizen Historians group was co-founded by James Millward, a Georgetown University historian, and Chandra Manning, a US history professor at Georgetown. Over seven weeks in late summer and early fall, they recruited hundreds of volunteers to photograph and archive publicly accessible wall text throughout the Smithsonian system. The effort drew attention after the National Portrait Gallery replaced wall text accompanying President Donald Trump's portrait, with the updated text no longer including language about Trump's impeachment.

  • The documentation effort began in late summer and early fall of 2026.
  • The National Portrait Gallery replaced the wall text accompanying President Trump's portrait during this time period.

The players

Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian

A group of historians and volunteers that has been documenting wall labels across the Smithsonian Institution in response to the Trump administration's calls for reviews of museum content.

James Millward

A Georgetown University historian and co-founder of the Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian group.

Chandra Manning

A US history professor at Georgetown University and co-founder of the Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian group.

National Portrait Gallery

One of the Smithsonian museums that replaced wall text accompanying President Donald Trump's portrait, removing language about his impeachment.

Trump administration

The administration that has issued directives aimed at eliminating what it calls 'improper ideology' in cultural institutions and has requested reviews of several Smithsonian museums.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over how American history is presented in cultural institutions, with the Trump administration pushing for changes to 'divisive narratives' and grassroots efforts to document and preserve existing historical records. The Smithsonian has become a central battleground in this debate, underscoring the importance of maintaining transparency and academic integrity in the curation of public historical content.