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The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will open “Forensic Justice,” a new exhibit that explores how people have influenced the development, presentation and interpretation of forensic science, on June 28. The year-long exhibit will run through June 2025 in the museum’s 1,000-square-foot Albert H. Small Documents Gallery.
The exhibits and archival documents span 150 years of historical cases and include about a dozen different forensic techniques, from hair to handwriting analysis. Among the objects on display are arsenic tests from the 1872 trial of Lydia Sherman, accused of poisoning her three husbands and eight children; one of the earliest polygraph lie detectors, created by John A. Larson in 1921; an early sexual assault test kit co-developed by Martha Goddard and Louis Vitullo; and fingerprinting and DNA testing materials on loan from the FBI. In addition to the courtrooms, the exhibit will explore how the media has shaped the public’s understanding of forensic evidence through news reports and fictional television shows such as Showtime’s Dexter, and what has been called the CSI effect.
“From streaming series to podcasts, the country’s popular culture reflects the current interest in true crime and forensic evidence,” said Museum Director Elizabeth MacMillan Anthea M. Hartig. “‘Forensic Justice’ delves into the Museum’s vast scientific collections and special loan materials to provide audiences with a fascinating look at how forensic science has long been part of the pursuit of justice.”
Divided into three sections, “From the People,” “By the People,” and “For the People,” the exhibition highlights the long-standing desire to create a system that would reliably turn trace evidence of criminals into convictions, how data collection and judgement are influenced by personal beliefs, and how the past shapes how data is presented for those tasked with determining guilt or innocence.
The exhibition displays objects in pairs that follow common themes of privacy, regulation, uncertainty, and acceptance. One pair juxtaposes an object from the early days of bite mark analysis—a photograph of wax bite marks on Ted Bundy’s teeth used in his 1979 murder trial—with an occlusal apparatus used by researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Dentistry between 2009 and 2013. The results of this apparatus called into question some of the foundational principles of the technique.
Loans from private individuals and the Massachusetts and New Jersey State Police have made it possible to display materials from several “trials of the century,” including bullets and handguns used in the 1921 trial of Italian immigrants and anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti for the murder of two people during a robbery, a display of handwriting analysis used in the 1935 trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who was charged with kidnapping and murdering aviators Anne and Charles Lindbergh’s son, and copies of DNA autoradiographs used in the 1994-95 trial of O. J. Simpson. Exhibit loaners include DNA expert Dr. Robin Cotton, the Innocence Project, forensic dentist Dr. Richard Soubiron, the FBI, Harvard Law Library, and the Smithsonian Museum and Archives.
“This history exhibit highlights forensic science as a human pursuit, designed to help visitors – whether they’re scientists, crime drama fans, legal professionals or potential jurors – identify with the people who shape this work,” said exhibit curator Kristen Frederick Frost.
“Forensic Trial” is brought to you by Andrew Shiva and Anya Shiva.
The exhibition displays objects and cases relating to the forensic investigation of murder, sexual assault and abduction and may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Through its unparalleled collections, in-depth research, and dynamic outreach, the National Museum of American History strives to empower people to create a more just and compassionate future by exploring, preserving, and sharing the complexities of our past. The museum is located on Constitution Avenue NW, between 12th and 14th Streets, and is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, except December 25th. Admission is free. The museum’s doors have always been open online, and the Virtual Museum continues to expand its offerings, including online exhibits, PK-12 educational materials and programs. The public can follow the museum on social media on Instagram and Facebook. For more information, visit https://americanhistory.si.edu. For information about the Smithsonian, call (202) 633-1000.
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