Agricultural Implements and Machines in the Collection of the National Museum of History and Technology Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology, No. 17

The volume opens by placing the collection within the Smithsonian’s long‑standing mission to share knowledge through meticulous research and publication. It explains how agriculture, unlike many other industries, intertwines living organisms with the tools that shape them, and why a museum’s role is to preserve the implements that farmers have relied on through the ages. Readers are introduced to the curator’s perspective on the challenges of representing a living practice through static objects.

From humble hand‑crafted plows and scythes to the steam‑driven reapers that ushered in modern farming, the book offers clear, concise descriptions of each artifact, accompanied by photographs and historical notes. It traces the technological evolution that has driven productivity while highlighting the cultural contexts in which these machines were used. Ideal for anyone fascinated by the history of farming, museum collections, or the development of engineering solutions to feed a growing world.