How AI describes Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives (SOVA)

SOVA (Smithsonian Online Virtual Archives) is a portal that provides descriptions and access to Smithsonian archival collections, including personal papers, manuscripts, photographs, oral histories, films, artworks, and organizational records. Users can search, explore digital collections, and browse by repository to access digital content such as images, audio, and video, with some finding aids containing digitized materials and some materials requiring in-person access; catalog records are generally available for reuse under CC0. The project is a collaborative, evolving effort across Smithsonian museums, libraries, and archives, and it notes that materials reflect historical contexts and may include offensive language or outdated perspectives, not representing the Smithsonian’s views.