Wayne Clough was installed as the 12th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution during a ceremony held today at the National Museum of the American Indian. The Honorable John G. Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States and Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution, presided over the ceremony and presented Clough with a ceremonial brass key that once opened the massive oak doors of the Smithsonian Castle.

In his remarks, Clough noted the historic election of President Barack Obama, whose administration will take a new and fresh look at many issues facing the nation.

“It is our opportunity to renew the Smithsonian as well, and some would say it is necessary if we are to remain relevant. Our goal should be no less than to build the foundation for a new era for this great Institution,” Clough said.

The ceremony included a presentation of the colors by the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard of the Military District of Washington, the National Anthem sung by Smithsonian staff member and opera singer Manuel Melendez and welcoming remarks by Roger Sant, Chair of the Board of Regents. The Smithsonian Honor Guard carried the Smithsonian Mace, a ceremonial staff, to begin a 29-person academic procession.

Since the 12th century, university ceremonies have featured processions of scholars wearing robes and hoods symbolizing their fields of study and level of academic achievement. Today’s installation included a representative version of this centuries-old tradition as a means of highlighting the Smithsonian’s rich and diverse scholarship, expertise and excellence and celebrating its most important resource—its people.

Two members of the Smithsonian honor guard lead the procession carrying the Institution’s ceremonial mace and Smithsonian flag. They were followed by 29 Smithsonian scholars, curators and subject-matter experts wearing appropriate academic robes and hoods with colors corresponding to their level of academic achievement, discipline and degree-granting institution. This small group, representing their nearly 6,000 colleagues, symbolizes the Smithsonian’s breadth of expertise across dozens of disciplines and its commitment to knowledge and excellence in all its endeavors. The Smithsonian Chamber Players, led by Artistic Director Ken Slowik, provided the music for the ceremony.

At the conclusion of the academic procession, Clayton Old Elk (Crow) gave a Native American Honoring Welcome and felicitations were given to the Secretary on behalf of the Smithsonian scholars, staff and volunteers.

Clough was officially installed by Chief Justice Roberts, who presented the Secretary with the Badge of Office and the Ceremonial Key, both symbols of the Office of Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Clough’s installation address followed the presentation.

Clough addressed some of his remarks directly to Smithsonian staff, saying, “We do not want the next generation to look back and see that we missed our opportunity. One thousand years from now, we want people to look back and say of our time at the Smithsonian Institution: ‘Those folks got it right.’”

The Smithsonian Mace
The Smithsonian Mace was commissioned in 1964 by the Institution in anticipation of the celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of the Smithsonian’s benefactor and namesake, James Smithson. The Mace was unveiled Sept. 17, 1965, a gift from friends of the Smithsonian, and it is constructed of gold and silver and encrusted with diamonds, rubies and polished Smithsonite.

The demi-lion holding a golden sun that tops the mace was adapted from the crest figure of the coat of arms of Sir Hugh Smithson, James’ father. In heraldry, the sunburst signifies “the light of heaven” and “the fountain of life.” The lion rests on a piece of Smithsonite, a mineral identified by James Smithson and named for him posthumously in 1832. The shaft of the mace is entwined with a gold ribbon engraved with the names and terms of office of the first eight Smithsonian secretaries.

The Badge of Office
The Smithsonian’s Badge of Office was conceived of and fabricated at the same time as the mace. It is a thick, irregularly shaped medallion made of 18-carat gold that hangs from a cherry-red ribbon. Cast in high relief and set within a deeply recessed square on the front is the owl of Athena, a
symbol of wisdom, and an olive branch, a symbol of peace and goodwill. The owl has forward-gazing eyes that are set with a pair of large yellow sapphires. To the side of the owl is engraved the Institution’s mandate as defined in Smithson’s will: “For the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among Men.” The back is engraved with the sunburst seal of the Smithsonian and “James Smithson, 1765—Bicentennial 1965.”

The Ceremonial Key
The tradition of passing the Smithsonian key to the incoming Secretary originated for the 1964 induction of S. Dillon Ripley as the eighth Secretary of the Smithsonian. In lieu of the administration of an oath of office, outgoing Secretary Leonard Carmichael proposed a key-passing ceremony based on similar ones frequently used in the inauguration of university presidents. The key was presented in 1964 to Ripley by Chief Justice Earl Warren, Chancellor of the Smithsonian. The large brass key dates to the mid-19th century and opened one of the massive oak doors of the Smithsonian Castle.

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