Smithsonian Institution. Office of Museum Programs Search this
Extent:
18 cu. ft. (18 record storage boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Color photographs
Black-and-white photographs
Manuscripts
Pamphlets
Date:
1967-1986
Descriptive Entry:
These records document OMP's efforts to promote knowledge of museology and its techniques. Many of the records deal with daily operations of the office. Other records
are concerned with cooperative work with international and national museum organizations, as well as topics like museum registration, conservation, public relations security,
budgeting and administration.
Historical Note:
In 1967 an Office of Special Museum Programs was set up under the direction of Frank A. Taylor. Taylor, after a long career in many responsible posts at the Smithsonian
Institution, was acting as a consultant to Secretary S. Dillon Ripley in order to consider ways museums could better meet the various needs of their visitors. In 1971 Peter
C. Welsh was formally appointed as the first Director of the Office of Museum Programs (OMP). Frederick Schmid succeeded him, serving from December 1971 to 1973. At this time
the Office was made responsible for many of the Smithsonian's obligations under the recently passed National Museum Act. The directorship was vacant until the appointment
of Jane R. Glaser, who was Director, 1976-1989.
The objective of OMP is to serve as a resource for the museum community, local, national, and worldwide. The Office sponsors workshops in the United States and abroad designed
to train and counsel museum professionals in all aspects of museum work. It also maintains a Museum Reference Center and provides videotape and audiotape programs on topics
of interest to museologists.
