National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Curatorial Department Search this
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Curatorial Office Search this
National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Department of Prints and Drawings Search this
National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Department of Contemporary Art Search this
National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Department of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture Search this
National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Department of Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture Search this
National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Department of Painting and Sculpture Search this
National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Painting and Sculpture Search this
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Department of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Painting and Sculpture Search this
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Department of Contemporary Art Search this
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Department of Painting and Sculpture Search this
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Department of Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture Search this
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Department of Graphic Arts Search this
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Department of Prints and Drawings Search this
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Division of Graphic Arts Search this
Type:
Mixed archival materials
Date:
1961
1961-
Category:
Agency History
Notes:
This is an agency history. It does not describe actual records. The Smithsonian Institution Archives uses these histories as brief accounts of the origin, development, and functions of an office or administrative unit to set that unit in its historical context. To find information on record holdings, please double-click the highlighted field "Creator/Author", which will open on a brief view of relevant records.
Guide to the Smithsonian Archives, 1996
Annals of the Smithsonian Institution, 1992
Smithsonian Directory, 1994
National Museum of American Art, "The Curatorial Office," [http://nmaa-ryder.si.edu/nmaainfor/dept-curatorial.html], 02/22/2000
The Curatorial Office of the Smithsonian American Art Museum was formed when the various curatorial departments were consolidated into a single office. Previous curatorial departments included: the Department of Painting and Sculpture, the Department of Prints and Drawings, the Department of Contemporary Arts, the Department of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture, the Department of Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture, the Department of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Painting and Sculpture, the Curatorial Department, and the Department of Graphic Arts.
The Department of Painting and Sculpture developed as an administrative unit when Richard P. Wunder was appointed Curator, Painting and Sculpture, in FY 1964. In 1967, Painting and Sculpture became a Department. Wunder resigned in FY 1968
The Department of Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture dates back to 1964 when Adelyn Dohme Breeskin, a specialist in contemporary art, became Special Consultant to NCFA. Breeskin became Acting Curator of the newly created Department of Contemporary Art in 1967 and was Curator of the Department from 1968-1974. The name was changed to the Department of Contemporary Paintings and Sculpture in 1970; and in 1974 the title became the Department of Twentieth Century Painting and Sculpture. Walter Hopps was appointed Curator of the Department, 1974-1977, and Breeskin became a consultant within the Department. Harry Rand became Associate Curator in 1977 and Curator in 1979. In 1984 the titles of Rand, Virginia M. Mecklenberg and William H. Truettner became Curator, Painting and Sculpture. All three served 1984- . Adelyn Dohme Breeskin remained as Senior Curatorial Advisor until her death in 1968.
The Department of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Painting and Sculpture was created in 1970 from part of the old Department of Painting and Sculpture. William H. Truettner became Associate Curator in 1969 and Curator in 1977.
The Department of Prints and Drawings was created in 1967. Jacob Kainen was Curator until 1969, and in 1970 Janet A. Flint was named Acting Curator and Curator, 1971- . In 1983 the Department was renamed the Department of Graphic Arts. In 1989 The Department of Painting and Sculpture and the Department of Graphic Arts merged into the Curatorial Department. Virginia M. Mecklenberg became Curator-in-Charge, Painting and Sculpture, in 1987 and Chief Curator in 1990.
For a further history of the creating unit, refer to the highlighted link "Forms part of" above.
Repository Loc.:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520
