Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Department of Civil History Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Costume and Furnishings Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Ethnic and Western Cultural History Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Department of Industries Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Domestic Life Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Costume Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Community Life Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Graphic Arts Search this
National Museum of History and Technology Division of Musical Instruments Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Ceramics and Glass Search this
National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Division of Preindustrial Cultural History Search this
Type:
Mixed archival materials
Date:
1969
1969-1980
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
Smithsonian Year, 1969, 1978, 1979, 1980
In 1969, as part of the reorganization associated with the Museum of History and Technology's new name as the National Museum of History and Technology (NMHT), the Department of Civil History became the Department of Cultural History, gathering or establishing Divisions of Costume and Furnishings, Musical Instruments, Ethnic and Western Cultural History, and Preindustrial Cultural History. In 1978 the Division of Graphic Arts was placed in the Department of Cultural History, which now also included the Division of Ceramics and Glass (previously in the Department of Industries, NMHT). A new Division of Domestic Life was formed, consolidating artifacts and furnishings from the former Divisions of Costume and Furnishings and Preindustrial Cultural History. The remaining collections formed the Division of Costume. Ethnic and Western Cultural History was renamed the Division of Community Life, while the Division of Musical Instruments continued as before.
In 1980, NMHT was renamed the National Museum of American History (NMAH), with attendant reorganization. The Department of Cultural History merged with the Department of National History to form the Department of Social and National History.
Department chairmen were C. Malcolm Watkins, Curator of Ethnic and Western Cultural History, 1969-1973; Rodris C. Roth, Curator of Costume and Furnishings, (Acting) Chairman, 1973-1974; Richard E. Ahlborn, Curator of Ethnic and Western Cultural History, Chairman, 1975-1977; Anne Castrodale Golovin (Acting), 1978; and Claudia Brush Kidwell, Curator of Costume, 1979-1980.
For a history of the larger creating unit, refer to "Forms part of" above.
Repository Loc.:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520
