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.
Smithsonian Directory, 1970-1999
Smithsonian Year, 1991-1992
Annals of the Smithsonian Institution, 1999
Smithsonian Annual Report, 2007
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, News and Press, Smithsonian Folkways Curator & Director Daniel Sheehy Announces Retirement, https://folkways.si.edu/news-and-press/smithsonian-folkways-curator-and-director-daniel-sheehy-announces-retirement, September 8, 2015
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, News and Events, Center Announces Departure of Director Michael Atwood Mason and Appointment of Interim Director Richard Kurin, https://folklife.si.edu/news-and-events/departure-of-director-michael-mason, February 5, 2021
SI News Release, "Clifford Murphy Named Director of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage," March 10, 2023, https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/clifford-murphy-named-director-center-folklife-and-cultural-heritage, accessed March 13, 2023
The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage traces its origins from the 1967 beginning of the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, and more directly from the Office of Folklife Programs created in 1978. The unit's name was changed to the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Studies in 1992 and changed again to the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in 1999. The Center's aim is to promote the understanding and continuity of contemporary cultural heritage in the United States and abroad. In addition to producing the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the Center conducts ethnographic and cultural research; maintains a documentary archive, the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections; and offers various educational and research opportunities.
Ralph Rinzler served as Director, 1978-1982; followed by Peter Seitel, 1983-1988; Richard Kurin, 1989-1990 (Acting) and 1991-2007; Richard S. Kennedy, Acting Director, 2007-2009; Daniel Edward Sheehy, 2010-2013; Michael Atwood Mason, 2013-2021; Richard Kurin, Interim Director, 2021-2023; and Clifford R. Murphy, 2023- .
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
