Smithsonian Institution Office of the Coordinator of Public Information Search this
Type:
Mixed archival materials
Date:
1973
1973-
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.
Smithsonian Annals, 1992-1997
Smithsonian Directory, 1970-1991
SI E-mail announcement from Under Secretary for American Museums and National Programs, July 19, 2000
The Torch, August 1989
The Smithsonian Institution seems to have created its first position devoted to relations with Congress in 1973, a Special Assistant to the Secretary for Congressional Relations. In 1977 the function was attached to the Office of the Coordinator of Public Information. The Office of Government Relations was created in 1985. The incumbent is responsible for overseeing and developing the Smithsonian's relationships with Congress, the White House, the Office of Management and Budget, and with government officials at the state and local level.
Margaret C. Gaynor served as Special Assistant and Director of Government Relations, 1973-1992. She was succeeded by Mark W. Rodgers, 1992-1994; M. John Berry, 1995-1997; Donald R. Hardy, 1997-1999; Nell Payne, 2000-2016; Maura Reidy, Acting Director, 2017-2019; and Vernon L. Simms, 2020- .
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
