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Oral history interview with Elaine Heumann Gurian

Interviewee:
Gurian, Elaine Heumann, 1937-  Search this
Names:
Carver Theater (Washington, DC)  Search this
Gurian, Elaine Heumann, 1937-  Search this
Collection Creator:
Anacostia Community Museum  Search this
Extent:
1 Sound cassette (original)
1 Sound cassette (original)
1 Sound cassette (copy)
Type:
Archival materials
Sound cassettes
Oral histories (document genres)
Place:
Anacostia (Washington, D.C.)
Date:
1991 December 11
Scope and Contents note:
Elaine Heumann Gurian discusses how she first became involved with the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) in 1986, when she served as the Deputy Secretary of Museums for the Smithsonian Institution. She describes her many conversations with John Kinard, and the assistance she provided in transitioning to new leadership after he passed away in 1989. She also describes the extraordinary impact the original museum had on the museum community, the early exhibits, and how the museum changed after relocating to the Fort Stanton site. 

The interview was conducted on December 11, 1991. There is static throughout the recording, but the interviewee can be heard clearly.

Exhibition mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.
Biographical / Historical:
Elaine Heumann Gurian (1937-) was born in New York City. She earned a Bachelor in Art History from Brandeis University in 1958, and a Master of Education in Elementary Education and Art Education from the State College of Boston in 1966. She worked as an Art Teacher for the Solomon Schechter School in Newton Massachusetts, an Art Consultant for the Boston Mayor General's Office (1969-1971), and as Director of Education for Instate Contemporary (1969-1972). In 1987, she became the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Museums at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Then in 1991, she became the Deputy Director for public program planning at the National Museum of the American Indian, followed by a role as Deputy Director for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She continued to work as a senior consultant for projects at a range of institutions. In 2006, she authored the book Civilizing the Museum: The Collected Writings of Elaine Heumann Gurian. She also served as President of the Museum Group, and has received numerous awards and honors, including the Distinguished Service to Museums Award in 2004 from the American Association of Museums. 
Provenance:
Conducted as part of the ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, which includes approximately 100 interviews of residents and influential people of the Anacostia area of Washington, DC.
Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
Genre/Form:
Oral histories (document genres)
Collection Citation:
ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution
See more items in:
ACM 25th Anniversary Oral History Project
Archival Repository:
Anacostia Community Museum Archives
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/qa7929d286b-4c61-4695-b99a-24be46f98e1a
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-acma-09-034-ref66

Institutional trauma : major change in museums and its effect on staff / Elaine Heumann Gurian, editor

Author:
Gurian, Elaine Heumann 1937-  Search this
American Association of Museums  Search this
Physical description:
192 p. ; 26 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
United States
Date:
1995
Topic:
Museums--Management--Social aspects  Search this
Museums--Philosophy  Search this
Social change--History  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_478438

Civilizing the museum : the collected writings of Elaine Heumann Gurian / Elaine Heumann Gurian

Author:
Gurian, Elaine Heumann 1937-  Search this
Physical description:
xix, 217 p. ; 24 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
2006
Topic:
Museums--Philosophy  Search this
Museums--Social aspects  Search this
Museum exhibits  Search this
Architectural design  Search this
Cultural property--Protection  Search this
Communication and culture  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_792866

Agency history, 1987-1995

Creator:
Smithsonian Institution Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Arts and Humanities  Search this
Subject:
Brown, Claudine K  Search this
Gurian, Elaine Heumann 1937-  Search this
Smithsonian Institution Deputy Assistant Secretary for Museums  Search this
Smithsonian Institution Assistant Provost for the Arts and Humanities  Search this
Smithsonian Institution Assistant Secretary for the Arts and Humanities  Search this
Smithsonian Institution Assistant Secretary for Museums  Search this
Type:
Mixed archival materials
Date:
1987
1987-1995
Topic:
Museums--Administration  Search this
Local number:
SIA AH00284
Data Source:
Smithsonian Institution Archives
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_arc_227810

Assessment of museum training : Office of Museum Programs Smithsonian Institution / by Elaine Heumann Gurian

Author:
Gurian, Elaine Heumann 1937-  Search this
Subject:
Smithsonian Institution Personnel management  Search this
Physical description:
23, 8 leaves ; 28 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Washington (D.C.)
Date:
1988
Topic:
Museums--Employees--Training of  Search this
Museums--Vocational guidance  Search this
Call number:
AM121 .G86 1988a
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_939128

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