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