Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, 1930-1969

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0280
Creators:
Cooper Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration. Department of Exhibitions
Dates:
1930-1969
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
18 cu. ft. (18 record storage boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records document, for the most part, the Department under the administration of Calvin S. Hathaway, Curator, 1946-1951, and Director, 1951-1963. Included is correspondence of Hathaway with members of the exhibition staff and with collectors and institutions concerning the exhibits in the museum; exhibit files, arranged alphabetically by exhibition titles and including photographs, pamphlets, floor plans, drawings, publicity materials, specimen lists and descriptions, and correspondence; and annual reports.

Historical Note

Historical Note
The Department of Exhibitions was first organized as the Exhibits Section in 1946. Prior to 1946, persons in charge of exhibitions were Assistants to the Curator of the Cooper Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration. Alliene E. Dodge, D. Graeme Keith, James I. Rambo, Everett P. Lesley, Jr., and William R. Osmun were Assistants, Exhibits Section, during the period from 1946 to 1953. The Assistants were under the supervision of the Curator, and later, under the Director.
In 1953 the Exhibits Section was redesignated the Department of Exhibitions, and the title of Assistants was changed to Keepers. Lesley, Osmun, and Christian Rohlfing held the title of Keepers during the period from 1953 to 1958. The title of Keeper, Department of Exhibitions was changed to Curator, Department of Exhibitions in 1958. Rohlfing held the title of Curator, and Edward L. Kallop, who became Associate Keeper in 1957, became Associate Curator. When Rohlfing became Acting Administrator of the Museum in 1963, the position of Curator remained vacant. The Department was discontinued as an administrative unit when the Cooper Union Museum transferred to the Smithsonian Institution in 1968.
The Department of Exhibitions was responsible for the design, preparation, installation, maintenance, and dismantling of "special" or theme exhibitions of museum and non-museum collections for the general public, including exhibitions for other branches of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Sciences and Arts.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 280, Cooper Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration. Department of Exhibitions, Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Hathaway, Calvin S. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dodge, Alleine E. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Keith, D. Graeme (David Graeme), 1934- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rambo, James I. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lesley, Everett P., Jr. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Osmun, William R. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rohlfing, H. Christian Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kallop, Edward L. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cooper-Hewitt Museum. Department of Exhibitions Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cooper Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Decorative arts Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Floor plans Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Illustrations Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
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