Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, 1966-1980, with related records from 1961

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0281
Creators:
Smithsonian Institution. Assistant Secretary for History and Art
Dates:
1966-1980, with related records from 1961
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
48 cu. ft. (48 record storage boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
This record unit documents the tenure of Charles Blitzer as assistant secretary for History and Art from 1973 to 1979. There are also records pertaining to the Office of Education and Training, 1965-1968, which Blitzer had directed.
The celebration of the bicentennial of the American Revolution was a major Smithsonian project from 1972 to 1977. These records document those efforts from first proposals to their completion or abandonment and include memoranda, budget proposals, and audio-visual recordings, including a 16-mm film of the Wells Fargo Essay Contest, Towards Our Third Century.
The records consist of correspondence, memoranda, budgets, and associated materials documenting the changing activities of History and Art bureaus during a period of intense activity and growth.

Historical Note

Historical Note
Changes in History and Art's organization during these years included the return of the Hillwood Estate to the Marjorie Merriweather Post Foundation in 1975, the transfer of the Smithsonian Institution Archives to the Assistant Secretary for Museum Programs, and the assignment of the office of the American Revolution Bicentennial Coordinator to History and Art. The Renwick Gallery was acquired as a showcase for design, crafts, and decorative arts and became part of the National Museum of American Art. The Smithsonian also acquired the Carnegie Mansion and renovated it to house the Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, which opened in 1976. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden was completed during this period and opened in 1974. The Museum of History and Technology became the National Museum of History and Technology (NMHT) in 1969.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 281, Smithsonian Institution, Asbsistant Secretary for History and Art, Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Blitzer, Charles Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Post, Marjorie Merriweather Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Office of Education and Training Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution -- Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hillwood Museum (Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Archives Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Assistant Secretary for Museum Programs Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution. Assistant Secretary for History and Art. American Revolution Bicentennial Coordinator's Office Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Renwick Gallery Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Carnegie Mansion (New York, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cooper-Hewitt Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Museum of History and Technology Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wells Fargo Bank Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Toward Our Third Century (Motion picture : 1976) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976 Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museums -- Administration Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Contests Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Centennial celebrations, etc. Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Historical museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Motion pictures (visual works) Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Clippings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sound recordings Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pamphlets Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
Contact us at osiaref@si.edu