Descriptive Entry

These records primarily document America as Art, the major exhibition and catalog which Murray produced for the Bicentennial in 1976. Also included are a small number of administrative subject files pertaining to other matters.

Historical Note

The position of Assistant to the Director was created in 1978 to formalize the relationship of Richard N. Murray to Director Joshua C. Taylor. Murray came to the Smithsonian in 1972 as a Visiting Research Associate and soon began working closely with Taylor. In 1976 and 1977 Murray had the title of Coordinator of the Bicentennial Exhibition at the National Collection of Fine Arts. He served officially as Assistant to the Director, 1978-1979, when he left the Institution.