Smithsonian Institution Archives

Records, 1916, 1922, 1929-1930, 1946-1984

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0463
Creators:
National Collection of Fine Arts/National Portrait Gallery Library
Dates:
1916, 1922, 1929-1930, 1946-1984
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
6.58 cu. ft. (6 record storage boxes) (1 tall document box)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

Descriptive Entry
These records document the opening of the National Collection of Fine Arts and the National Portrait Gallery in the Patent Office Building in 1968. Included are press kits; photographs; development files; pamphlets of the opening; catalogs from the Henry Ward Ranger exhibition, 1929-1930; an annotated copy of Catalog of Collections, volume I, 1922, by William Henry Holmes; and minutes of the Smithsonian Art Commission, 1963-1964. There is also one folder devoted to the bequest of Reverend Bruce Hughes of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, to establish the "Hughes Alcove" and fund efforts to amass "a reference library of art works" for study.
Also included are newsletters, library count sheets, policies, minutes of meetings, surveys, a variety of reports, brochures, volunteer and internship information, and other records. Some materials date to when the museum was known as the National Gallery of Art.

Historical Note

Historical Note
The Fine Arts and Portrait Gallery Library was established in 1965 as a joint operation of the National Collection of Fine Arts (NFCA) and the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) and was originally housed in the Arts and Industries Building. In 1968, the two museums moved into the newly-renovated Old Patent Office Building, renamed the Fine Arts and Portrait Gallery Building, where the Library continued as before. In 1980, the Library became the National Museum of American Art and Portrait Gallery Library (AA&PG) as a result of the name change.
William B. Walker was hired as Librarian in 1965 and held that position until 1979. Katherine Ratzenberger was named Acting Librarian in 1980 followed by Acting Librarian Susan Gurney in 1981. Cecilia H. Chin served as Librarian of AA&PG Library, 1982- .

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 463, National Collection of Fine Arts/National Portrait Gallery Library, Records

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Chin, Cecilia H. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Gurney, Susan Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Holmes, William Henry, 1846-1933 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ratzenberger, Katherine Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Walker, William Bond, 1930- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hughes, Bruce. Reverend Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Art Commission Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Patent Office Building (Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
National Gallery of Art (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Henry Ward Ranger (Exhibition) (1929-1930 : Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Catalog of Collections (Monograph : 1922) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum publications Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art museums Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum libraries Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museum exhibits Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Exhibition catalogs Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brochures Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pamphlets Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Newsletters Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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