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Smithsonian Institution Archives
Records, 1962-1988
Summary
- Collection ID:
- SIA.FARU0545
- Creators:
-
Cooper-Hewitt Museum. Administrator
- Dates:
-
1962-1988
- Languages:
-
English
- Physical Description:
-
17.58 cu. ft. (17 record storage boxes) (1 tall document box)
- Repository:
-
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Descriptive Entry
Descriptive Entry
These records were created mostly by administrators Rohlfing, Dobkin, and Dunne. They document the activities of the Museum Advisory Board and the acquisitions committee and contain files on fundraising, membership, product development, sales, education, collections management, and exhibitions. The records also include audit reports and annual reports; grant proposals; architectural plans of the Miller House; and public relations files, including news clippings from the reopening of the Museum in 1976. In addition, the records contain periodic budget projections and reports for the programs, administrative departments, and payroll of the Museum dating from 1983 to 1988, along with the memoranda and spreadsheets which document their development.
Historical Note
Historical Note
In 1963 the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art trustees announced that the Cooper Union Museum for the Arts of Decoration would be closed, and Director Calvin S. Hathaway resigned. Curator of Exhibitions H. Christian Rohlfing was named Acting Administrator, and in this capacity he helped to guide the Museum's transfer to the Smithsonian Institution in 1968. In 1969 Rohlfing became Administrator of the renamed Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and in fiscal year 1972 he assumed the dual title of Administrator and Curator of Collections. John H. Dobkin became Program Management Officer in FY 1974 and was appointed Administrator in FY 1975. Dobkin and Rohlfing both held the title of Administrator until FY 1978, when Dobkin resigned and Rohlfing relinquished the post to assume purely curatorial responsibilities. The position of Administrator was vacant until FY 1979, when Daniel O'Leary became Assistant Director for Administration and Barbara V. Foss and Peter M. Scherer were appointed Administrative Assistants to the Director. O'Leary left the next year, and Foss was replaced by Chauncie McKeever in FY 1981. In FY 1983 McKeever left, Scherer was appointed Special Assistant to the Director, and Linda Dunne was named Administrator. Scherer left in FY 1984.
Administration
Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives
Using the Collection
Prefered Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 545, Cooper-Hewitt Museum. Administrator, Records
Access Restriction
Boxes 6 and 8 contain materials restricted indefinitely; see finding aid; Contact reference staff for details.
More Information
Notes
SI Records
Keywords
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
Contact us at osiaref@si.edu