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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 556

National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution). Historian's Office

Records, 1972-1984

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution). Historian's Office
Title:Records
Dates:1972-1984
Quantity:2.5 cu. ft. (2 record storage boxes) (1 document box)
Collection:Record Unit 556
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This record unit documents the activities of the Office's first three Historians. Most of the records were created during Marc Pachter's tenure. They include much correspondence between Pachter and art historians, artists, national and international art institutions, and funding organizations. There is also correspondence with Amy E. Henderson, Assistant Historian, Kenneth Young and J. Michael Carrigan, exhibition designers, and Mona Dearborn, Keeper of the Catalog of American Portraits. In addition, the records document symposia and discussion panels organized by the Office and the production and display of exhibitions.

Historical Note

The Office of the Historian, National Portrait Gallery (NPG), was established in 1966 when Daniel J. Reed was appointed the first Historian. Reed resigned in 1968 and Virginia Purdy became Acting Historian. Beverly J. Cox was appointed Historian in 1970. A year later, Lillian B. Miller was appointed Historian and Cox became Assistant Historian. Cox left the Office to become Coordinator of Exhibitions in 1973. Miller continued to serve as Historian until 1974 when she became editor of the Charles Willson Peale Papers. Marc Pachter was appointed Historian in 1975 and served in that capacity through 1984.

The Historian was appointed to direct the research program of the NPG in American iconography, biography, and history; to explore the art of portraiture in the United States and the Western world; and to conduct studies of men and women of any nation who made significant contributions to the history, development, and culture of the United States. From 1966 through 1967, the Historian also supervised the activities of the Catalog of American Portraits at NPG.

The Office also prepared biographical information on individuals whose portraits were offered to the NPG by gift or purchase. It undertook to prepare succinct and informative labels for portraits in the permanent collections or items on exchange; wrote catalogs; and conducted research on objects represented in portraits, statuary, prints, miniatures, and engravings.

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Descriptive Entry

This record unit documents the activities of the Office's first three Historians. Most of the records were created during Marc Pachter's tenure. They include much correspondence between Pachter and art historians, artists, national and international art institutions, and funding organizations. There is also correspondence with Amy E. Henderson, Assistant Historian, Kenneth Young and J. Michael Carrigan, exhibition designers, and Mona Dearborn, keeper of the Catalog of American Portraits. In addition, the records document symposia and discussion panels organized by the Office and the production and display of exhibitions.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 556, National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution), Historian's Office, Records

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Container List

Box 1

Abroad in America Files

Abroad in America (Reprint)

Box 1 of 3

Addresses of Contributors

Box 1 of 3

Embassy Contacts

Box 1 of 3

Potential Contributors

Box 1 of 3

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Box 1 of 3

Response to Abroad

Box 1 of 3

Dates of U.S. Visits

Box 1 of 3

Curator's Letters to Portrait Lenders

Box 1 of 3

Aruga

Box 1 of 3

Elemer Bako

Box 1 of 3

Dr. Ludmila Bradova

Box 1 of 3

Bradova Travel

Box 1 of 3

Georges Clemenceau

Box 1 of 3

Philip Collins

Box 1 of 3

Marcus Cunliffe

Box 1 of 3

Jose De Onis

Box 1 of 3

A. N. J. Den Hollander

Box 1 of 3

Dennis Donoghue

Box 1 of 3

Jean Baptiste Duroselle

Box 1 of 3

Christian Feest

Box 1 of 3

Abbott Gleason

Box 1 of 3

Jerome Grieder

Box 1 of 3

Patrice Higonnet

Box 1 of 3

Lee Houchins

Box 1 of 3

Edmond Ions

Box 1 of 3

Anna Katona

Box 1 of 3

Bel Kaufman

Box 1 of 3

Alan Kors

Box 1 of 3

Marghanita Laski

Box 1 of 3

Benjamin Lawton & Anna Lawton

Box 1 of 3

Irving Leonard

Box 1 of 3

Duncan J. MacLeod

Box 1 of 3

Longin Pastusiak

Box 1 of 3

Signe Rooth

Box 1 of 3

George Shepperson

Box 1 of 3

Sigmund Skard

Box 1 of 3

C. B. Tripathi

Box 1 of 3

Henry Wilson

Box 1 of 3

Esmond Wright

Box 1 of 3

Various Exhibit Records

The Americans: The Democratic Experience

Box 1 of 3

Lincoln Exhibition

Box 1 of 3

SI Anniversary Exhibit

Box 1 of 3

Now Exhibition

Box 1 of 3

Frederick Douglass Exhibit

Box 1 of 3

Selections from Permanent Collection

Box 1 of 3

Portraits of Winold Reiss

Box 1 of 3

Black Leaders Exhibition

Box 1 of 3

Twelve Authors and Their Circles

Box 1 of 3

Woodward and Lothrop Exhibit

Box 1 of 3

Writers Show

Box 1 of 3

Museum of History and Technology Exhibit

Box 1 of 3

Prints and Engravings Show

Box 1 of 3

Harmon Collection

Box 1 of 3

"American Self-portraits"

Box 1 of 3

Lazzironi

Box 1 of 3

In the Minds and Hearts . . .

Box 1 of 3

If Elected . . .

Box 1 of 3

Burr Conspiracy Exhibition

Box 1 of 3

The Great War

Box 1 of 3

Edouart Exhibition

Box 1 of 3

Washington Show

Box 1 of 3

Return to Albion

Box 1 of 3

How Fleeting Is Fame

Box 1 of 3

Code Duello

Box 1 of 3

Box 2

Harlow Shapley Memorial

Box 2 of 3

St. Memin Show

Box 2 of 3

Chron Files, 1981-1984 (9 folders)

Box 2 of 3

Projected Activities and Goals

Box 2 of 3

NPG Background

Box 2 of 3

History Department Staff Meetings (2 folders)

Box 2 of 3

Education Department

Box 2 of 3

Office of Museum Programs

Box 2 of 3

Special Publications Office

Box 2 of 3

Curator's Office

Box 2 of 3

Catalog of American Portraits

Box 2 of 3

NPG Commissioners

Box 2 of 3

Administrative Office

Box 2 of 3

Library NPG/National Collection of Fine Aarts

Box 2 of 3

Office of Charles W. Peale Papers

Box 2 of 3

Public Relations Office, NPG

Box 2 of 3

Small Exhibits

Box 2 of 3

Exhibits

Box 2 of 3

General Correspondence, 1973-1982 (2 folders)

Box 2 of 3

Questions/Comments on Exhibitions

Box 2 of 3

Suggestions - General

Box 2 of 3

Various Symposia Records

Presidential Symposium Photos

Box 2 of 3

Directory of Publishers

Box 2 of 3

Publications Review Board

Box 2 of 3

Study Collection

Box 2 of 3

Presidential Hall

Box 2 of 3

Policy for NPG Collection

Box 2 of 3

Afro-American History

Box 2 of 3

Black on White Show

Box 2 of 3

Harmon Foundation

Box 2 of 3

Afro American History Bibliography

Box 2 of 3

10th Anniversary Lecture Series

Box 2 of 3

Art of Biography

Box 2 of 3

1978 Symposium - Thank You Letters

Box 2 of 3

1978 Symposium on Biography Chron File

Box 2 of 3

Indians

Box 2 of 3

Women in American History

Box 2 of 3

Notable American Women

Box 2 of 3

Russian American Documents

Box 2 of 3

Members of the Algonquin Round Table (The Vicious Circle)

Box 2 of 3

Harlem Renaissance

Box 2 of 3

Hawaii

Box 2 of 3

Possible China Exhibition

Box 2 of 3

NATO

Box 2 of 3

The Conway Cabal

Box 2 of 3

Brown v. The Board of Education Exhibit

Box 2 of 3

Sports Correspondence

Box 2 of 3

Presidential Symposium: Invitations

Box 2 of 3

Presidential Symposium

Box 2 of 3

Presidential Symposium Fee Log

Box 2 of 3

Presidential Personality

Box 2 of 3

Symposia Acceptance/Rejections (2 folders)

Box 2 of 3

Box 3

Symposia Acceptance/Rejections

Box 3 of 3

Symposium Invitees (4 folders)

Box 3 of 3