Agency history, 1980-

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Subject

  • Hatch, Josiah O
  • Reagon, Bernice Johnson 1942-
  • Simmons, Gwendolyn Zoharah
  • Sharpe, Elizabeth M
  • Taylor, Lonn 1940-
  • Weaver, James Merle
  • Cherkasky, Shirley E
  • Clapp, Rebecca B
  • Closter, Harold A
  • Kilkenny, Niani
  • Melendez, Manuel J
  • Sanderson, Geraldine E
  • Gradwohl, Judith
  • Kotcho, Carrie
  • Smithsonian Institution Division of Performing Arts
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Office of Public Services
  • National Museum of History and Technology (U.S.) Office of Public and Academic Programs
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Office of Public and Academic Programs
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Department of Public Programs
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Department of Education and Public Programs
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Office of Public Programs
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Office of Education and Public Programs
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Office of Education and Public Engagement

Category

Agency History

Notes

  • This is an agency history. It does not describe actual records. The Smithsonian Institution Archives uses these histories as brief accounts of the origin, development, and functions of an office or administrative unit to set that unit in its historical context. To find information on record holdings, please double-click the highlighted field "Creator/Author", which will open on a brief view of relevant records.
  • Guide to the Smithsonian Archives, 1996
  • Annals of the Smithsonian Institution, 1992, 1995
  • Smithsonian Directory, 1997
  • Smithsonian Directory, 2002
  • LinkedIn, Harold Closter, https://www.linkedin.com/in/harold-closter-9430545/, accessed November 14, 2022
  • LinkedIn, Judy Gradwohl, https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-gradwohl-61832021/, accessed November 16, 2022
  • LinkedIn, Amy Bartow-Melia, https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartowmelia/, accessed November 16, 2022
  • Wonderful Women Wednesday: Judy Gradwohl, The Bigger Picture blog, Smithsonian Institution Archives, May 22, 2019, https://siarchives.si.edu/blog/wonderful-women-wednesday-judy-gradwohl, accessed November 16, 2022
  • National Museum of American History website, https://americanhistory.si.edu/, 2006-2022
  • In 1980 an Office of Public and Academic Programs was established at the National Museum of History and Technology, subsequently the National Museum of American History (NMAH). Josiah O. Hatch, a Special Assistant to the Director of the Museum, was assigned as Director of the Office. Hatch submitted reports for Public and Academic Programs to the Deputy Director of NMAH.
  • When the Smithsonian Institution's Division of Performing Arts was closed in 1983, part of its staff was reassigned to the Office of Public and Academic Programs. In 1984, the Office was reorganized as the Department of Public Programs. It included sections of exhibition production, education, the Program in Black American History, performances, publications, and the Office of Public Affairs. Hatch became its head as the Assistant Director for Public Programs. The next year, Lonn Taylor succeeded Hatch. In 1994 the office was renamed the Office of Public Services, and Harold A. Closter succeeded Taylor, serving 1995-2001. Judith Gradwohl was Associate Director, 2004-2016, followed by Carrie Kotcho as Acting Associate Director, 2017, and then in 2018 Amy Bartow-Melia became Associate Director. After Bartow-Melia left the museum in 2020, Kotcho served as Acting Associate Director again. In or around 2001, the office became the Department of Education and Public Programs and then in roughly 2006 it became known as the Office of Public Programs. In 2013 the office changed its name to the Office of Education and Public Programs, then in 2017 it became the Office of Education and Public Engagement, and next in 2018 became known as the Office of Audience Engagement.
  • The Office of Audience Engagement is responsible for a variety of tasks associated with providing the public with opportunities for learning. It works with the Museum's other departments to produce exhibitions, audiovisual materials, and other educational materials such as scholarly publications, kits and guides, as well as information on various topics of interest that interpret NMAH exhibitions. The Office also sponsors or coordinates programs and performances using Museum collections; presents special programs on important aspects of American life and culture that cannot be exhibited through artifacts alone; and organizes colloquia, symposia, and lectures.
  • Staff has included Josiah O. Hatch, Director of the Office of Public and Academic Programs, 1980-1983, Assistant Director for Public Programs, 1984; Lonn Taylor, Deputy Assistant Director for Public Programs, 1984, Assistant Director, 1985- ; Harold A. Closter, Production Director, 1983-1986, Program Manager, 1987-1990, Deputy Assistant Director, 1991-1994, Director, 1995-2001; Bernice Johnson Reagon, Director, Program in Black American History, 1983-1987; Gwendolyn Robinson, Director of the Program in Black American History, 1988-1991; Niani Kilkenny, Director, Program in Black American History, 1992- ; James Merle Weaver, Director of Performance Programs, 1983-1986; Shirley E. Cherkasky, Coordinator of Museum Programs, 1983- ; Elizabeth M. Sharpe, Education Specialist, 1985-1986, Deputy Assistant Director for Public Programs, 1987- ; Rebecca B. Clapp, Special Events Assistant, 1974, Special Events Officer, 1975; Geraldine E. Sanderson, Special Events Officer, 1976-1977; Public Information Officer, 1978; and Manuel J. Melendez, Performing Arts Production Specialist, 1984-1991.
  • For a history of the larger creating unit, refer to "Forms part of above."

Repository Loc.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520

Date

  • 1980
  • 1980-

Topic

  • Public relations
  • Education
  • Historical museums
  • Museums
  • Museums--Public relations
  • Museums--Educational aspects

Form/Genre

Mixed archival materials

Local number

SIA AH00146

Full Record

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