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Agency history, 1966-

Subject

Demetrion, James
Hirshhorn, Joseph H
Lerner, Abram
Koshalek, Richard
Viso, Olga M. 1966-
Brougher, Kerry
Rifkin, Ned
Chiu, Melissa

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
"Welcome to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden," http://www.si.edu/hirshhorn/start.htm, May 26, 2000
In 1966, Joseph H. Hirshhorn announced he would donate his art collection to the Smithsonian Institution which would be housed in a museum named for him and located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden opened to the public in October 1974. Abram Lerner, who had begun working with Joseph H. Hirshhorn in 1954 and became Curator of Hirshhorn's collection in 1955, was appointed Director of the Museum in 1967. Upon his retirement in 1984, he was succeeded by James Demetrion, who served as Director, 1984-2001. Demetrion was succeeded by Ned Rifkin, 2002-2005 and then Olga M. Viso, 2005-2007. Kerry Brougher served as acting director from 2007-2009. Richard Koshalek was then director from, 2009-2013. Following the resignation of Koshalek, Melissa Chiu was appointed director in 2014.
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

1966
1966-

Topic

Art
Art museums
Museums
Museums--Administration
Art, Modern
Art museum directors

Form/Genre

Mixed archival materials

Local number

SIA AH00167

Full Record

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