Agency history, 1963-2002

Subject

• McKeever, Chauncie
• Scherer, Peter M
• Foss, Barbara V
• O'Leary, Daniel
• Dobkin, John H
• Dunne, Linda
• Hathaway, Calvin S
• Rohlfing, H. Christian
• Cooper-Hewitt Museum Administrator
• Cooper-Hewitt Museum Assistant Director for Administration

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
• Smithsonian Directory, 1989-2002
• LinkedIn, Linda Dunne, https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-dunne-893178b, accessed January 12, 2023
• In 1963 the Cooper Union trustees announced that the Cooper Union Museum 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 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. The office has changed names several times during Dunne's tenure. Dunne has served as Administrator, 1983-1990; Assistant Director for Administration, 1990-circa 1998; and Deputy Director, circa 1998-2002. After 2002, it appears that the position of Deputy Director was abolished.
• 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

• 1963
• 1963-2002

Topic

• Decoration and ornament
• Art museums
• Decorative arts

Form/Genre

Mixed archival materials

Local number

SIA AH00189

Full Record

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