Agency history, 1982-

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Subject

  • Simmons, Gwendolyn Zoharah
  • Reagon, Bernice Johnson 1942-
  • Kilkenny, Niani
  • Wilson, Christopher W
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Division of Performing Arts
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Program in Black American Culture
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Program in African American History
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Program in African American Culture
  • National Museum of American History (U.S.) Program in African-American History and Culture

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.
  • Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Program in African American Culture, http://americanhistory.si.edu/paac, August 21, 2000
  • National Museum of American History, Staff, Christopher W. Wilson, http://americanhistory.si.edu/profile/539, accessed 2013-2018
  • National Museum of American Hisory, Departments, African American History Program, https://americanhistory.si.edu/about/departments/african-american-history-program, accessed February 22, 2023
  • The Program in Black American Culture began as a research group formed in 1972 to develop the African Diaspora program at the Smithsonian's Bicentennial Festival of American Folklife. For a time it operated as part of the Division of Performing Arts. When that Division was terminated the African American Culture Program was attached to the National Museum of American History in 1982. The office was renamed Program in African American History in 1989, and again renamed as Program in African American Culture, in 1992. In 2014 the office was renamed the Program in African-American History and Culture and then renamed in 2019 as the African American History Program.
  • The Program's purpose is to systematically research, interpret, document and preserve the historical and cultural life and legacy of Americans of African descent through public programs, publications, and other media.
  • Staff have included Bernice Johnson Reagon, Director, 1982-1989; Niani Kilkenny, Acting Director, 1988-1989, and Director, 1992-2003; Gwendolyn Robinson, Director, 1989-1992; and Christopher W. Wilson, Director, 2004- .
  • 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

  • 1982
  • 1982-

Topic

  • Historical museums
  • Society
  • History
  • African Americans
  • African Americans--History
  • African Americans--Social life and customs

Form/Genre

Mixed archival materials

Local number

SIA AH00249

Full Record

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