Commission Records, 1908-2017

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Summary

The National Gallery of Art Advisory Committee, consisting of several artists and art representatives, was formed in 1908 to assist the Gallery with management and acquisition decisions. When the NGA became a separate bureau of the Smithsonian Institution in 1920, the Committee changed its name to the National Gallery of Art Commission; and when it became the National Collection of Fine Arts, the group became known as the Smithsonian Gallery of Art Commission. More recently it has been known as the National Museum of American Art Commission and the Smithsonian American Art Museum Commission. Directors' tenures represented in these materials include William Henry Holmes, 1907-1932; Ruel P. Tolman, Acting Director, 1932-1945, and Director, 1946-1948; Thomas M. Beggs, 1948-1964; David W. Scott, 1965-1969; Robert Tyler Davis (interim), 1969; Joshua Charles Taylor, 1970-1981; Harry Lowe (acting), 1981-1982; and Charles C. Eldredge, 1982-1988; Elizabeth Broun, 1989-2016. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, meeting agendas and minutes, reports, biographies, by-laws, schedules of events, invitations, brochures, presentations, images, notes, clippings, and other related materials. Some materials are in electronic format.

Subject

  • Eldredge, Charles C
  • Lowe, Harry 1922-
  • Taylor, Joshua C (Joshua Charles) 1917-1981
  • Davis, Robert Tyler
  • Scott, David W. 1916-
  • Beggs, Thomas M
  • Tolman, Ruel P (Ruel Pardee) 1878-1954
  • Holmes, William Henry 1846-1933
  • Broun, Elizabeth
  • National Gallery of Art (U.S. : 1906-1937)
  • National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Office of the Director
  • National Museum of American Art (U.S.) Office of the Director

Category

Series Level Description

Notes

  • To view records that comprise this series, see the detailed list of accessions and/or record units below.
  • For a history of the creating unit, refer to "Forms part of" above.

Organization

Chronologic and unarranged

Repository Loc.

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

Date

  • 1908
  • 1908-2017

Restrictions & Rights

Materials less than 15 years old Restricted. Contact reference staff for details

Topic

  • Art museums
  • Advisory boards
  • Museums
  • Museums--Administration
  • Art museum directors

Form/Genre

  • Manuscripts
  • Electronic records
  • Compact discs
  • Black-and-white photographs
  • Color photographs
  • Clippings
  • Brochures

Local number

SIA RS00818

Physical description

  • 3.67 cu. ft. processed holdings
  • 6 cu. ft. unprocessed holdings

Full Record

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