Agency history, 1964-1995

Subject

• Stewart, T. D (Thomas Dale) 1901-1997
• Hoffmann, Robert S
• Challinor, David
• Galler, Sidney Roland 1920-
• Smithsonian Institution Office of the Provost
• Smithsonian Institution Assistant Secretary for the Sciences
• Smithsonian Institution Assistant Secretary for Museums
• Smithsonian Institution Assistant Secretary for Research
• Smithsonian Institution Assistant Secretary for Science

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, 1986
• Smithsonian Directory, 1985-1992
• Smithsonian Annals, 1993-1994
• In 1964 the position of Assistant Secretary for Science was established to be the administrator responsible for overseeing the scientific units of the Institution. In addition to policy issues, the Assistant Secretary was often responsible for aspects of contact with other institutions and the scientific community. In 1985 a new organization was imposed on the Smithsonian, with a view to improved administration of the Institution's diverse units. The Assistant Secretary for Science became the Assistant Secretary for Research, responsible for overseeing the research component of these various units. During this time the office collaborated with the Assistant Secretary for Museums in oversight of scholarly and presentational activities in the science museums. In 1992 the Office was renamed the Office of the Assistant Secretary for the Sciences as part of a reorganization of Smithsonian Institution administration. At this time the administration again created a more defined line between science museums and arts and humanities museums, the former being the responsibility of the new Assistant Secretary for the Sciences. In 1994 the office was again renamed the Assistant Provost for the Sciences, reporting to the Office of the Provost. The office was abolished in 1995 in yet another managerial change. Assistant Secretaries within this office included T. D. Stewart, Assistant Secretary for Science, 1964; Sidney R. Galler, Assistant Secretary for Science, 1965-1970; David Challinor, Assistant Secretary for Science, 1970-1984, and Assistant Secretary for Research, 1985-1987; and Robert S. Hoffmann, Assistant Secretary for Research, 1988-1991, Assistant Secretary for the Sciences, 1992-1994, and Assistant Provost for the Sciences, 1995.
• 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

• 1985
• 1985-1994
• 1964-1995

Topic

• Museums
• Museums--Administration

Form/Genre

Mixed archival materials

Local number

SIA AH00281

Full Record

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