Central Administrative Files, 1908-1974

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Summary

The Central Administrative File was established in order to receive records of the Director, Assistant Director, and copies and original incoming and outgoing correspondence carried on by museum curators, administrators, technicians, and research assistants. This system was discontinued in 1975. This record series consists of records documenting the administrations of David W. Scott, National Collection of Fine Arts (NCFA) Director, 1965-1969; Robert Tyler Davis, interim Director, 1969; and Joshua Charles Taylor, Director, 1970- 1979. Materials include Smithsonian Art Commission and NCFA Commission reports and correspondence with Commission members; NCFA fiscal material; memoranda among NCFA staff; NCFA policies and procedures; correspondence with Smithsonian Institution administrators; exhibition material; gifts and purchases; material concerning the renovation of the old Patent Office Building; correspondence with professional organizations; correspondence with state, local, and private art galleries; correspondence with universities concerning art programs and exhibits; and correspondence with federal agencies and foreign art museums.

Subject

  • Scott, David W. 1916-
  • Davis, Robert Tyler
  • Taylor, Joshua C (Joshua Charles) 1917-1981
  • Smithsonian Art Commission
  • National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Commission
  • National Collection of Fine Arts (U.S.) Office of the Director
  • Patent Office Building (Washington, D.C.)

Category

Series Level Description

Notes

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

Organization

Organized into subseries: Smithsonian Art Commission and NCFA Commission--NCFA reports--NCFA staff--NCFA subject files--Exhibition files--NCFA history and related material--NCFA, Fine Arts and Portrait Galleries file--General files--Smithsonian Institution files--Federal government files--State and foreign country files--International Art Program--Renwick Gallery--Cooper Union Museum--Crafts--White House--Artist and sculpture file

Repository Loc.

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

Date

  • 1908
  • 1908-1974

Topic

  • Art museums
  • Exhibitions
  • Museums
  • Museums--Administration
  • Museums--Collection management

Form/Genre

Mixed archival materials

Local number

SIA RS01449

Physical description

59 cu. ft. processed holdings

Full Record

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