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Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Accession 10-117

National Museum of African Art. Office of the Director

NMAfA Files, 1964-2008

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:National Museum of African Art. Office of the Director
Title:NMAfA Files
Dates:1964-2008
Quantity:4 cu. ft. (4 record storage boxes)
Collection:Accession 10-117
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This accession consists of records relating to the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) and were created by the director's office during the tenures of Warren M. Robbins, John E. Reinhardt (Acting), Sylvia H. Williams, Patricia L. Fiske (Acting), Roslyn A. Walker, and Sharon F. Patton. The records relate to grants, fundraising, various museum departments, exhibitions, the Quad museum building, and the Museum of African Art before it became a part of the Smithsonian Institution. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, reports, grants, contracts, brochures, clippings, and photographs. This collection also includes a small amount of NMAfA Board materials.

Descriptive Entry

This accession consists of records relating to the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) created by the director's office during the tenures of Warren M. Robbins, John E. Reinhardt (Acting), Sylvia H. Williams, Patricia L. Fiske (Acting), Roslyn A. Walker, and Sharon F. Patton. The records relate to grants, fundraising, various museum departments, exhibitions, the Quadrangle museum complex, and the Museum of African Art before it became a part of the Smithsonian Institution. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, reports, grants, contracts, brochures, clippings, and photographs. This collection also includes a small amount of NMAfA Board materials.

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Use Restriction

Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2024; Transferring office; 4/13/2010 memorandum, Yowell to Strombotne; Contact reference staff for details.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 10-117, National Museum of African Art. Office of the Director, NMAfA Files

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Container List

Box 1

Survey of Basic Operations

Box 1 of 4

Correspondence - Anacostia Neighborhood Museum

Box 1 of 4

Correspondence - American Art Museum

Box 1 of 4

Correspondence - National Portrait Gallery

Box 1 of 4

Quadrangle

Box 1 of 4

Quad - Film

Box 1 of 4

Quadrangle Design

Box 1 of 4

NMAfA History, 1977-1978

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 2004: Publication of catalog for "Inscribing Meaning"

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 2003: "Inscribing Meaning" book; Curriculum on Mali

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 2001: Part-time curatorial assistant

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 2000: Cataloging of Constance Stuart Larrabee Collection

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1993: Catalog books - Lamb Collection

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1992: Pay Phone TDD's

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1990: Re-photograph and conserve the White Fathers' Photographic Collection

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1989: To acquire Things Fall Apart videotape series

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1990: Purchase and use of 1 permanent and 2 portable FM Assistive Listening Systems (Peg Blechman, Education Department)

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1990: Request deaf accessibility to the Museum

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 2005: Conserve 27 rare photo albums (Amy Staples)

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1988: Pilot education program on African art and culture for D.C. high school students

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1987: Publish "African Art History: The State of the Discipline"; "Design and Color Symbolism in West African Strip Woven Cloth"

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1986: Funding of introductory information brochure for preschool and elementary school students

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1985: To develop 2 sets of material for "Animal Symbolism in African Art" program

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1984: To help purchase five films of the Ivory Coast Ethnic Groups

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1984: Submission by Smithsonian Institution Libraries-NMAfA branch - To purchase African ethnographic and historical materials

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1983: Production of Self-Contained Curriculum Kits

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1980: Request for Spinet Piano and African Languages Pronunciation Guide

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee, 1979: Request for funds to publish "African Miniatures - The Weaving Pulley Collection of Harold Rome"

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee Grant Proposals

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee Membership Lists

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee: Washington Craft Show - Silent Auction

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee: Request for proposals; List of previous awardees

Box 1 of 4

SI Women's Committee: Miscellaneous Correspondence

Box 1 of 4

Sylvia Williams - Lectures and Speeches, 1983-1996

Box 1 of 4

New York University Lectures

Box 1 of 4

NMAfA Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives (3 folders)

Box 1 of 4

Box 2

Nsukka Group and the State of Nigerian Contemporary Art (Sylvester Ogbechie)

Box 2 of 4

Nsukka - Adenaike, Tayo

Box 2 of 4

Nsukka Materials

Box 2 of 4

Nsukka Participants

Box 2 of 4

Nsukka Video Permissions

Box 2 of 4

The Museum of African Art: Pre-Smithsonian

Box 2 of 4

The Museum of African Art: Pre-Smithsonian - Legislation (3 folders)

Box 2 of 4

Smithsonian Acquiring the Museum of African Art - Press

Box 2 of 4

Repair and Rennovation (R&R) of Old NMAfA Buildings

Box 2 of 4

Frederick Douglass Museum of African Art, 1963-1977

Box 2 of 4

Correspondence - Robbins, Warren, 1964-1980

Box 2 of 4

Patrons List, 1979

Box 2 of 4

Transfer of American Works of Art

Box 2 of 4

Quad Donor Recognition

Box 2 of 4

Education Department

Box 2 of 4

Employee Survey

Box 2 of 4

External Affairs - Sponsorship and Outreach

Box 2 of 4

Friends of NMAfA - Minutes, Newsletters, Board Meetings

Box 2 of 4

Fundraising Plan, 2005

Box 2 of 4

Dedication of Warren M. Robbins Library, December 3, 1987

Box 2 of 4

Trip: October 15-21, 2003 - Patton and Mott to California (Development)

Box 2 of 4

Trip: March 16-17, 2004 - Patton and Mott to New York City (Visit collectors)

Box 2 of 4

Trip: April 17-23, 2001 - Walker and Mott to California (Development)

Box 2 of 4

Trip: November 11-13, 2003 - Patton, Dale, Binkley to New York City (Development)

Box 2 of 4

Public Comments on NMAfA

Box 2 of 4

Visitor Comments

Box 2 of 4

Institute for Learning Innovation - Nsukka Exhibition Evaluation Study, November 1998

Box 2 of 4

Science Learning Inc. (Falk, Adams, etc.) - Phase I: General Museum Visitor Expectations, January 1997

Box 2 of 4

Patton, Sharon F., March 2003- December 2008

Box 2 of 4

Patton, Sharon F., January 2000-March 2003

Box 2 of 4

Patton, Sharon F. - Illness, 2006

Box 2 of 4

Patton, Sharon F. - Getty-MLI, 2005

Box 2 of 4

Patton, Sharon F. - Congratulation Letters

Box 2 of 4

Union Catalogue Project

Box 2 of 4

Disney's America - Disney Imagineering, 1994

Box 2 of 4

Box 3

Smithsonian Memos/Warren Robbins Correspondence, 1979

Box 3 of 4

Minutes - Meeting Notices, 1966-1979

Box 3 of 4

Frederick Douglass Home (FDH) - Museum of African Art, 1960's

Box 3 of 4

NMAfA Building at Quad - Planning (2 folders)

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren - Obituary

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren - Correspondence

Box 3 of 4

United States Information Agency (USIA)/State Department Reception for Robbins, April 17, 1990

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren - Objects, March 1995

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren, 1983-1994

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren - Article, September 29, 1996

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren - General

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren - Cinebar Proposal, 1994

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren - Correspondence (9 folders)

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren, 1981-1982 (2 folders)

Box 3 of 4

NMAfA - Curatorial Department, 1980-1982

Box 3 of 4

New Building, 1987

Box 3 of 4

NMAfA Project/Funding Proposals, 2005

Box 3 of 4

NMAfA Comprehensive Five-Year Plan, 2001

Box 3 of 4

Board

Box 3 of 4

Robbins, Warren - Correspondence, 1977-1979

Box 3 of 4

Box 4

Robbins, Warren - Correspondence, 1979-1984

Box 4 of 4

NMAfA Contracts, 1990-1992

Box 4 of 4

Personnel, 1979-1980

Box 4 of 4

Shell Grant, 1992

Box 4 of 4

Cafritz Foundation Proposal, 1984

Box 4 of 4

Aga Khan Trust, 1990

Box 4 of 4

Nomads - Film, 1991

Box 4 of 4

Exhibition Contracts, 1993

Box 4 of 4

Purpose and Perfection: Pottery as a Women's Art in Central Africa

Box 4 of 4

Musee de l'Homme - The Center for African Art, 1985

Box 4 of 4

Nomads - Rockefeller Grant, 1990

Box 4 of 4

Images of Bamum, 1988

Box 4 of 4

Brakeley Contract, 1987

Box 4 of 4

Staniski Media Resources, 1989

Box 4 of 4

Board - General Correspondence (2 folders)

Box 4 of 4

Lane, Nancy L.

Box 4 of 4

Coker, Ade

Box 4 of 4

Board Prospects, 1980's

Box 4 of 4

Board Governance Committee

Box 4 of 4

Program Committee (2 folders)

Box 4 of 4

Program Committee Meeting, October/November 2004

Box 4 of 4

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