Reference Request
Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives
Accession 19-201
National Museum of African American History and Culture. Office of the Director
Administrative Records, 2000, 2003, 2008-2016
Collection Overview
| General Information About This Collection | |
|---|---|
| Repository: | Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu. |
| Creator: | National Museum of African American History and Culture. Office of the Director |
| Title: | Administrative Records |
| Dates: | 2000, 2003, 2008-2016 |
| Quantity: | 6.5 cu. ft. (6 record storage boxes) (1 document box) |
| Collection: | Accession 19-201 |
| Language of Materials: | English |
| Summary: | This accession consists of the records documenting the activities and management of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) during the tenure of founding Director, Lonnie G. Bunch, 2005-2019. Topics covered include the design, development, and administration of the museum; acquisitions; programs; and exhibitions. Some records date from before the creation of the museum in 2003. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, reports, floor plans, notes, meeting minutes, scripts, outlines, agendas, object lists, brochures, news clippings, budget reports, illustrations, and other related materials. |
Descriptive Entry
This accession consists of the records documenting the activities and management of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) during the tenure of founding Director, Lonnie G. Bunch, 2005-2019. Topics covered include the design, development, and administration of the museum, acquisitions, programs, and exhibitions. Some records date from before the creation of the museum in 2003. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, reports, floor plans, notes, meeting minutes, scripts, outlines, agendas, object lists, brochures, news clippings, budget reports, illustrations, and other related materials.
Restrictions
Use RestrictionRestricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2032; Transferring office; 12/17/2015 memorandum, Milhoan to Thomas; Contact reference staff for details.
Index Terms
This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.
Name
- A Century in the Making: Building the National Museum of African American History and Culture (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- Bunch, Lonnie G.
- Cultural Expressions (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: Era of Segregation 1876-1968 (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- Double Victory: The African American Military Experience (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- Everyday Beauty: Selections from the Photography and Film Collection (Exhibition) (2017-2018: Washington, D.C.)
- Making A Way Out of No Way (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington D.C.)
- Musical Crossroads (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- Power of Place (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington D.C.)
- Slavery and Freedom (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- Sports: Leveling the Playing Field (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- Taking the Stage (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
- Visual Art and the American Experience (Exhibition) (2016- : Washington, D.C.)
Subject
- African Americans -- History
- African Americans -- Social life and customs
- Historical museums
- Museum buildings
- Museum directors
- Museum exhibits
- Museums -- Acquisitions
- Museums -- Administration
- Museums -- Educational aspects
Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 19-201, National Museum of African American History and Culture. Office of the Director, Administrative Records
Container List
Box 1
Slavery and Freedom
"Colonial North America" Revisions, 2014
Pre-Atlantic Slave Trade - Review, Outline and Captions, 2013
"How We Know What We Know" - Summary, undated
Transatlantic Slave Trade - Revised Labels and Captions, 2013
The Antebellum Era, Proposed Changes - February 12 Meeting, 2013
Media Development, August 1 Meeting, 2013
Show Comments - Lonnie Bunch, 2013
Memorandum to Lonnie Bunch from Cecilia O'Leary - Slavery Exhibition, 2013
Colonial North America - Graphics, Labels and Captions, 2013
Exhibition Team Meeting, February 13, 2012
Design and Development - "Slavery and Freedom", April 23 Meeting - Script Revisions, Correspondence, Gallery Plans, 2012
Draft Notes, 2012
Inaugural Exhibitions Decision Memoranda - Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), 2012
Concept and Design - RAA, November, 2011
Exhibition Meeting, 2010-2011
"Slavery and Freedom" and "Defending Freedom - The Era of Segregation", RAA Follow-up Conference, 2013
"Slavery and Freedom" and Civil War Outline, Conference - Lynda Kaplan and Richard Rabinowitz, 2011
Media Descriptions - Notes, 2013
Meeting with RAA, August 2011
Content Review, 2010
American History Workshop - Life Stories April 7 Meeting, 2010
American History Workshop - Interpretive Overview July 30 Meeting, 2010-2011
Exhibition Overview and Outline - Gallery Sections, 2013 (2 folders)
Ediston Island Slave Cabin Acquisition - "Slavery and Freedom" Show, 2013
"Slavery and Freedom" Exhibit Plans Overview and Outline, 2011 (2 folders)
Review Correspondence January 9 Meeting, 2014
"Slavery and Freedom" and "Segregation Beyond 1968" Selma Thomas Meeting, 2015
Debrief, undated
Exhibit Loans, undated
"The Civil War" Video Narration - March 15 Exhibition with the Smithsonian Channel, 2016
"Struggle for Freedom and Justice" Video - June 16 Meeting with Selma Thomas, 2015
Team Response to Director's Script Comments, 2015
Smithsonian Channel - "Slavery and Freedom" October 15 Meeting, 2015
Script, 2014 (2 folders)
Slave Block in Hagerstown, Maryland, 2014
Box 2
Design Review - November 28 Meeting, 2012
Slavery Exhibition Theme - Captions, Labels, and Draft Review, 2013
Loan Agreements, The Charleston Museum, Cuban Documents - Borrow Requests Approval, 2016
Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation
Inaugural Exhibitions, Media Programs, January 31 Meeting, 2013
Segregation Exhibition - May 5 Meeting with Spencer Crew, 2014
Segregation Media - July 30 Meeting, 2015
"Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation" Exhibition Text - Scholarly Review and Comments, 2014
"Revolutionary Era", "The Middle Passage", and "Colonial North America" - Revised Script, 2013
"Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation" Media - Draft Descriptions, 2013
"Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation" Exhibition Meeting with RAA, 2012-2013
"Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation" - Draft Script - August 6 Meeting with Spencer Crew, 2010
"Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation" Exhibition Text - Robert Self Comments, 2014
Labels and Captions, undated
Segregation Exhibition Theme - Review, 2013
Violence Theater - Segregation, Video with Comments, 2015-2016
Exhibit Gallery Videos - Segregation - Big Format/Multi-Screen Projections, Documentary, Archival, Theaters, 2014
Cultural Expressions
Agenda, January 9 Meeting with RAA, 2014
Thematic Outline - May 28 Meeting with Deborah Mack, 2014
Revised Thematic Outline - April 21 Team Meeting, 2014
Progress Review - Joanne Hyppolite and Deborah Mack, June 25 Meeting, 2014
Script, 2014
Briefing Document - Acoustics, Contemplative Court, 2014
Black Diaspora, A Place at the Table with Joanne Hyppolite - June 5 Meeting, 2014
Smithsonian Channel and Cultural Commons Produced, April 1 Meeting, 2015
Draft Text, 2015
Script Comments, 2015
Cultural Commons Exhibit Script - Outline and Overview, 2013
Draft Script for Director's Review, 2013
Gallery Floor Plan and Script, 2013
Media Review, Draft Descriptions, 2013
Draft Exhibit Section Outline, Script Outline and Review - Planning Design Media, 2010-2012
Conceptual Script Outline, 2011
Inaugural Exhibition Theme, Script and Agenda - Content Review, 2013
The Power of Place
Gallery Introduction - Script Draft - Paul Gardullo, 2014
Gallery Introduction Video Review Document - March 16 Meeting, 2015
Interactive Hub - January 10 Meeting, 2014
Exhibit Media Descriptions - June 16 Meeting with Paul Gardullo, 2014
Kickoff Meeting with SI Networks - Exhibit Media Draft Descriptions, 2014
Exhibition Updates and Retreat, 2009-2010
Draft Text Advisor Comments, 2014
Inaugural Exhibition Meetings with RAA - "Making a Way Out of No Way", "Power of Place", Military, and Sports, 2013
"Through the African American Lens", Outline - February 13 Meeting, 2014
"Picturing the Promise: The Scurlock Photography Studio and Black Washington" - Correspondence and Meeting Notes, 2008-2009
Box 3
Picturing the Promise: The Scurlock Photography Studio and Black Washington Book, 2009
Notes, Correspondence, Drafts - Picturing the Promise: The Scurlock Photography Studio and Black Washington Book, 2008
Exhibition Plan for NMAAHC Gallery at the National Museum of American History (NMAH), 2008-2009
Introduction Rough Cut, Media Report, 2016
Visual Art and the American Experience
A Closer Look, Interactive Sample, undated
Scholar Review - Curator Response, undated
Script Outline, Art Acquisitions, Object Examples - February Meeting, 2013-2014
Script Outline, 2013
Media Review, Descriptions, and Notes, 2013
Design and Development, 2010-2012
Inaugural Exhibition Theme - Content Review and Gallery Plans, 2013
Visual Arts Gallery Video Drafts - Meeting with Selma Thomas, 2015
Making a Way Out of No Way
Draft Script - Meeting with Michele Moresi and Katie Kendrick, 2014
Curatorial Notes- Scholar Review, 2013
Draft Script, Design and Development, 2013
Story Templates and Outline, Concepts, 2011-2012
Conceptual Script Outline, Anthony L. Powell Collection - Meeting with Michele Moresi, 2010
Concept Overview - Meeting with Ralph Appelbaum, 2011
Main Case Labels and Objects, List of Places, 2012
Kickoff Meeting with SI Networks, 2014-2015
Draft Text, 2014
Draft Text Advisor Comments, 2014
Inaugural Exhibition Theme, Agenda Summaries, Draft Script - Content Review and Gallery Plans, 2013
A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond
Design and Development - Meeting - Outline and Correspondence, 2012
Exhibition Labels, 2014
"1968 and Beyond", "Slavery and Freedom", "Cultural Expressions", and "Visual Art" Gallery Video Descriptions, 2015
Exit Mural Quotations, 2015
Scholar Comments, 2013-2015
Script, undated
"Freedom is Not Enough" Script, 2014
Interpretive Strategies and Other Ideas, Media Draft Descriptions, 2013
Gallery Planning, Labels, 2013
Design Review with RAA, 2012-2013
Conceptual Script Outline, 2010-2011
Design and Development, 2010-2012
Inaugural Exhibition Theme - Content Review, 2013
Box 4
Musical Crossroads
Meeting - Gallery Plans, Script and Media Draft Descriptions, 2013
Exhibition Review, Design and Development, 2012-2013
Media Program Descriptions, 2013
Media Review, 2013
Exhibition Outline, April 13 Off-Site Meeting, 2012
Design and Development Meeting - "Musical Crossroads" and Cultural Expressions, 2012
Conceptual Script Outline, 2010-2011
Gallery Script Template, 2014
"Musical Crossroads" Video Descriptions for SI Networks Meeting, 2015
Video Scripts - "Musical Crossroads" and "Power of Place", 2015
Draft Text - Advisor Comments, 2014 (2 folders)
Inaugural Exhibition Theme, Script Outline, and Agenda - Content Review, 2013
Scripts - "Military Gallery" and "Musical Crossroads, 2013
The Record Store - Experience Summary, 2016
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
Anthony Powell Collection Follow-up, Meeting with Krewasky Salter, 2014
Design Workshop, Meeting with RAA, 2014
Exhibition Review, Workshop with RAA and Krewasky Salter, 2013
Script Outline, 2013
Treatments for Videos, 2014
Draft Text Advisor Comments, 2014
Draft Script, Scholarly Review, 2014
Script - Caption, Artifact, and Gallery Labels, 2014
Scripts for RAA Workshop - Military and Sports Galleries, 2013
Script, 2013
Verified American Participation and Dates in Wars - Research Outline, 2012-2013
Content Discussion with Krewasky Salter - April Meeting, 2013
Meeting Notes and Correspondence with RAA - Exhibition, 2013
Review of Blacks in the Military Exhibition - Bill Gwaltney, 2011
National Park Service (NPS) and NMAAHC Agreement - Military Exhibition Personnel, Briefing Materials, 2012
Exhibition - Working Session, 2012
Box 5
Inaugural Exhibition Outline, Scholar Review - Content Review, Agendas, and Gallery Plans, 2013
American Participation in Wars - Content Outlines and Object Information, 2013
Gallery Review - Video Batch of Fine and Rough Cuts, Scripts and Shot Sheets, 2014
Video Review, Contact Sheets - Civil War, World War I, and Faces of People Who Served, 2014
Donation of Iraq War Artifacts - Andre Jones, 2014
Smithsonian Channel - Indian Wars, Video Notes, 2014
Gallery Fine Cuts and Review - Civil War, World War I, Faces of Those Who Served and Double Victory Campaign, 2015
Sports: Leveling the Playing Field
Proposal - Michael Jordan and Center for Sports, Damion Thomas Meeting, 2016
The Center for Sports and Race, Proposal, 2016
Correspondence from Harry Edwards, Social and Civil Rights in Sports, 2014
SI Channel Sports Show - Video Descriptions, 2015
Sports Lists and Reminders, 2013
Media Questions, undated
Sports Script - Outline, 2013
Development Team Meeting - June 2013
"Game Changers", Draft, 2013
Revised and Expanded Script, 2013
Exhibition Design and Development - Sports and Segregation, 2012
Gallery Meeting - Incoming Sports Gallery Curator, Damion Thomas, 2013
Sports Inaugural Exhibition - Permanent Exhibits, 2009
Draft Text, Advisor Comments, 2014 (2 folders)
Sports Exhibition Theme - Review Meeting, 2013
Taking the Stage: African Americans in Entertainment
Emory Tolbert Collection - Report, 2014
Inaugural Scholar Review, Draft Script, 2013
Proposed Label Updates - Gallery Plan, Final Graphic Elevations, 2015-2016
Revised Exhibition Outline, 2013
Media Descriptions Review, 2013
Kathleen Kendrick - Review of "Taking the Stage, African Americans in Entertainment", 2013
Design and Development - Content Review Meeting, 2012
Design and Development - Popular Culture, 2012
Popular Culture Exhibition Overview - Draft, Preliminary Thoughts, 2011
Smithsonian Institution (SI) Network, Media Program Review, Kickoff Meeting, 2014
Draft Exhibition Script, Revised, with Katy Kendrick - February 12 Meeting, 2013
Oprah Winfrey - Temporary Exhibition, 2015
Draft Text Advisor Comments, 2014
Draft Script - Labels, Captions, 2014
Correspondence - Bill Cosby at NMAAHC, 2016
Explore More! - Youth Gallery
"Explore More!" - Visual Arts Gallery -Design and Development, 2012
"Explore More!" - Conceptual Direction, Content Discussion, 2014-2016
Box 6
Script Outline - Youth Gallery, "Once Upon a Time", 2011
Youth Gallery - Meeting with RAA, Outline and Comments, 2011
Conceptual Script Outline, Meeting with Esther Washington, 2010-2011
Youth, 2nd Floor - Overview - Freedom, Fairness, Identity, undated
Youth Gallery Charette, 2012
Conceptual Script Outline, 2010
Exhibitions - General
A Century in the Making: Building the NMAAHC - Script, undated
Lord Culture Resources Report - Learning Programs, 2013-2014
Review Layout and Designs - Antebellum High Space, 2012
Migration Generation Content Review, 2010
Fabrication and Installation Documentation Phase - Meeting with RAA, 2014
Life and Work Exhibition, 2013
J. L. Edmonds Document, undated
Gallery Assessments, End-of-Phase, Design and Development, 2013
Final Design Phase, Overview Meeting, 2013
Central Hall Signage, 2014
Scholarly Consultant Script Comments, 2012
Lord Cultural Resources, Resource Plan - Ngaire Blankenberg, 2012
Design and Development Meeting and Gallery Planning - Information Commons, Resource Gallery Creative Workshop Agenda, 2012
The African Slave Wrecks Project, 2013
Correspondence - Harry Rubenstein, 2012
Inaugural Exhibitions - Project Advisors, 2010, 2012
Central Hall Design and Development, 2012
Inaugural Exhibitions - RAA, Collection Assessment, 2012
Draft Media Descriptions - Journey Interactive, "MegaApp", Reflections Booth Revised, 2013
Presidency Script - "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden", 2000, 2012
Review 2011 - Monticello Smithsonian Directive (SD) 603, 2000, 2003, 2011
Education Program - Ngaire Blankenberg and Lord Cultural Resources, 2012
Programs and Activities for Center for African American Media Arts (CAAMA) - Meeting with Media Archivists, 2015
Library and Archives Plan - Individual Spaces and Requirements Meeting, 2014
Review Meeting - Advisor Cecelia O'Leary - Recommendation of Scholars, August 2013
Cultural Expressions Show, Feedback Meeting - Advisor Cecelia O'Leary, June 2014
Proposed Agenda, Advisor Cecelia O'Leary Meeting with Lonnie Bunch, Exhibit Reviews, April-July 2012
Executive Summaries, Agenda, Exhibit Reviews, Advisor Cecelia O'Leary Meeting with Lonnie Bunch, September-December 2012
Exhibit Reviews, Advisor Cecelia O'Leary Meeting with Ericka Huggins and Lonnie Bunch, Proposed Agenda, February-June 2013
Hall of Community - Meeting Minutes of Exhibits, Advisor Cecelia O'Leary 2011
"Beyond 1968" - NMAAHC Work Options, Agendas, Deliverables, Evaluations, Cecelia O'Leary, November 2011
Review of Exhibits, Advisor Cecelia O'Leary - "Beyond 1968", "Narratives of Power", November 2011
Museum Progress - Meeting with Lonnie Bunch, Cecelia O'Leary, 2015
Review of "Era of Segregation" - Advisor Cecelia O'Leary - Agenda, Minutes, 2011
Interviews and Exhibits - Advisor Cecelia O'Leary - Executive Summary, 2012
Scholars Feedback on Inaugural Exhibits, "Sports", "Musical Crossroads", "Slavery and Freedom", "Segregation Era", 2014
NMAAHC - Cafeteria Food Proposal, 2013
Titles and Quotes - Inaugural Exhibitions Decisions, 2012, 2014-2015
Exhibition Questions - Urgent, 2015
Inaugural Exhibitions - Top 10 Objects and Additional Quotes for "Contemplative Court", 2015
"Moments of Wonder", Collections Memo, Object List, 2015-2016
Potential Quotations for NMAAHC Building, 2014
Emancipation Notes - Lonnie Bunch, undated
Exhibit Fabrication Budget - Follow-up Meeting, 2014
History Gallery Model Images, 2013
Exhibition Development - Call Lists, Collecting Items for NMAAHC, 2013
NMAAHC Pre-Opening Program and Delivery Schedule, Install Overview, 2016
Correspondence - Dottie Leffler, Museum Contractor, 2014
Proposal for Additional Service Modification to RAA Contract - Meeting Notes and Correspondence, 2013-2014
NMAAHC Complete Video Descriptions, undated
Talking Points and Correspondence - Meeting with David Royle of SI Channel, 2015
Exhibit Media Narrator Voices, List of Narrators, Matrix, and Building Design - Violence Theater, Shifting Landscapes, 2015
"Double Exposure" Photography Exhibition, 2016
"Everyday Beauty: Selections from the Photography and Film Collection", CAAMA, 2016
Images for Signage on the National Mall, 2016
Gift Agreement - SNI/SI Networks, LLC and the Smithsonian Institution, 2014
Correspondence - David Royle, SI Channel - Discussion of Exhibition Videos and Products, 2015
Exhibit Video Updates - Selma Thomas, 2015
Videos Agreement, Revised - SI Channel Video Schedule - Video Notes, 2014
Official Review Comments - Scripts for SI Channel, Military Gallery, 2014
Shooting Script, Selma Thomas correspondence - Power of Place Gallery, Angola, Bronx, Oak Bluffs - Military and Segregation Gallery, 2014
A Vision for NMAAHC, About the Museum, Director Lonnie Bunch and Deputy Director Kinshasha Holman - History and Mission - Milestones and Benchmarks, Gallery Concepts, Site Image, undated
Box 7
Paul Robeson Inventory - Exhibition Captions and details, undated
NMAAHC Inaugural Exhibition Advisors and Scholarly Review - Schedules, Correspondence, Exhibit Plans, 2013
Inaugural Exhibitions Budget Schedule - Presentation to Al Horvath, 2013
- Finding Aid encoded on: 9-21-2020
- Contact us at osiaref@si.edu