Agency History, 2015-2021

Close
Usage Conditions Apply
The Smithsonian Institution Archives welcomes personal and educational use of its collections unless otherwise noted. For commercial uses, please contact photos@si.edu.
Print
 

Subject

  • Skorton, David J
  • Davis, John 1961 September 24-
  • Gover, Kevin 1955-
  • Kurin, Richard 1950-
  • Smith College
  • Terra Foundation for American Art
  • Smithsonian Institution American Women's History Initiative
  • Smithsonian Institution Open Access Initiative
  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
  • National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.)
  • National Zoological Park (U.S.)
  • Smithsonian Institution Office of Fellowships and Internships
  • Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press
  • Smithsonian Institution Archives
  • Smithsonian Institution Libraries
  • Smithsonian Institution Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture
  • Historic Deerfield, Inc
  • Smithsonian Institution Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Research/Provost

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.
  • Smithsonian Institution, News Release, Richard Kurin, Acting Provost/Under Secretary for Museums and Research, March 8, 2016, https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/photos/richard-kurin-acting-provostunder-secretary-museums-and-research, accessed August 4, 2021.
  • Smithsonian Institution Archives, Chronology of Smithsonian History, https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_14943, accessed August 4, 2021.
  • Smithsonian Insitution, Email Announcement, Message from the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture: John Davis' Departure, May 6, 2021, https://sinet.sharepoint.com/sites/PRISM/Lists/SIWideAnnc/DispForm.aspx?ID=8124, accessed August 4, 2021.
  • Antiques and the Arts Weekly, John Davis Named President & CEO Of Historic Deerfield, May 11, 2021, https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/john-davis-named-president-ceo-of-historic-deerfield/, accessed August 4, 2021.
  • Smithsonian Institution, News Release, Kevin Gover Named Under Secretary for Museums and Culture for Smithsonian, January 13, 2021, https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/kevin-gover-named-under-secretary-museums-and-culture-smithsonian, accessed August 4, 2021.
  • The Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Research/Provost was created by Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton to lead and promote multidisciplinary activities across the Smithsonian Institution. Richard Kurin served as Acting Under Secretary for Museums and Research/Provost from 2015 until July 31, 2017, when John Davis, the Alice Pratt Brown Professor of Art at Smith College and the executive director of the Terra Foundation for American Art's Global Academic Programs and Terra Foundation Europe was appointed Under Secretary for Museums and Research/Provost. In this position, Davis oversaw the Smithsonian's 19 museums, research units, the National Zoo, multiple offices and programs related to education, the Office of Fellowships and Internships, the Smithsonian Scholarly Press, the Smithsonian Institution Archives and the Smithsonian Libraries. During his tenure, Davis launched and co-chaired the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative (AWHI). He also led the Smithsonian's Open Access Initiative, making over three million Smithsonian objects available to anyone anywhere in the world. In 2018, the office's name changed to the Office of the Under Secretary for Museums, Education, and Research/Provost. In February 2020 Davis was appointed as Interim Director for the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. After Davis' appointment, Kevin Gover, Director, National Museum of the American Indian was named acting Under Secretary for Museums, Education, and Research/Provost. The Office of the Under Secretary for Museums, Education, and Research/Provost ceased to exist in 2021 as a result of a Smithsonian reorganization. Gover was appointed to the newly created Office of the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture in January 2021 and Davis left the Smithsonian to be the president and chief executive officer of Historic Deerfield in May 2021.
  • 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

  • 2015
  • 2015-2020
  • 2015-2021

Topic

  • Archival materials
  • Public relations
  • Library materials
  • Education
  • Digitization
  • Museums
  • Museums--Educational aspects
  • Museums--Administration
  • Museums--Public relations
  • Archival materials--Digitization
  • Library materials--Digitization

Form/Genre

Mixed archival materials

Local number

SIA AH00434

Full Record

View Full Record