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Agency history, 2020-

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Subject

  • Sasaki, Lisa
  • Yao, Nancy
  • Adams, Melanie A 1969-
  • Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative
  • Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
  • Museum of Chinese in America

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 American Women's History Museum website, https://womenshistory.si.edu/, accessed February 17, 2023
  • Smithsonian Institution, About, Our Organizaton, Lisa Sasaki, https://www.si.edu/about/bios/lisa-sasaki, accessed February 17, 2023
  • SI News Release, "Nancy Yao Named First Director of the New Smithsonian American Women's History Museum," March 13, 2023, https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/nancy-yao-named-first-director-new-smithsonian-american-womens-history-museum, accessed March 13, 2023
  • SI Email Announcement, "From the Secretary; Smithsonian Women's History Museum," July 5, 2023
  • On December 27, 2020, Congress enacted legislation to create the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum. Before then, starting in 2018 the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative began the work of using the Smithsonian's collections to advance the understanding of women's contributions to various fields throughout history that have influenced the direction of the United States through collabroting with other museums and educational institutions to expand scholarly research, public programs, digital content, collections and more in recognition of diverse perspectives on women's history and influence. In March 2021, Lisa Sasaki, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, was appointed the interim director of the Museum. In 2022, the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative was integrated into the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum. Planning is currently underway for the museum. On March 13, 2023, it was announced that Nancy Yao was named founding director of the museum. Coming from the Museum of Chinese in America, Yao was set to begin their tenure as founding director on June 5, 2023, but on July 5, 2023, it was announced that Yao withdrew from the position of founding director. Dr. Melanie Adams, the Roger Ferguson and Annette Nazareth Director of the Anacostia Community Museum, will take over from Sasaki as Interim Director.
  • 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

  • 2020
  • 2020-

Topic

  • Women
  • Education
  • Museums
  • History
  • Museums--Educational aspects
  • Women--History

Place

United States

Form/Genre

Mixed archival materials

Local number

SIA AH00458

Full Record

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