In 1969, as part of the reorganization associated with the Museum of History and Technology's new name as the National Museum of History and Technology (NMHT), the Department of Civil History became the Department of Cultural History, gathering or establishing Divisions of Costume and Furnishings, Musical Instruments, Ethnic and Western Cultural History, and Preindustrial Cultural History. In 1978 the Division of Graphic Arts was placed in the Department of Cultural History, which now also included the Division of Ceramics and Glass (previously in the Department of Industries, NMHT). A new Division of Domestic Life was formed, consolidating artifacts and furnishings from the former Divisions of Costume and Furnishings and Preindustrial Cultural History. The remaining collections formed the Division of Costume. Ethnic and Western Cultural History was renamed the Division of Community Life, while the Division of Musical Instruments continued as before.

In 1980, NMHT was renamed the National Museum of American History (NMAH), with attendant reorganization. The Department of Cultural History merged with the Department of National History to form the Department of Social and National History.

Department chairmen were C. Malcolm Watkins, Curator of Ethnic and Western Cultural History, 1969-1973; Rodris C. Roth, Curator of Costume and Furnishings, (Acting) Chairman, 1973-1974; Richard E. Ahlborn, Curator of Ethnic and Western Cultural History, Chairman, 1975-1977; Anne Castrodale Golovin (Acting), 1978; and Claudia Brush Kidwell, Curator of Costume, 1979-1980.