Smithsonian Institution Archives

Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution

Record Unit 545
Cooper-Hewitt Museum, Administrator,
Records, 1962-1988

Introduction

Historical Note

Descriptive Entry


INTRODUCTION

This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.


HISTORICAL NOTE

In 1963 the Cooper Union trustees announced that the Cooper Union Museum would be closed, and Director Calvin S. Hathaway resigned. Curator of Exhibitions H. Christian Rohlfing was named acting administrator, and in this capacity he helped to guide the Museum's transfer to the Smithsonian Institution in 1968. In 1969 Rohlfing became administrator of the renamed Cooper-Hewitt Museum, and in fiscal year 1972 he assumed the dual title of administrator and curator of collections. John Dobkin became program management officer in FY 1974 and was appointed administrator in FY 1975. Dobkin and Rohlfing both held the title of administrator until FY 1978, when Dobkin resigned and Rohlfing relinquished the post to assume purely curatorial responsibilities. The position of administrator was vacant until FY 1979, when Daniel J. O'Leary became assistant director for administration and Barbara V. Foss and Peter M. Scherer were appointed administrative assistants to the director. O'Leary left the next year, and Foss was replaced by Chauncie McKeever in FY 1981. In FY 1983 McKeever left, Scherer was appointed special assistant to the director, and Linda Dunne was named administrator. Scherer left in FY 1984.


DESCRIPTIVE ENTRY

These records were created mostly by administrators Rohlfing, Dobkin, and Dunne. They document the activities of the Museum Advisory Board and the acquisitions committee and contain files on fundraising, membership, product development, sales, education, collections management, and exhibitions. The records also include audit reports and annual reports; grant proposals; architectural plans of the Miller House; and public relations files, including news clippings from the reopening of the Museum in 1976. In addition, the records contain periodic budget projections and reports for the programs, administrative departments, and payroll of the Museum dating from 1983 to 1988, along with the memoranda and spreadsheets that document their development.

Box 1 of 16

Box 2 of 16

Box 3 of 16

Box 4 of 16

Box 5 of 16

Box 6 of 16

Box 7 of 16

Box 8 of 16

Box 9 of 16

Public Information Office

Building Game, Public Information Office

Box 10 of 16

Box 11 of 16

Box 12 of 16

Box 13 of 16

Box 14 of 16

Box 15 of 16

Box 16 of 16


Return to Top of Page

Contact us at osiaref@si.edu

Finding Aids Main Menu || Official Records Finding Aids || Collections ||
Hours & Directions || Archives Division Home || SIA Home

  Return to Smithsonian Home Page

Revised: April 29, 2003