Departmental administration, 1929-1994

Departmental administration series contains records, created and received, regarding the administrative functions of the department. The series includes correspondence, memos, notes, reports, lists, and visual materials.

A large portion of the records is comprised of correspondence and memos. The correspondence details the dialog between the department’s personnel and donors, institutions, colleagues, dealers and collectors, and the general public. Many of the memos contain communication with other Museum departments and officers, including Conservation, Collections Management, Registrar’s Office, Chief Curator, and Director. Included in the correspondence and memos are inquiries; general object related issues (e.g., research, transactions, offers, conservation, etc.); exhibition proposals and logistics; administration and staff; publications; installations; collection management; and special programs (e.g., Junior Membership).

This series contains records pertaining to some of the department’s donors, including Ernest Erickson, Paul E. Manheim, Alastair B. Martin, and Arthur M. Sackler. There are also materials pertaining to the Joseph V. McMullan estate, and the Hagop Kevorkian Foundation and estate. Valuable information regarding the development of the department can be found in the Reports files, which contain monthly and annual reports on the activities of the department. The various travel reports written by the curators also provide additional insight into the development of the collections.