Departmental Administration, 1910-1990

This series contains records that relate to the administration of the department and also reflect the relationship between the Department of Egyptian, Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Art and other Museum departments, particularly the director’s office. Memos and correspondence comprise the bulk of the materials and include information on everyday workings of the department as well as special Museum activities, such as the Artmobile project in Egypt, inquiries regarding potential acquisitions of objects, and public relations. This series also contains files relating to additional Museum duties of the department’s curators, including Elizabeth Riefstahl and the exhibition committee and John D. Cooney’s records from his term as acting director (1962–1965).

The annual and monthly reports for the department (1934–1981) and clipping files (1910–1965) provide a useful overview of the department’s activities and developments. Reports and clippings also include information on the Wilbour Library. Additional files relating to the library’s collections may be found in the Records of the Wilbour Library.

Of special interest are letters from the public regarding the mummy in the Brooklyn Museum’s collection and in response to The Complex Mummy Complex, a 1950s CBS television drama set in the Museum whose plot revolved around efforts to dispose of the mummy.