Brooklyn Museum Handbook, 1964-1969

The Editorial Office was established in September of 1934 with Grant H. Code as the first Editor. Previously, publicity, editing, and publications were handled by Assistant Curator of Egyptology Edwin L. Taggart and other administrative staff. Code's new department wrote copy and edited press releases, exhibit catalogs, and other Brooklyn Museum publications and ephemera. The department also collected press clippings, and facilitated public relations to promote the Museum's activities. Code also supervised the printing of materials with the Superintendent of the Building whom the Museum Printer reported to. While the main editorial office was on the 6th floor, Code was also in charge of the new sales desk in the lobby area that sold memberships and publications.

Theodore D. Starr Jr. became Editor in 1939. In June of 1939 the Governing Committee authorized the purchase of a linotype machine for the Printing Division that changed the way the Museum published material. Due to decreased time and costs, the Museum produced its first guide book to the Museum. In the 1940s, the Editorial office's responsibilities were repositioned under the Secretary to the Director in charge of Publications, Publicity, and Membership. John J. Gordon, who servved as Secretary from 1946-1954, was also in charge of keeping Governing Committee meeting minutes, and managing rights and reproduction requests.

Betty Chamberlain was the director of the short-lived Community Development department (1954-1956)- which operated as a membership, publications, and publicity department.

In 1958, the role of Editor was recreated and filled by Marvin D. Schwartz. Schwartz was also acting as the Curator of Decorative Arts, and was relieved by the hiring of editor Robert G. Hart. Hart resigned in October of 1961 and Axel von Saldern was appointed in June of 1962 and resigned in 1966.

In 1960 the Museum created 2 new departments - the Department of Publications and the Department of Installations. The objective of both departments were "to develop a visual language for the Museum through co-ordination of design in publications and installations"(BkM Annual, 1960-1962, page 104-105).

The Department of Publications was renamed to the Editorial Department under Sylvia Hochfield who served as editor from 1966-1973. In November of 1973 the New York times reported that Sylvia Hochfield resigned due to the controversial leadership of then Director Duncan Cameron.

In the 1980s, the Editorial department was rebranded as the Publications Department and

1934-1939

Grant H. Code, Editor

1939-1941

Theodore D. Starr Jr., Editor

1941-1946

Mary T. Williams, Secretary to the Director and in charge of Publications

1946-1954

John J. Gordon, Supervisor of Publications. In 1948, Secretary of the Museum in charge of Publications, Publicity, and Membership

1956-1958

Betty Chamberlain, Community Development Co-Coordinator

1958-1960

Marvin D. Schwartz, Editor

1960-1961

Robert Hart, Editor

1962-1966

Axel von Saldern, Editor for the Department of Publications

1966-1973

Sylvia Hochfield, Editor

1973-1982

Brian N. Rushton

1982-1998

Elaine Koss, Managing Editor and starting in 1993 Vice Director for Publications

1998-2018

James Leggio, Head of Publications and Editorial

2019-2024

Audrey Walen, Director of Publications, Interpretation, and Editorial Services