Ripley, S. Dillon (Sidney Dillon), 1913-2001
Variant names
Americans
English
Biographical notes:
S. Dillon Ripley (b. September 20, 1913, New York City, NY - d. March 12, 2001, Washington, D.C.), an ornithologist, served as the eighth Secretary of the Smithsonian from 1964 to 1984, and oversaw tremendous growth. Interested in natural history and exploration since his childhood, Ripley visited the remote nation of Ladakh when he was only thirteen years old. After graduate school, he was a curator at the Smithsonian briefly and then spent almost twenty years teaching at Yale University. He led the Smithsonian through a period of great social and scientific change, and inspired a generation of Smithsonian staff with his expansive vision.
Educated at St. Paul’s School, Harvard University, and Yale University, Ripley participated in the Denison-Crockett Expedition to New Guinea in 1937-1938 and the Vanderbilt Expedition to Sumatra in 1939 before completing his PhD. He served briefly as an assistant curator of birds at the US National Museum in the early 1940s, but left to volunteer for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, and served as an intelligence officer in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, and Thailand. After the war, Ripley taught at Yale and directed the university’s Peabody Museum of Natural History prior to coming to the Smithsonian. A prolific popular writer and charismatic figure, Ripley became a favorite of The New Yorker columnist Geoffrey Hellman. At Yale, he established a friends-of-the-museum program and other outreach efforts that he would later duplicate and expand at the Smithsonian. During these years, his field work in Southeast Asia continued with the 1946-1947 Yale-Smithsonian Expedition to India, and the 1948-1949 Yale-Smithsonian-National Geographic Expedition to Nepal.
Upon his election as the eighth Secretary, Ripley set out an ambitious plan to reinvigorate and expand the Smithsonian, building on the momentum of Secretaries Alexander Wetmore and Leonard Carmichael. New museums during his tenure included the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, today the Anacostia Community Museum; Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; Renwick Gallery; National Air and Space Museum; National Museum of African Art; Enid A. Haupt Garden; Quadrangle Complex; and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.
Committed to the role of evolutionary theory in systematics, he successfully defended the National Museum of Natural History against a lawsuit that objected to the Dynamics of Evolution exhibit. He sought to increase the Institution’s role in the larger museum community through the National Museum Act programs, and in the primary and secondary education arena through a program to work with K-12 schools. Ripley also increased collections storage and research space through the creation of the Museum Support Center. Ripley greatly increased the Institution’s outreach efforts, especially through The Smithsonian Associates, Smithsonian magazine, and a wide array of public programs. While some found it unseemly, generations of children have enjoyed the carousel he installed in front of the Arts and Industries Building and the Triceratops model, Uncle Beazley, in front of the National Museum of Natural History.
Ripley also focused on expansion of the Institution’s research facilities. New research programs that he developed included the Center for Folklife and Cultural Programs; Conservation and Research Center, now the Conservation Biology Institute, of the National Zoo; Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education, now the Museum Conservation Institute; the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce; and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Ripley greatly increased support for the scientific research programs at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He also continued Secretary Leonard Carmichael’s efforts to improve the research climate for staff with increased funding for research grants, relationships with local universities, and a fellowship program. Ripley sought to increase diversity across the Institution, hiring the first female museum director and African American Assistant Secretary, and establishing programs to reach broader audiences. He welcomed Civil Rights and anti-war demonstrators who came to Washington, DC, into the Institution’s facilities, seeking to include new faces in the Smithsonian family. A dynamic fund-raiser, Ripley substantially increased both federal funding and the trust endowment, especially with revenues and donations.
Links to collections
Sidney Dillon Ripley Interviews, 1977-1993
Smithsonian Institution Archives
Opening of National Museum of Natural History exhibit "Royal gifts from the Kingdom of Thailand"
National Anthropological Archives
Ruth Bowman papers
Archives of American Art
Ripley, S. Dillon. Ripley, S. Dillon: Art World Personality Files.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Library
Records of David R. Godine, 1965-1990.
Getty Research Institute
E.P. (Edgar Preston) and Constance Richardson papers
Archives of American Art
E.P. (Edgar Preston) and Constance Richardson papers
Archives of American Art
Halle, Louis Joseph, 1910-. Papers of Louis Joseph Halle [manuscript], 1941-1995
University of Virginia. Library
Louis J. Halle Papers, 1963-1992
University of Virginia. Library
Letters, 1964-1983, to Lewis Mumford.
University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Office of the Secretary (S. Dillon Ripley), 1972-1984 Records.
Smithsonian Institution Archives
E.P. (Edgar Preston) and Constance Richardson papers
Archives of American Art
Robert W. White papers
Archives of American Art
Robert W. White papers
Archives of American Art
Misc. Interagency Craft Committee, 1975
National Archives at Seattle
Robert W. White papers
Archives of American Art
William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century.
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
WHSF: Returned, 22-10
Richard Nixon Library
President Gerald R. Ford's Daily Diary, January 28, 1975
Gerald R. Ford Library
White House Bicentennial Task Force - Meetings (2)
Gerald R. Ford Library
Murphy, Robert Cushman, 1887-1973. Papers, ca. 1907-1973.
American Philosophical Society Library
Dick, John Henry, 1919-1995. Correspondence c. 1920-1995.
College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library
President Gerald R. Ford's Daily Diary, October 03, 1975
Gerald R. Ford Library
President Gerald R. Ford's Daily Diary, October 31, 1975
Gerald R. Ford Library
Robert Cushman Murphy journals, 1907-1971, 1907-1971
American Philosophical Society
1980 Caribbean Islands NWR
National Archives at College Park
Papers of Catherine Filene Shouse, 1878-1998
Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America
Ripley, S. Dillon
Gerald R. Ford Library
David E. Finley papers, 1921-1977
Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Federal Agency Bicentennial Task Force - General
Gerald R. Ford Library
THE BREAKFAST SHOW WITH NEWS, MIDDLE EAST WAR, SMITHSONIAN SECRETARY S. DILLON RIPLEY, INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FAIR
National Archives at College Park
[Hirschorn 25th Anniversary Reception - 10/12/99]
William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Copeland family. Papers, 1637-1998 (bulk, 1950-1998).
Hagley Museum & Library
DILLON RIPLEY, SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN, SPEAKING TO THE YALE CLUB
National Archives at College Park
PRESS CONFERENCE USA WITH DOCTOR S. DILLON RIPLEY
National Archives at College Park
United States Information Agency - America Illustrated Magazine, 1/76 (2)
Gerald R. Ford Library
District of Columbia Visitor Planning (1)
Gerald R. Ford Library
Fourth of July (1976) - Honor America Program
Gerald R. Ford Library
WHSF: Contested, 45-13
Richard Nixon Library
Harvard University Archives Photograph Collection: Portraits, ca. 1852-ca. 2004
Harvard University Archives.
President Gerald R. Ford's Daily Diary, July 01, 1976
Gerald R. Ford Library
MR340 Sec. 2 Military Information, Collection, and Dissmeniation, 1944 - 1944
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
Sidney S. Lawrence letters from Abram Lerner
Archives of American Art
1975/11/14 - First Ladies Book Presentation, White House
Gerald R. Ford Library
Saint Vincent Island NWR, 1969
National Archives at College Park
Exhibit - "The World of Franklin and Jefferson" (2)
Gerald R. Ford Library
President Gerald R. Ford's Daily Diary, March 22, 1976
Gerald R. Ford Library
Schedule Proposals (1)
Gerald R. Ford Library
Gould, Stephen Jay. Stephen Jay Gould papers, 1899-2004 (inclusive), 1941-2002 (bulk).
Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
President Gerald R. Ford's Daily Diary, April 01, 1976
Gerald R. Ford Library
Una Hanbury papers
Archives of American Art
WHSF: Returned, 13-9
Richard Nixon Library
Exhibit - "The World of Franklin and Jefferson" (3)
Gerald R. Ford Library
Russell E. Train Papers, 1898-2005, (bulk 1957-2005)
Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Dedication of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian
Gerald R. Ford Library
Kennedy Center
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
Ripley, Dillon S.
Gerald R. Ford Library
President Gerald R. Ford's Daily Diary, June 30, 1976
Gerald R. Ford Library
President Gerald R. Ford's Daily Diary, May 08, 1975
Gerald R. Ford Library
Hanbury, Una, 1904-1990. Una Hanbury papers, 1910-1994, bulk 1966-1990.
Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
Geoffrey T. Hellman Papers, 1842-1971
Fales Library & Special Collections
Stephen Jay Gould papers, 1899-2004, 1941-2002
Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Scrapbooks, 1962-1992.
Connecticut Historical Society
Photograph of First Lady Betty Ford with Designer Frankie Welch and S. Dillon Ripley at the Presentation of Her Gown to the First Ladies Collection at the Smithsonian Institution
Gerald R. Ford Library
NEW YORK NEW YORK #430: GUESTS: FRANK BRAYNARD OPERATION SAIL 76; S. DILLON RIPLEY OF SMITHSONIAN ON BICENTENNIAL
National Archives at College Park
WHSF: Returned, 18-13
Richard Nixon Library
Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection, 1964 - 1980. JFK AIRCRAFT CAROLINE DONATED TO SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE, 11/17/1967.
National Archives at College Park
Robert W. White papers
Archives of American Art
Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 1/18/78 - Not Submitted, CF O/A 548
contributorOf
Jimmy Carter Library
1974/09/03 HR15842 Washington, D.C. Police Firemen and Teacher Pay (1)
contributorOf
Gerald R. Ford Library
WASHINGTON POST BOOK AND AUTHOR LUNCHEON WITH SMITHSONIAN DIRECTOR DILLON RIPLEY AND FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE DEAN ACHESON
contributorOf
National Archives at College Park
History Office Records, 1941 - 1946
National Archives at College Park
1976/05/11 HR10230 National Science and Technology Policy Organization and Priorities Act of 1976 (1)
contributorOf
Gerald R. Ford Library
1974/10/26 SJR236 Indemnification for the Metropolitan Museum of Art
contributorOf
Gerald R. Ford Library
THE BREAKFAST SHOW WITH NEWS, MIDDLE EAST WAR, SMITHSONIAN SECRETARY S. DILLON RIPLEY, INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FAIR
contributorOf
National Archives at College Park
Participants of Meeting with Recipient of International Wildlife Conservation Prize [Meeting Attendee List]
editorOf
Gerald R. Ford Library
Related names in SNAC
associatedWith
Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006
correspondedWith
Marsh, John O., 1926-
associatedWith
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
correspondedWith
Rommel, Wilfred H. (Wilfred Herzer), 1916-
associatedWith
Bowman, Ruth, 1923-
associatedWith
Collins, Michael, 1930-
associatedWith
Dick, John Henry, 1919-1995.
associatedWith
Finley, David E. (David Edward)
associatedWith
Gould, Stephen Jay.
associatedWith
Halle, Louis Joseph, 1910-
associatedWith
Hanbury, Una, 1904-1990.
associatedWith
Lawrence, Sidney, 1948-
associatedWith
Murphy, Robert Cushman, 1887-1973.
associatedWith
Nagel, Charles, 1899-1992.
correspondedWith
Provine, William B.
associatedWith
Richardson, Edgar Preston, 1902-
associatedWith
Shouse, Catherine Filene, 1896-1994.
correspondedWith
Train, Russell E., 1920-
associatedWith
Una Hanbury
associatedWith
White, Robert
associatedWith
White, Robert, 1921-2002.
associatedWith
Copeland family.
memberOf
White House Historical Association
associatedWith
David R. Godine, Publisher.
alumnusOrAlumnaOf
Harvard university
associatedWith
National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Division of Birds
employeeOf
Peabody Museum of Natural History.
associatedWith
Smithsonian Institution.
associatedWith
Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary.
associatedWith
Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Consultant to the Secretary (Frank A. Taylor)
associatedWith
Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Special Consultant to the Secretary (James C. Bradley).
associatedWith
Whitney Museum of American Art.
employeeOf
Yale University.
alumnusOrAlumnaOf
Yale University.
Collection Locations
no collection locations known
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Information
Subjects:
- Ornithology
- Smithsonian Institution
- Wildlife conservation
Occupations:
- Conservationists
- Ornithologists
Places:
- Washington, D. C., DC, US
- New York City, NY, US
- Washington, D. C., DC, US
Variant Names
Ripley, Sidney Dillon, 1913-2001
リプレー, シドニー ディロン, 1913-2001
Ripley, Dillon, 1913-2001
Ripley, S. Dillon II, 1913-2001