National Museum of American History (U.S.). Dept. of Social and Cultural History

In 1980, the National Museum of History and Technology was renamed the National Museum of American History (NMAH), with attendant reorganization. The Department of Cultural History merged with the Department of National History to form the Department of Social and National History. However, the military history divisions were transferred to the Department of the History of Science and Technology. Thus Social and National History -- known as Social and Cultural History from 1981 -- included Divisions of Ceramics and Glass, Community Life, Costume, Domestic Life, Graphic Arts, Musical Instruments (Musical History from 1987), Political History, and Textiles. Claudia Brush Kidwell, Curator in the Division of Costume, served as Chairman during these years. The Division of Photographic History shifted between the two departments until it was permanently established as a part of Social and Cultural History in 1986. The Divisions of Postal History and of Numismatics were not assigned to either department, but instead became the National Philatelic Collection (in 1990, the National Postal Museum) and the National Numismatic Collection, each reporting to the Director of NMAH.

Chairs of the Department of Social and Cultural History after Kidwell included: Anne Castrodale Golovin, Curator of Domestic Life, (Co-chair) 1982; Elizabeth M. Harris, Curator of Graphic Arts, (Co-chair) 1982; Gary Kulik, Assistant Curator of Textiles, 1983-1986; Tom D. Crouch, Curator of Engineering and Industry, 1986-1990; Spencer R. Crew, Curator of Community Life, 1990-1992; and Golovin, Acting Chairman, 1992, and Chairman, 1993-1994.

In the administrative reorganization of 1994, both departments were abolished and all divisions were consolidated into a single Department of History.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 217766