The Office of Public Affairs was created to prepare, coordinate and disseminate information about the activities of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) to the public and the news media. This work was carried out through the Director's Office from 1962 until 1972, when Nancy F. Bush was appointed NPG's first Public Affairs Officer. Bush held the position through 1973 and was followed by Carol Cutler, 1974-1978; Susanne Roschwalb, 1978-1979; Sandra Westin, 1979-1988; Sue Ann Prince, 1988-1992; and Brennan Rash, 1991-2000.
In 2001 the Office was merged with the Office of Development and became the Office of External Affairs, directed by Patrick Madden.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 225574