The Division of Meteorites was established in 1963 as part of a reorganization in the Museum of Natural History. At that time, the Department of Geology was divided into two new departments, Paleobiology and Mineral Sciences. Meteorites became a division of the Department of Mineral Sciences. Prior to 1963, the national collection of meteorites was under the care of the Division of Mineralogy and Petrology of the Department of Geology.
Professional staff of the Division of Meteorites have included Edward P. Henderson, Associate Curator, Curator, and Curator Emeritus, 1963-1988; Roy S. Clarke, Chemist, Associate Curator, Curator, and Curator Emeritus, 1963- ; Kurt Fredriksson, Curator and Geochemist, 1964-1992; Brian Harold Mason, Curator and Curator Emeritus, 1965- ; Robert F. Fudali, Geochemist, 1966-1996; Eugene Jarosewich, Chemist, 1967-1973; Joseph A. Nelen, Chemist, 1967-1973; Glenn J. MacPherson, Associate Curator and Curator, 1984- ; and Timothy J. McCoy, Geologist, 1996- .
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 218056
