The Administrative Office has existed under several names. It seems to have begun as the Office of Administration, National Collection of Fine Arts, about 1964. It has since been called the Office of Administrative Services and, since 1990, the Administrative Office. It deals with matters of personnel, building management, purchasing, protection services, and safety. Its chief has been variously titled over the years.
Staff members have included Harry W. Zichterman (1965-1970) and Louise W. Robinson (1965-1968), Administrative Officers; George W. Riggs, Administrative Officer, 1971-1972; Harry Jordan, Administrative Officer, 1973, and Assistant Director for Administration, 1974-1976; H. Eugene Kelson, Administrator, 1977-1982; Sherwoood A. Dowling, Administrator, 1983-1984, and Administrative Officer, 1985-1986; and Maureen E. Damaska, Administrative Officer, 1987- .
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 221198
