Former Director of National Portrait Gallery Takes Over as Acting Director of the National Museum of American History
Brent Glass might be staying on for a month past his initial plans to exit as director of the National Museum of American History, just to make sure everything is taken care of properly, but now upon his departure, the museum will at least have a new temporary leader to lean upon. The Smithsonian has announced that Marc Pachter, former director of the National Portrait Gallery (where he worked for 33 years, 7 as director), will be coming on board as acting director, effective August 15th and lasting until they find a permanent replacement. Stepping in certainly won’t be anything new to Pachter, as he filled in with the same role at the NMAH for more than a year back in 2001-02 before the museum eventually brought in Glass. Here’s the Smithsonian’s statement:
“We are happy to welcome Marc back home to the Smithsonian,” said Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art and Culture. “Marc was always an asset to the Institution as a museum director, scholar, author and interviewer. He knows the Institution so well and even served as acting director of American History once before. In 2001-02, he filled in while we searched for a new director at the same time he continued as director of the Portrait Gallery.”
