Viewing page 31 of 119

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-14-

January meeting of the Board.

Progress in Affirmative Action

Mr. Adams pointed out that certain progress is being made in increasing the representation of minorities and women in the professional ranks of the Institution, and as an encouragement for still more progress he has asked the members of his top administrative staff to prepare reports on progress in their areas for review in connection with their annual performance appraisal.

Several Regents noted the absence of an affirmative action report in this agenda and suggested that the progress to which the Secretary alluded be described in succinct statistical detail at the Board's next meeting.

Archives of American Art

Mr. Adams suggested that the Institution's lack of success in recruiting a director for the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art could be attributed in large amount to the inability to offer a Federal salary sufficient to attract a talented and experienced candidate to New York City. That is a particularly unfortunate development because New York continues to provide the strongest base of support for the organization. At the risk of eliciting concern from traditionally supportive members of the Board of Trustees of the Archives, plans are being laid to relocate the Archives' headquarters in Washington on a permanent basis. The prospect of that action has given rise to the possibility of considering over the long term a closer affiliation of the Archives with the National Museum of American Art.

Senator Helms' Amendment

Mr. Adams mentioned that Senator Helms' proposed amendment to the fiscal year 1990 appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior and related agencies -- a move to restrict Federal funding of potentially offending art exhibitions -- could have implications for the Smithsonian, if enacted.