smithsonian latino art collections - Smithsonian Latino Center

and Latino experts—in sciences, art, history and technology—a permanent presence at the campus on
the National Mall and throughout the Institution’s international complex of facilities and programs.” 58
Specifically, it recommended the appointment of Latinos to governance and advisory bodies; the
employment, retention and promotion of a significant number of Latinos at the Institution; the creation
of a position of Special Assistant to the Secretary and the opening of a new office to implement
recommendations; the establishment of one or more museums “portraying the historical, cultural, and
artistic achievements of U.S. Hispanics;” a permanent presence in the collections and programs
including the establishment of a Hispanic American History Division at NMAH and education programs;
core funding for new and established programs such as the Latino Graduate Training Seminar first held
in the summer of 1994, a collaboration of the Office of Museum Programs and the Inter-University
Program for Latino Research (IUPLR), Man and the Biosphere, Cultures in the Americas Program and the
Americas Endeavor; Accountability for Latino inclusion at all levels; making Latino contributions an
integral part of the institution; a study by the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) to be submitted
to Congress; and the commitment of the institution to implement said recommendations. 59
On July 6, 1994, the Institution announced the creation of a temporary position of Counselor to
the Secretary for Latino Affairs and appointed Miguel A. Bretos, a former Task Force member. 60 Two
months later, on September 16, 1994 the tenth Secretary was appointed from among the members of
the Smithsonian Board of Regents as the Institution was in the midst of a tumultuous period with the
Enola Gay interpretation controversy, and just as the institution “had been castigated by the Latino
community for the failure of the Smithsonian to be more inclusive of Hispanic concerns and materials
and people.” 61 Smithsonian Secretary Ira Michael Heyman in his inaugural speech addressed the findings
of the Task Force Report on Latino Issues and said, “We will be paying special attention in the next few
years to that large group of Americans of Hispanic origin whose culture has not been represented at the
Smithsonian. We do this not to differentiate, but to educate all of us about our origins in a way that will
foster senses of pride and thus counter separation and make more attainable the creation of one set of
Americans out of many.” 62
Soon after, Secretary Heyman established the Latino Initiatives Pool in fiscal year 1995 (October
1994-September 1995) to “seed and encourage Latino initiatives, from acquisitions to exhibitions, from
Spanish language brochures to special outreach initiatives;” 63 and on February 27, 1995 appointed an
Oversight Committee to advise “the Smithsonian Institution on the implementation of
recommendations made by the Task Force on Latino Issues –recommendations designed to make Latino
participation in U.S. history, arts, and culture an integral part of the America reflected and represented
in the Smithsonian.” 64 The position of Counselor to the Secretary for Latino Affairs (1994-1995) soon
58 Willful Neglect: The Smithsonian Institution and U.S. Latinos, May 1994, recommendations section. Ibid.
59 Ibid.
60 See Chronology of the Task Force and Oversight Committee, Towards a Shared Vision: U.S. Latinos and the
Smithsonian Institution, Final Report of the Latino Oversight Committee. Smithsonian Institution, October 15,
1997, p. 73-75.
61 I. Michael Heyman in “Museums for the New Millenium: Proceedings: External Factors Affecting Organizations.”
September 5, 1996. http://museumstudies.si.edu/millennium/proceed1.htm accessed 8 August 2011.
62 Smithsonian Institution. “Latino Initiatives at the Smithsonian, 1994-1997.” Report prepared by the Office of
the Counselor to the Secretary for Community Affairs and Special Projects. P. 1. Also quoted Towards a Shared
Vision: U.S. Latinos and the Smithsonian Institution, Final Report of the Latino Oversight Committee. Smithsonian
Institution, October 15, 1997, p. 9.
63 Smithsonian Institution Latino Oversight Committee. Mid-term Report of the Smithsonian Latino Oversight
Committee, Smithsonian Institution, August 1996, p. 1.
64 Smithsonian Institution Latino Oversight Committee. “Letter of Transmittal, Mid-term Report of the Smithsonian
Latino Oversight Committee to the Secretary, Smithsonian Institution,” August 16, 1996.
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