Office of the Assistant Director Records

The Office of the Vice-Director, which would later become the Office of the Assistant Director, was created in 1946. Laurence Sickman was the first person appointed to this position. Throughout his tenure in office, Sickman continued as curator of the Asian art collection. He remained Vice-Director until 1953, when he was promoted to Director. No one else held the position until 1965 when it was resurrected as the Office of the Assistant Director. Ralph T. Coe, who was the Curator of Paintings and Sculpture at the time, and would remain as such, was appointed to this post. When Coe was promoted to Director in 1977, the position was once again left vacant for several years. In 1981, Jay Gates joined the staff as the new Assistant Director and Curator of American Art. He left the Museum in 1983 and the position was never revived.