The National Museum Act (NMA) of 1966 affirmed the Smithsonian Institution's traditional role of assisting other museums and authorized the Institution to strengthen its activities of service to them. Funds appropriated to the Smithsonian for the implementation of the National Museum Act were made available primarily by grants and contracts to museums of all disciplines, non-profit museum-related organizations and associations, academic institutions, and individuals employed or sponsored by eligible organizations, after review by the National Museum Act Advisory Council. The membership of the Advisory Council encompassed the principal museum disciplines of art, science, and history and was broadly representative of the various regions of the United States.
Under the direction of the Secretary, the Director of the United States National Museum (USNM) continued to carry out the directives of the National Museum Act of 1966. The Office of Special Museum Programs was created in 1967, and Frank A. Taylor was named Director General of Museums. From 1968 until his retirement in January 1971, Taylor served as Director General of Museums and Director, USNM. In August 1972, Paul Perrot became Assistant Secretary for Museum Programs (Director, USNM). The Assistant Secretary for Museum Programs assumed essentially the same duties and responsibilities performed by the Director General of Museums. Perrot remained in this position until his retirement in February 1984. In 1985, William N. Richards, Jr., assumed the position of Acting Assistant Secretary for Museum Programs. The Act remained unfunded from 1966 until FY 1972 when it received a first appropriation of $600,000. The program was abolished in 1986.
These records consist of approved grant applications, letters of award, final reports from recipients, published materials, photographs, slides, researcher's files, project proposals, progress reports, financial statements, administrative files, correspondence, budget material, and memoranda.