Skip to main content

## Search

My Visit

Donate

Smithsonian Institution

## Site Navigation

- Visit   - Hours and Locations
  - Entry and Guidelines
  - Maps and Floor Plans
  - Dining and Shopping
  - Accessibility
  - Visiting with Kids
  - Group Visits     - Group Sales
- What's On   - Exhibitions     - Current
    - Upcoming
    - Past
  - Today's Events
  - Online Events
  - All Events
  - IMAX & Planetarium
- Explore   - Art & Design
  - History & Culture
  - Science & Nature
  - Collections     - Open Access
  - Research Resources     - Libraries
    - Archives       - Smithsonian Institution Archives
      - Air and Space Museum
      - Anacostia Community Museum
      - American Art Museum
      - Archives of American Art
      - Archives of American Gardens
      - American History Museum
      - American Indian Museum
      - Asian Art Museum Archives
      - Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
      - Hirshhorn Archive
      - National Anthropological Archives
      - National Portrait Gallery
      - Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
      - Libraries' Special Collections
  - Podcasts
  - Mobile Apps
- Learn   - For Caregivers
  - For Educators     - Art & Design Resources
    - Science & Nature Resources
    - Social Studies & Civics Resources
    - Professional Development
    - Events for Educators
    - Field Trips
  - For Students
  - For Academics
  - For Lifelong Learners
- Get Involved   - Volunteer     - Behind-the-Scenes
    - Digital Volunteers
    - Smithsonian Call Center
    - Visitor Information Specialist
    - Docent Programs
  - Citizen Science
  - Work with Us     - Office of Human Resources       - Working Here
      - Employee Benefits
      - How to Apply
      - Job Opportunities
      - Job Seekers with Disabilities
      - Frequently Asked Questions
      - SI Civil Program
      - Contact Us
    - Affiliations
    - Global Partners
- Support   - About Membership
  - Become a Member
  - Renew Your Membership
  - Make a Gift
- About   - Museums and Zoo
  - Research Centers
  - Cultural Centers
  - Education
  - Our Organization     - Leadership       - William G. Tompkins
      - Secretary Bunch
      - Advancement
      - Communications
      - Administration
      - Education
      - Museums and Culture
      - Science and Research
    - Board of Regents       - Members
      - Committees
      - Reading Room
      - Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
      - Contact
      - Schedules and Agendas
      - Meeting Minutes
      - Actions
      - Webcasts
    - General Counsel       - Legal History
      - Internships
      - Records Requests         - Reading Room
      - Tort Claim
      - Subpoenas & Testimonies
      - Events
    - Equal Employment Office       - EEO Complaint Process
      - Individuals with Disabilities
      - Special Emphasis Program
      - Supplier Diversity Program         - Doing Business with Us
        - Policies and Procedures
        - Additional Resources
    - Sponsored Projects       - Policies         - Animal Care and Use
        - Human Research
      - Reports
      - Internships
  - Reports and Plans     - Annual Reports
    - Metrics Dashboard       - Dashboard Home
      - Virtual Smithsonian
      - Public Engagement
      - National Collections
      - Research
      - People & Operations
      - One Smithsonian
    - Strategic Plan
  - Newsdesk     - News Releases
    - Media Contacts
    - Photos and Video
    - Media Kits
    - Fact Sheets
    - Visitor Stats
    - Secretary and Admin Bios
    - Filming Requests

# William G. Tompkins

#### Director, National Collections Program

Bill Tompkins has been the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Collections Program since 1993. Tompkins serves as principal advisor to Smithsonian senior management, unit directors and staff on matters relating to collections management. He is responsible for the development, administration and implementation of the Smithsonian’s collections management policy, including the review and approval of individual Smithsonian collecting unit policies to ensure collections are acquired, maintained and used according to Smithsonian policy, professional standards and legal obligations.

Working closely with Smithsonian leadership, Tompkins develops long-term strategies, priorities, policies and plans that strategically address Institution-wide collections needs, including the allocation of central collections care resources. Tompkins strives to improve the overall stewardship and management of Smithsonian collections by providing central leadership, policy oversight, strategic planning and support of Smithsonian-wide collections initiatives.

Before becoming director, Tompkins served as assistant director of the Smithsonian’s Office of the Registrar from 1990 to 1993. Previously, Tompkins was the collections manager of the National Numismatic Collection at the National Museum of American History, where he was responsible for the management and preservation of collections totaling approximately 1 million objects. With more than 35 years of experience in the museum profession, Tompkins lectures frequently on museum collections management, policy standards and strategic planning at professional meetings, workshops and university museum studies programs.

A native of New York, Tompkins earned his master’s degree at the State University of New York at Albany (1982) and bachelor’s degree in history at Hartwick College (1979) in Oneonta, New York.  

# # #

SI-272-2020

                - Museums and Zoo
                - Research Centers
                - Cultural Centers
                - Education
                - Our Organization                   - Leadership                     - William G. Tompkins
                    - Secretary Bunch
                    - Advancement
                    - Communications
                    - Administration
                    - Education
                    - Museums and Culture
                    - Science and Research
                  - Board of Regents
                  - General Counsel
                  - Equal Employment Office
                  - Sponsored Projects
                - Reports and Plans                   - Annual Reports
                  - Metrics Dashboard
                  - Strategic Plan
                - Newsdesk

##       Footer logo      

Link to homepage

###       Footer navigation      

- Contact Us
- Accessibility
- Job Opportunities
- Inspector General
- Records Requests
- EEO & Supplier Diversity
- Shop Online
- Host Your Event
- Press Room
- Privacy
- Terms of Use

###       Social media links      

- Facebook
- Instagram
- Twitter
- YouTube

###       Email signup form      

(Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)

Back to Top