Evening star., 1937-06-01
45 YEARS. SERVICE
BY M|NN|GER0DE
Dean of Art Directors at
Corcoran Gallery Observes
Day on Duty.

Forty-five years ago today, a 15-
year-old Alexandria boy went to work
as a clerk with the Corcoran Gallery
of Art, then in the old building at
Seventeenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue now occupied by the Court
of Claims.
Today the one-time clerk, c. Powell
Minnigerode, quietly observed the an
niversary by working as usual at his
desk in the offices of the gallery, where
he presides in the highest executive
post-that of director.
The As years have seen him ad-
vance to a position Of commanding
prominence in the world of American
art.
In point of continuous service, he is
the dean" of all art museum direc-
tors in the United States.
He is president Of the Association OF
Museum Directors, post to which he
recently was elevated in recognition
of his distinguished attainments.
He is the senior member, from
the standpoint of continuous service,
on the board Of trustees of the GAL
lery, having been on the board for
the last % years. During the entire
period he has been secretary of the
board
Popularity Recognized.
More than that, Minnigerode is one
OF the more popular of museum di-
ectors in the eyes of the thousands
OF American artists. He is especially
proud of that camaraderie, for artists
generally temperamental lot
make friends with few directors. The
American artist always has a friend
and counselor available in Mimi
gerode.
He is friend not only of the strug-
Cling young artist, but of the great
painter as we'll. He was an intimate
associate of the late Carl Melchers.
He knew John Singer Sargent, Abbott
Thayer, j. Alden Weir, Frank Du-
veneck and many other famous artists
of another day.
Minnigerode was appointed clerk
at the gallery June l, 1892. at SAL
ary OF $40 a month. At that time
there was no director. Instead the
gallery had a curator, DR.. F. S. Bar
barin.
Five years later the gallery moved
into its new building at Seventeenth
street and New York avenue. When
DR.. Barbarin died, in 1899, new
post of director was created, and
the late Frederick B. Mcclure, q
trustee, became the first director of
the gallery.
Minnigerode was promoted to as
slstant director in 1904 He was elected
member of the Board of Trustees
and chosen as secretary of the board
IN 1915. Mcclure died that year, and
Mlnnlgerode was named to succeed
him as director on October 18, 1915.
Ihus at 80 Minnigerode became the
only art gallery director who also
was trustee Of his institution.
Honored in 1915.
Another honor came to him in
1915. He was chosen the only Law
member of the International jury
OF Award for the Panama-Pacifc
International Exposition at San Fran
cisco.
The Corcoran Gallery has made great
advances during the years that Mimi
gerode has served it. Through the
generosity of the late Senator Clark
OF Montana, the gallery has acquired
the notable Clark collection of famous
paintings, housed in a special Clark
wing. Through the joint benefcence
OF Senator Clark and his widow. the
gallery has been able to hold its widely
acclaimed biennial exhibitions Of con-
temporary American oil painting
outstanding of their kind.
The gallery has grown from a small
institution with limited space to one
OF the noted art museums Of the
country, with 81 rooms
When Minnigerode began his cler-
ical duties As years ago, the late Dr.
James c. yelling was president of the
board of trustees. Succeeding DR..
yelling was the late Samuel H. Kauff-
mann, and then came the late c. C.
Glover. George E. Hamilton is presi-
dent now.
Some years ago Minnigerode was
decorated by the King of the Belgians
In appreciation of his aid in arrang-
ing an exhibition of Belgian art at
the Corcoran Gallery.
The board Of trustees Of the gallery
has designated him q chairman Of