Lonnie Bunch III

Lonnie Bunch III
Name	Lonnie Bunch III
Caption	Bunch in 2017
Birth date	18 November 1952
Birth place	Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater	American University (BA, MA)
Occupation	Historian, museum director, educator
Title	14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Predecessor	David J. Skorton
Spouse	Maria Marable-Bunch

Lonnie Bunch III is an American historian, educator, and museum administrator who serves as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the first African American to hold the position. He previously served as the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), overseeing its creation from concept to its opening on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. A prolific author and respected public historian, Bunch's career has been dedicated to preserving and interpreting African-American history and broadening the narrative of the American experience.

Early life and education

Born in Newark, New Jersey, he was raised in Belleville, New Jersey, where his family's stories and the social upheavals of the Civil Rights Movement shaped his historical consciousness. His grandfather, a North Carolina sharecropper, and his father, a Newark schoolteacher, were significant influences. Bunch earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in history and American history from American University in Washington, D.C., where he was mentored by historians like Allan Lichtman.

Academic and museum career

His professional career began at the National Air and Space Museum, followed by curatorial positions at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. He then served as an educator and curator at the National Museum of American History, where he developed major exhibitions on topics such as the American South and the American West. From 2001 to 2005, Bunch served as the president of the Chicago Historical Society (now the Chicago History Museum), where he launched major initiatives on Chicago's diverse communities and the Great Migration.

Founding director of the NMAAHC

Appointed by Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small in 2005, he was tasked with building the National Museum of African American History and Culture from the ground up, a project authorized by an Act of Congress signed by President George W. Bush. With no collection, staff, or site, Bunch led a monumental effort to raise over $500 million, acquire more than 40,000 artifacts—including items related to Harriet Tubman, Chuck Berry, and the Tuskegee Airmen—and design the museum's distinctive building with architect David Adjaye. The museum opened to national acclaim in September 2016, with President Barack Obama presiding over the dedication ceremony.

Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution

In June 2019, the Smithsonian Board of Regents, led by Chair David M. Rubenstein, unanimously elected him as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, succeeding David J. Skorton. As Secretary, he oversees 21 museums, including the National Zoo, major research centers like the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and cultural institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery. His tenure has focused on advancing scientific research, expanding digital outreach, and leading the institution through challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and a national reckoning on systemic racism.

Awards and honors

He has received numerous accolades, including the National Humanities Medal, presented by President Joe Biden at the White House. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been named to the Time 100 list of most influential people. Other honors include the Kluge Prize from the Library of Congress, the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal from Harvard University, and the Freedom Medal from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.

Personal life

He is married to Maria Marable-Bunch, a museum professional and associate director for curatorial affairs at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. They have two daughters and reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. An avid reader and writer, he has authored several books, including *Call the Lost Dream Back: Essays on History, Race and Museums*.

Category:1952 births Category:American historians Category:American museum directors Category:African-American historians Category:Smithsonian Institution people Category:People from Newark, New Jersey Category:American University alumni Category:Living people