Lawrence M. Small

Lawrence M. Small
Name	Lawrence M. Small
Birth date	1944
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation	Corporate executive, arts administrator
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley; Harvard Business School

Lawrence M. Small was an American corporate executive and museum administrator who served as chief executive of major financial institutions and as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. His career spanned leadership at Citicorp, First Boston Corporation, and oversight of the National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum, and the Smithsonian complex in Washington, D.C. Small's tenure drew both praise for modernization efforts and criticism over financial and management decisions.

Early life and education

Born in Los Angeles, Small attended public schools before enrolling at the University of California, Berkeley where he studied business-related subjects. He later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, joining the network of alumni that includes executives from Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase. During his formative years he was influenced by leaders from General Electric, International Business Machines, and the Ford Motor Company.

Career at Citicorp and First Boston

Small rose through corporate ranks beginning with positions in banking and investment that connected him to firms such as Citicorp and First Boston Corporation. At Citicorp he worked alongside executives from Chemical Bank and engaged with markets in New York City and London. At First Boston, he participated in mergers and advisory work touching on transactions with Drexel Burnham Lambert, Lehman Brothers, and clients in the Securities industry. His corporate career intersected with regulatory institutions including the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tenure as Smithsonian Secretary

Appointed Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Small oversaw Smithsonian museums including the National Museum of Natural History, National Portrait Gallery, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. He championed fundraising campaigns that involved philanthropists associated with The Rockefeller Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and corporate partners such as ExxonMobil and Microsoft. Small pushed initiatives for exhibitions that collaborated with institutions like the British Museum, Louvre Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, aiming to increase attendance at landmarks including the National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of American History.

Controversies and financial scrutiny

Small's administration attracted controversy over compensation, real estate transactions, and internal procurement, prompting scrutiny from members of Congress and oversight by committees often chaired by representatives with ties to House Committee on Appropriations and Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Questions arose about connections to contractors that had worked with organizations such as Sotheby's, Christie's, and firms advising the Getty Trust. Investigations referenced practices monitored by the Government Accountability Office and commentators from publications tied to The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal scrutinized financial disclosures. The resulting debates involved broader cultural institutions, trustees with affiliations to Carnegie Corporation of New York and Ford Foundation, and nonprofit governance standards advocated by groups like Independent Sector.

Later career and philanthropy

Following his resignation from the Smithsonian, Small returned to private-sector activity, consulting with advisory boards connected to Harvard University, Yale University, and corporate clients in Silicon Valley and Wall Street. He participated in philanthropic efforts that provided support to museums including the National Gallery of Art and educational programs linked to Smith College and Columbia University. His post-Smithsonian roles brought him into networks with arts patrons associated with the Kresge Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and international cultural exchanges with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and museum partnerships in Tokyo and Paris.

Personal life and legacy

Small has been associated with civic organizations and boards including ties to alumni groups at Harvard Business School and donors to institutions such as Georgetown University and American University. His legacy in museum administration is discussed alongside other Smithsonian leaders and directors of major museums like Nicholas F. Bellantoni and directors at the National Gallery and Cooper Hewitt. Assessments of his impact appear in studies of nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and arts governance produced by think tanks including the Brookings Institution and American Enterprise Institute.

Category:1944 births Category:American museum administrators Category:Harvard Business School alumni Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni