Lonnie G. Bunch

Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian since June 16, 2019. He oversees 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and various education units, including the developing National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. Prior to becoming secretary, Bunch was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, transforming it from a concept with no staff, collections, or funding into a museum that has welcomed over 8 million visitors since its 2016 opening.

Before creating the museum, Bunch was president of the Chicago Historical Society, where he led a capital campaign, managed a reorganization, and initiated outreach to diverse communities. He has published books on topics such as the Black military experience, the American presidency, and diversity in museum management. His book, A Fool’s Errand, is a chronicle of the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Bunch has received several awards for his contributions, including the Freedom Medal from the Roosevelt Institute, the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal from Harvard, and the National Equal Justice Award from the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund. He was also awarded the Tony Horwitz Prize for American history and lifetime achievement awards from the American Alliance of Museums and the African American Association of Museums. Bunch received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the American University in Washington, D.C., and has held teaching positions at various universities and served on multiple advisory boards in the historical and cultural community.

Articles by this Author

Seeking the Unvarnished Truth, Fall 2024 | Vol. 69, No. 4

An honest telling of history, including deeply disturbing events such as the murder of Emmett Till, allows us to look at our past in a richer and more meaningful way.

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