11 Facts About James Rorimer

James Rorimer was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 7,1905, the son of Edith and Louis James Rorimer.

James Rorimer's family was Jewish, and their surname had originally been "Rohrheimer".

James Rorimer attended high school at the University School in Cleveland.

In 1938, the Cloisters opened and James Rorimer was named its curator, a position which brought with it new duties as fundraiser and developer for the new collection.

James Rorimer was appointed to a job more suited to his specialized skills, as an officer of the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Section in Normandy and Paris, and, later, in Germany.

James Rorimer spied on the Nazis, who did not realize that she spoke German, and kept detailed records on the transportation of artwork stolen by members of the Third Reich.

James Rorimer passed information on to the French Resistance and to Rorimer.

In 1950, James Rorimer published an account of his World War II experience called Survival: The salvage and protection of art in war.

On Taylor's resignation in 1954, James Rorimer was placed on the short list of candidates to fill his role, and he became director of the museum eight months later in 1955.

James Rorimer died in his sleep on May 11,1966, of a heart attack.

Rorimer was an inspiration for the character of James Granger, portrayed by Matt Damon in the George Clooney-directed film The Monuments Men, released in February 2014.