17 Facts About Lonnie Bunch

Lonnie Griffith Bunch III was born on November 18,1952 and is an American educator and historian.

Lonnie Bunch has spent most of his career as a history museum curator and administrator.

Lonnie Bunch served as the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture from 2005 to 2019.

Lonnie Bunch previously served as president and director of the Chicago History Museum from 2000 to 2005.

Lonnie Bunch grew up in Belleville, New Jersey, where his family were the only African Americans in their neighborhood.

Lonnie Bunch wanted to give a voice to those who were "anonymous" or not written about.

Lonnie Bunch graduated from Belleville High School in Belleville, New Jersey in 1970.

Lonnie Bunch began working at the Smithsonian Institution while completing his master's degree.

Lonnie Bunch worked at the National Museum of American History from 1989 until 1994 as a curator.

Lonnie Bunch was promoted to associate director for curatorial affairs at the museum before leaving in 2000 to become the president of one of the nation's oldest museums in history, the Chicago Historical Society, from 2001 to 2005.

In 2005, Lonnie Bunch was named the director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Lonnie Bunch served on the Commission for the Preservation of the White House during the George W Bush administration and was reappointed to the Commission by President Barack Obama in 2010.

On May 28,2019, Lonnie Bunch was elected secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.

Lonnie Bunch became the first historian and first African American to lead the Smithsonian in its 173-year history, he began his new role on June 16,2019.

On February 12,2021, Lonnie Bunch was appointed to the Congressionally-mandated Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense that Commemorate the Confederate States of America or Any Person Who Served Voluntarily with the Confederate States of America.

Lonnie Bunch later withdrew from the commission for personal reasons prior to the swearing-in ceremony.

Lonnie Bunch curated the National Museum of American History's exhibition The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.