John Kinard
1936–1989 · Founding director of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum
A Washington-born minister and civil-rights-era activist, John R. Kinard became the founding director of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Neighborhood (now Community) Museum in July 1967 — the first African American director of a Smithsonian museum. An assistant pastor and trusted neighborhood figure, he built the institution around community participation and led it until his death in 1989, making it a national model.
Connection to Anacostia: Anacostia pastor and activist who founded and directed the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum, 1967–1989.