Leonard "Len" Hirsch was interviewed by Eduardo Contreras on July 6, 1996. Hirsch was born in New York City in 1955 and came to the Smithsonian in 1988. His position was a one year replacement, but a permanent position was created for him. He is now the International Liaison in the Office of International Relations. Hirsch was instrumental in starting the Smithsonian's Lesbian and Gay issues Committee in 1989 and the Federal Gay Lesbian and Bisexual Employees Group a few years later, of which he is now the president. He is also the chair of the Electronic Communications Committee. Hirsch teaches part time at George Mason University. This interview discusses how Hirsch came to the Smithsonian; what the Office of International Relations does; Hirsch's job; his involvement with computer issues in his office; his role in the Smithsonian's Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee and the Federal Gay Lesbian and Bisexual Employees Group; stories about working at the Smithsonian; gay, lesbian, and bisexual visibility in museums and how Hirsch hopes this will change in the future; what Hirsch finds most challenging about his job; his thoughts on the Festival of American Folklife and the Working at the Smithsonian exhibit; the Smithsonian as compared to other government and private agencies; criticisms and praise of the Smithsonian; and how the public learns from exhibits.

Object Details

See more items in: Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews; Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews / Interviews

Collection Citation: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9594, Smithsonian Memories Project, Festival of American Folklife Oral History Interviews