Helena M. Weiss

Helena M. Weiss

Helena Weiss, George B. Griffenhagen and Bane, 1956. Weiss is signing the acquisition paperwork for one of the first x-ray tubes created by Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen
Born 1909
Died 2004
Nationality American
Occupation Museum administrator/ registrar

Helena M. Weiss (1909–2004) was an American museum administrator and registrar. She was one of the first women managers at the Smithsonian Institution and was involved in the acquisition of the Hope Diamond and the Wright Flyer.[1]

Personal life and education

Helena Weiss was born in 1909 and raised in Shipman, Illinois.[2] Weiss graduated from Butter Business College in Butler, Pennsylvania and Wheeler Business College in Birmingham, Alabama.[1][2] Weiss was an active member of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, serving as elder, diaconal minister, and on a women's committee. When she died in 2004, she left the church $515,000.[3]

Professional life

Weiss' first job, in 1930, was as a stenographer for the Veterans Administration. The following year she became the Junior Clerk-Stenographer for the Office of Correspondence and Records at the United States National Museum. In 1935 she moved to the geology department where she worked as secretary to Ray S. Bassler. She moved back to the Office of Correspondence and Records in 1948 as an administrative assistant. On occasion she stood in for Smithsonian secretary Alexander Wetmore's administrative assistant. In 1956 she replaced Herbert S. Bryant as head of the department, serving as registrar. As registrar, she maintained the museums central filing system, handled public inquiries, oversaw the mail system, and other standard registrar tasks.[1] Weiss processed more than 250,000 letters a year from the public.[4]

Acquisitions

Weiss was involved in the acquisition of the Wright Flyer, the Hope Diamond, and other major Smithsonian pieces. She retired from that position in 1971.[1][5] In 1956 she helped acquire one of the first x-ray tubes used by Wilhelm Röntgen.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Henson, Pamela. "Oral history interviews with Helena M. Weiss 1987". SIA RU009587. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Helena M. Weiss Papers, 1923–2001". SIA Acc. 05-112. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Legacies Saints" (PDF). New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  4. ↑ Sherwood, John (1 May 1971). "Dirty Shirt Among Items Received at Smithsonian". The Day. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "Retirement of Helena Weiss". 92-3570. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Helena Weiss, George B. Griffenhagen and Bane". SIA2009-4253. Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
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