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History of the NBS/NIST Gallery

In the early 1970s NBS Director Lewis Branscomb authorized the establishment of a gallery of portraits of Distinguished Scientists, Engineers, and Administrators. Originally, the gallery was limited to a wall in the Lunch Club. The expansion into the alcove took place in 1985 under Director Ernest Ambler, who asked the newly established Standards Alumni Association (SAA) to assume the responsibility for establishing criteria for selection and a process for soliciting nominations from the staff and managers of the institution. The SAA Portrait Committee issues a call for nominations, meets once a year to evaluate the nominations, and forwards its recommendations to the NIST Director for approval. The Committee displays the portraits as well as biographical information for the honorees, and organizes an annual induction ceremony. Over the past more than 25 years, the Gallery has grown to 285 portraits, with newly allocated space along the cafeteria wall.