Scholar. Historian. Smithsonian.

A standing-room only crowd packed the Baird Auditorium at the Natural History Museum this morning as Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch arrived for his first All-Staff meeting.

Natural History Museum Director and host Kirk Johnson acknowledged Bunch’s historic place in the pantheon of Smithsonian Secretaries as  well as his unique relationship with the Institution he now heads by introducing Lonnie G. Bunch III simply as “Scholar. Historian. Smithsonian.”

In a video produced by the Office of Advancement and Smithsonian Digital Studios that followed Johnson’s welcome, Bunch described himself as “someone who loves the Smithsonian, perhaps more than anything else…and in some ways, my entire career has been spent training for this job.”

“I am unbelieveably humbled and honored to be here today,” Bunch said in his opening remarks. “This Institution has shaped me both professionally and personally. I met my wife here…our children attended the SEEC preschool….I am one of you and there is no honor higher than being on the staff of the Smithsonian.”

The Secretary was joined on stage by Carole Baldwin, chair of the Department of Vertebrate Zoology at the Natural History Museum, who asked him about his vision for the Smithsonian and how he has made the transition from founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to Secretary of the entire Smithsonian. Among the things he has learned, Bunch confided with a laugh, is that among the Smithsonian’s collections are the mice in the Smithsonian Castle, where he has been adjusting to his his “historic” new office. Baldwin, who knows a thing or two about vertebrates, suggested that the Natural History Museum has a few skeletons in its own closets that she could share.

Secretary Bunch offered a thoughtful vision how the Smithsonian can serve as a cultural touchstone and help people understand their own stories as part of the American story. He explained that rather than shy away from controversy, the Smithsonian should become known for its sensitive handling of difficult subjects. When an audience member asked about an incident at NMAAHC last year, when a noose was left next to an exhibit showing a Ku Klux Klan uniform, Bunch replied, “I wasn’t really surprised. We know that people will bring their hatred with them into the museum and we were prepared for that. I saw how deeply hurt and deeply angry so many of our younger colleagues were, but for some of us who are a little older—we weren’t really surprised.” However, he continued, the reaction from colleagues to the incident was inspiring. “Hundreds of staff, led by people such as Kevin Gover [director of the National Museum of the American Indian] marching across the Mall to show their support—that is the strength of the Smithsonian.”

Watch the entire meeting:

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