Dr. Grace Louise McCann Morley (1900–1985) was a museologist of global influence. She was the founder of San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and its Director for 23 years starting in 1934. Time Magazine carried an article in her twentieth year with the museum, and then another article on her retirement. In an interview with Thomas Tibbs, she is credited with being a major force in encouraging young American artists. 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Museology (also called museum studies) is the study of how to organize and manage museums and museum collections. ... San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2004). ...

During these years, she was active in the art world in the US. She was Second Vice-President, American Federation of Arts, 1939; Counsellor for Arts at the Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, 1941; a Member of the Committee of the Fine Arts Buildings of the International Exposition in San Francisco and Director of Pacific House 1940, a Member of the Committee of Experts on the Arts, State Department, 1940-1945. Between 1946-1949, she took leave from San Francisco Museum of Art, and became Consultant for Museums at UNESCO Preparatory Commission, and then as the Head of its Museums Division. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ...

She authored a number articles on Contemporary Art, and on Latin American Civilizations.

She moved to India in 1960, and remained there until her death in 1985. She was the Founder Director of the National Museum in New Delhi and was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government. The National Museum in New Delhi is the largest museum in India. ... New Delhi   (Hindi: , Punjabi: , Urdu: ‎) is an urban area within the metropolis of Delhi, and the capital city of the Republic of India, as well as the seat of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. ... The Padma Bhushan is an Indian civilian decoration established on January 2, 1954 by the President of India. ... The Government of India (Hindi: Bharat Sarkar), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of India. ...

Her career included a stint as Curator of Cincinnati Museum of Art, Ohio, from 1930. The Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the United States. ...

Dr Morley had a D.Litt. doctoral degree from Paris France in art and literature (1926), and an honorary degree from Mills College (1937).

Research Fellowships in her honor are awarded by ICOM India Trust each year. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has established the Grace McCann Morley Legacy Society for donors who provide for the museum in their estate plans. In India, the National Museum Institute holds an annual Dr Grace Morley Memorial Seminar [1]. ICOM Incorporated ) (TYO: 6820 ) is an international manufacturer of radio transmitting and receiving equipment, founded in 1954 by Tokuzo Inoue. ...

Personal life

Dr Morley started her career in Cincinnati in 1930, but is best remembered for her years in San Francisco and her second career in India. She formed some passionate friendships with women during this time. Cincinnati, Ohio viewed from the SW, across the Ohio River from Kentucky. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ...

For the last twenty years, she shared an apartment with a retired Indian Air Force officer and his wife, who became her Indian family, and it was there she died at the age of 84. They believe she had converted to Buddhism at some point in time. Dr Morley's body was cremated in the Indian tradition, and her ashes immersed in a holy river. The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. ... Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, which is also a philosophy and a system of psychology[]. Buddhism is also known as Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means the teachings of the Awakened One in Sanskrit and Pali, the languages of ancient Buddhist texts. ...

Selected bibliography

• Indian Sculpture by Grace Morley, Roli Books.

External links

• Interview with Porter Mc Cray Lengthy interview with Dr Grace Morley in 1982.
• Interview by Kara Kirk about Grace Morley — on Modern Art Notes, 2006.
• Kristy Phillips on Grace Morley's Indian career — on Modern Art Notes, 2006.
• Dr Priyatosh Banerjee on Dr Grace Morley at India's National Museum
• Oral history project order form, Grace L. McCann Morley (1900-1985) Art, Artists, Museums, and the San Francisco Museum of Art, 1960, 246 pp.