WASHINGTON — The White House has a new curator and Donna Hayashi Smith is the first Asian American to hold the post.
The White House announced his appointment on Wednesday Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Hayashi Smith, originally from Wahiawa, Hawaii, joined the Office of the White House Curator in 1995 and has served under five presidents. She had been serving in an acting capacity since the retirement of her predecessor, Lydia Tedrick, last year.
As curator, Hayashi Smith will oversee the cataloging and preservation of thousands of artifacts in the White House Collection, everything from presidential portraits to furniture and more.
Hayashi Smith led the Curator’s Office through a process in 2022 to ensure that the White House continues to be nationally recognized as an accredited museum.
First Lady Jill Biden cited Hayashi Smith’s service under five presidential administrations and said she looked forward to working with him to preserve the “living history” of the White House.