The Diplomacy Center Foundation is pleased to announce a major gift from the family of Ambassador Shirley Temple Black in support of the capital campaign for the National Museum of American Diplomacy (NMAD). Their gift will support the creation of the Museum’s gift vault and protocol gallery, which will be named in her honor as “The Ambassador Shirley Temple Black Gift Vault and Protocol Gallery.”
In addition to her legendary childhood film career, Shirley Temple Black had a distinguished diplomatic career under four US presidents over more than two decades. She first served in 1969 as a US Delegate to the UN General Assembly and then to the UN Conference on the Human Environment. She served as US Ambassador to Ghana (1974-1976) and Czechoslovakia (1989-1992) and was the first woman to be Chief of Protocol of the United States (1976-1977). For her distinguished contributions to American diplomacy, she was appointed as Honorary US Foreign Service Officer and is the first and only person to be so commissioned.
As Chief of Protocol for the United States, Ambassador Black and her staff worked on the front lines of diplomatic engagement in the nation’s capital. Protocol ensures diplomatic relationships work smoothly by carefully planning and preparing for events, meetings, and public appearances among officials. They are also responsible for selecting and receiving the gifts exchanged during these interactions. A ceremonial aspect of diplomacy, gift-giving among leaders helps to open dialogue, provide a warm welcome to officials, and symbolize the shared hopes and goals between nations.
“The Ambassador Shirley Temple Black Gift Vault and Protocol Gallery” will display various gifts the US government has received from foreign governments during official meetings. Through this exhibit, guests will discover the important role protocol plays in achieving the United States’ foreign policy goals and ensuring security and prosperity for all Americans. Guests will also learn about Ambassador Black’s successful career in the diplomatic corps and her legacy in advancing American diplomacy.
Her family’s contribution in honor of Ambassador Black builds on her original contribution to the Diplomacy Center Foundation in 2012 as part of the Founding Ambassadors campaign. The Founding Ambassadors appeal recognizes museum donors who are members of the presidentially appointed US diplomatic community. The collective support of the Foundation’s Founding Ambassadors helped fund the construction of the 20,000-square-foot glass pavilion at the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
“Ambassador Black was an early supporter of the National Museum of American Diplomacy. We are greatly honored to continue recognizing her outstanding diplomatic legacy and hope the Museum’s gift vault and protocol gallery in her honor will serve as an inspiration to young women who are considering a career in diplomacy,” says Ambassador Roman Popadiuk (ret.), who is president of the Diplomacy Center Foundation.
The Foundation has entered into phase II of its capital campaign after having raised $50 million for the construction of a 20,000-square-foot glass pavilion at the US Department of State. Phase II of the campaign supports the design, fabrication, and installation of exhibits for the Museum.