Rorimer, James

Rorimer, James (Joseph)

(1905–66) museum director; born in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied at Harvard (B.A. 1927) and worked for New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in the decorative arts department. He helped plan the Cloisters (completed in 1938); was curator of medieval art (1934–43, 1946–55); served in the U.S. Army (1943–46); was director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1955–66); and wrote many books on art preservation, including Ultraviolet Rays and Their Use in the Examination of Works of Art (1931).