David E. Finley, Jr.

David Edward Finley, Jr. (born September 1, 1890 in York , South Carolina , † February 1, 1977 in Georgetown , Washington, DC ) was an American lawyer and museum director.

Life

His father was the politician David E. Finley . Finley studied law at the University of South Carolina and George Washington University . From 1910 to 1915 he worked on his father's campaign team. He then worked as a lawyer. During World War I he was drafted into the United States Army Air Service and served in the United States Department of War . From 1921 he worked as a lawyer for the United States Treasury Department , where he the US Treasury Andrew W. Mellon got to know and work for his office. From 1938 to 1956 Finley was Museum Director of the newly established National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC During World War II , he was for the Second Roberts Commission of Judge Owen Roberts and worked for the United States Department of War. In 1947 he founded the non-profit organization National Trust for Historic Preservation , of which he was chairman for 12 years. From 1931 he was married to the sculptor and architect Margaret Morton Eustis (1903–1977).

History of the National Trust for Historic Preservation , Washington, 1965
A Standard of Excellence, Andrew Mellon Founds the National Gallery of Art at Washington , Smithsonian Institution Press (1973) ISBN 0-87474-132-7

1968: Smithsonian's Joseph Henry Medal

^ National Gallery of Art: Behind the Monuments Men
^ Dwight Young: Finley Was There: Recalling an arts leader . In: Preservation , November / December 2006, p. 64.

personal data
SURNAME	Finley, David E. Jr.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Finley, David Edward Junior (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American lawyer and museum director
DATE OF BIRTH	September 1, 1890
PLACE OF BIRTH	York , South Carolina
DATE OF DEATH	1st February 1977
Place of death	Georgetown , Washington, DC