LBJ Presidential Library Names Historian Kyle Longley as New Director

By Danielle Lopez in 40 Acres on July 18, 2018 at 2:29 pm | No Comments

On Wednesday, the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum named historian Kyle Longley as the institution’s fifth director, beginning on July 29.

The announcement comes after the library spent more than a year without a director, following the departure of Mark Updegrove, who now serves as president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. With his focus on U.S. foreign relations and modern American politics, Longley has published numerous books, including his most recent, LBJ’s 1968: Power, Politics, and the Presidency in America’s Year of Upheaval. Most recently, he was a distinguished professor at Arizona State University where he worked in many administrative positions, including director of graduate studies for the history department, faculty head, associate director of SHPRS, and as a Dean’s Faculty Fellow.

“Dr. Longley’s extensive historical knowledge, combined with his teaching, research, and leadership experience, will be of great value to the National Archives, the Johnson Library, and its constituents,” Archivist of the United States David S. Ferreiro said in a news release.“We welcome him and look forward to working with him on future projects and programs.”

Longley is no stranger to the LBJ Library. He has researched there, and recently participated in the library’s panel discussion with Bill Moyers, Tom Johnson, and Lynda Johnson Robb about the year 1968, moderated by Updegrove.

“Well before Kyle threw his hat in the ring as a candidate for the directorship of the LBJ Library, we knew him as an esteemed scholar and author who has written thoughtfully and prolifically on LBJ and his times,” Updegrove said. “He is the right person to bring the LBJ Library into a new era. We look forward to working with him toward the Library’s continued excellence.”