Hoving, Thomas (Pearsall Field) (1931- )

US museum director and editor. He is credited by some with revitalizing the acquisition programme of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, and putting together extravagant and popular exhibitions, but others criticized his approach as having compromised too much the interests of the serious art lover. In addition to his early scholarly articles, he published popular works such as the memoir Making the Mummies Dance: Inside the Metropolitan Museum 1993. He was editor-in-chief of the magazine Connoisseur 1981-92.

Born in New York City, he studied at Princeton (BA 1953, MFA 1958, PhD 1959). He began his career as an assistant curator at the Cloisters 1959-60, then progressed to assistant curator at the Metropolitan Museum 1960-63, associate curator 1963-65, curator 1965-66, and director 1967-77. He was administrator of New York City's department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs 1966-67.