Lester Corrin Strong
{{short description|American diplomat}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Lester Corrin Strong
|image = LesterCorrinStrongUSEmbassyOslo.jpg
|ambassador_from1 = United States
|country1= Norway
|term_start1= August 10, 1953
|term_end1= February 16, 1957
|predecessor1=Charles Ulrick Bay
|successor1= Frances E. Willis
|president1= Dwight D. Eisenhower
| birth_name=Lester Corrin Strong
| nationality=American
| birth_date = 1892
| birth_place = U.S.
| death_date = 1966
| death_place = U.S.
| alma_mater =
| spouse=
| children= Henry (Hank) Strong
| religion=
}}
Lester Corrin Strong (1892–1966) was an American diplomat. From 1953 to 1957 he was the United States ambassador to Norway.
Biography
Strong was politically appointed ambassador and was nominated for the embassy mission by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He presented his credentials on August 10, 1953, to King Haakon VII of Norway, and served until February 16, 1957.[http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/strong-lester-corrin Lester Corrin Strong (1892-1966)] – Office of the Historian.
Strong had great interest in visual art. In 1953, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City formed The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art to facilitate exhibitions of American art around the world.{{Cite web | url=https://assets.moma.org/momaorg/shared/pdfs/docs/press_archives/4251/releases/MOMA_1969_Jan-June_0084.pdf | title=Background information on the international council of the museum of modern art | date=May 1969 | publisher=The Museum of Modern Art}} In cooperation with MoMA, Strong and his wife hosted a trial exhibition of American art in his residence Villa Otium in Oslo. Several works from MoMA were lent to the residence including Alfonso Roybal’s Green Corn Ceremony, John Kane’s Homestead, Walter Kuhn’s Apples in the Hay, and Stuart Davis’ Summer Landscape.{{Cite web | url=https://assets.moma.org/momaorg/shared/pdfs/docs/press_archives/3676/releases/MOMA_1966_Jan-June_0110_54G.pdf | title=The Art In Embassies program of The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art | date=April 1966 | publisher=The Museum of Modern Art}}
The trial formed the basis for the Art in the Embassies Program, which still exists today. Strong left his post on February 16, 1957.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
After his tenure in Oslo, Strong served as president of the National Cultural Center, a forerunner to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
Strong was born in 1892 in Tacoma, Washington to philanthropist Hattie M. Strong. Strong died in 1966.[https://web.archive.org/web/20150724025813/https://norway.usembassy.gov/1953-1957-strong.html Lester Corrin Strong] - Archive. United States Embassy in Oslo
References
{{commons category|Lester Corrin Strong}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=Charles Ulrick Bay}}
{{s-ttl|title= United States Ambassador to Norway|years= 1953–1957}}
{{s-aft|after= Frances E. Willis}}
{{S-end}}
{{US Ambassadors to Norway}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strong, Lester Corrin}}
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Norway
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