[b]Donor Cancels $38 Million Gift to Smithsonian[/b]
[i]Tue Feb 5, 2:28 AM ET[/i]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A local benefactor withdrew a $38 million gift to the Smithsonian Institution, citing criticism of the American history exhibit it was designed to fund, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

The gift from businesswoman Catherine B. Reynolds, announced in May, would have created a hall of achievement that featured the life stories of eminent Americans at the National Museum of American History.

But museum curators criticized the project from the start, questioning Reynolds' close involvement and its emphasis on famous individuals over demographic groups or ordinary Americans, the Post reported.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we anticipate that the notion of inspiring young people by telling the stories of prominent Americans from all disciplines would be so controversial," Reynolds wrote in a letter on Monday to Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small.

Reynolds told the newspaper such criticism prompted her to withdraw the money.

The decision comes amid Small's campaign to raise more private money for the nation's premier public museum complex, which has generated debate over the power of private contributions to affect the exhibits and direction of the Smithsonian.

"We are disappointed that the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation has decided to withdraw from this project, which was being developed in strict  accordance with Smithsonian standards," Marc Pachter, acting director of the American History museum, said in a statement quoted by the Post.