1. James Henry Breasted (August 27, 1865-December 2, 1935)
   Director, July 1, 1919-December 2, 1935
    
2. John Albert Wilson (September 12, 1899-August 30, 1976)
   Acting Director, January 14, 1936-June 30, 1936
   Director, July 1, 1936-November 30, 1946
   
   Harold Hayden Nelson (November 25, 1878-January 24, 1954)
   Acting Director, 1942-1943
    
3. Thorkild Peter Rudolph Jacobsen (June 7, 1904-May 2, 1993)
   Director, December 1, 1946-January 31, 1950
    
4. Carl Hermann Kraeling (March 10, 1897-November 14, 1966)
   Director, February 1, 1950-June 30, 1960
   
   John Albert Wilson (September 12, 1899-August 30, 1976)
   Acting Director, July 1, 1960-June 30, 1961
   
   Emery Thomas Filbey (December 23, 1878-August 24, 1969)
   Acting Director, July 1, 1961-May 31, 1962
    
5. Robert McCormick Adams (July 23, 1926- )
   May 4, 1962-June 30, 1968
    
6. George Robert Hughes (January 12, 1907-December 21, 1992)
   Director, July 1, 1968-June 30, 1972
    
7. John Anthony Brinkman (July 4, 1934- )
   Director, July 1, 1972-June 30, 1981
    
8. Robert McCormick Adams (July 23, 1926- )
   Director, July 1, 1981-June 30, 1983
    
9. Janet Helen Johnson (December 24, 1944- )
   Director, July 1, 1983-September 30, 1989
    
10. William Marvin Sumner (September 8, 1928- )
    Director, October 1, 1989-September 30, 1997
     
11. Gene B. Gragg (August 24, 1938- )
    Director, October 1, 1997-June 30, 2002
     
12. Gil Stein (January 9, 1956- )
    Director, July 1, 2002-