Flora Whitney Miller; Ex-Head of Art Museum

Flora Whitney Miller, daughter of the founder of the Whitney Museum of Art and former chairwoman and president of that world-renowned institution, has died at 88.

Mrs. Miller, daughter of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, died of cardiac arrest Friday at a hospital here.

She began her service with the museum, which is devoted to American art, as a trustee in 1936 and went on to serve as president and chairwoman. Mrs. Miller, who lived in Old Westbury, was honorary chairwoman of the museum at the time of her death.

Under Mrs. Miller’s direction, the museum was changed from a family operation to a national organization that included outside trustees and a nationwide program of activities. She had said she saw the museum’s program as one that “will serve the artist, the public and art institutions.”

Her daughter, Flora Miller Biddle, is the museum’s present chairwoman.