[2] Kent became librarian at the Norwich Free Academy's Peck Library in 1888, and became curator for 12 years at the adjacent Slater Memorial Museum.
When Kent first started at The Met, he found the museum to be lacking in organization and with limited tools or staffing for communication.
So as Secretary, he began laying the foundations for the standard museum organization including: cataloging techniques mimicking the Dewey Decimal System; establishing the first photo studio to produce a visual record of each piece of art; conceived and initiated shows; and developed the procedures for the lending art in and out of the museum.
He was also interested in graphic arts and communication creating the first Bulletin in 1905; established an editorial department; and installed the first printing press in the museum.
He greatly emphasized youth programming and in 1905 the museum began admitting New York City classes for free.
[7] In 1923, he directed the restoration of the Glebe House in Woodbury, CT.[8] In 1924, he was invited to join the Arts Advisory Committee for the Carnegie Foundation.