in 1900, he was appointed director of the edinburgh museum of science and art. the museum passed under the scottish education department in 1901, and ogilvie, as director, became a member of the department. from 1901 to 1903 he was president of the royal scottish society of the arts. in february 1903 he was transferred to london, to commence work as a principal assistant secretary (technology and higher education in science and art) under the united kingdom's board of education.