The c.1823 Robbins House originally stood on an isolated farm outside of town, like this one.

Herbert Wendell Gleason, Waving Field of Rye, Concord, Mass. - Courtesy Concord Free Public Library

c.2009 5.21.2011 c.2012 4.18.2016 2016 ANNUAL REPORT MESSAGE FROM THE Dear Neighbor, PRESIDENT Our journey with the Robbins House has unfolded in three chapters — Discovery, To reveal the little known African and American Call to Action, and Sustainability: history of Concord and its regional and national MISSION ✔ importance. Discovery So many of us were inspired by Concord as soon as we arrived. We noticed streets, paths, fields, woods, schools and buildings named after known and little- known people, from abolitionists to the enslaved, to famous and less famous To inspire conversation, expand understanding authors and activists. As we learned more we wanted to share this history with VISION and contribute to a better society. our community. We began by taking elementary school students from Boston and Concord on African American history tours across town. Discovery — inspired and inspiring. 1. Unearth and share the stories of Concord’s Call to Action ✔ earliest African Americans. On March 26th 2009, we received a call to action to save the Robbins House from 2. Create educational resources based upon the demolition. The house commemorated the legacy of a previously enslaved GOALS Revolutionary War veteran, Caesar Robbins, and his descendants, including experiences of Concord’s early African Americans. scholars, activists and laborers. The house also represented the migration of 3. Promote conversations about contemporary African Americans in the 19th century from slavery to freedom. The town, YOU, social justice themes. helped us move the house across from the North Bridge (another symbol of freedom). We can now tell the stories to the thousands of visitors from around the INDEX 1. Message from the President globe. Their reactions are full of gratitude for telling the lesser-known stories that 2. The Robbins House Journey built this great nation. 3. Staff, Advisory Board & Partners Sustainability… 4. Financial Picture & Plan for Sustainability As a result of your support and a Memorandum of Agreement with the Town 5. Contributors and the National Park Service we are collectively the stewards of this history. We are charged with preserving and sharing this important house with thousands “The Robbins House is helping us become a more of global visitors. We’re grateful for your continued support toward the 25-year welcoming place, where we celebrate everybody’s sustainability of The Robbins House. We can’t do it without you. history and diversity. I believe that’s important With great appreciation, not only from a historical perspective but also Maria Madison, for provoking conversation about events that are President & Co-founder, The Robbins House taking place today.” — Chris Whelan, Concord Town Manager BOARD OF DIRECTORS In Memoriam, Nancy Ehrlich and Kelly Goode Maria Madison President/Co-Founder Liz Clayton Vice President/Editor Since opening our doors in 2012, we have welcomed school Anne Forbes Clerk/Architectural Historian groups, sports teams, church groups and countless visi- Jim Callahan Treasurer/Writer tors – more than 18,000 individuals in all. Our guests hailed Kim Frederick Concord Academy Educator Jayne Gordon Historian from 35 Massachusetts communities, 47 states and countries Johanna Glazer Concord Carlisle High School (CCHS) Educator around the globe, including Canada, Brazil, France, England, Angelica King-Shaw CCHS Student Representative Germany, Spain, Turkey, China and Japan. Our audiences have David Lincoln Interpreter/Historian been diverse, engaged, and fascinated to learn “new” history. Polly Peterson Educator/Writer Michelle Purrington Interpreter/Educator 1 OUR Your support and contributions will enable us to expand our interpretive JOURNEY services, while adding more exciting features each year, such as: The town of Concord voted unanimously – with a standing • Developing exhibits in • Linking past events to The Robbins House present-day experiences, ovation – to save and restore the Robbins House in 2009. With to expand understanding a 25-year lease from the town to locate the House across from • Building interactive the North Bridge in 2010, the Robbins House was established storytelling capabilities OUR • Increasing our network of advisors, partners, as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization under the name the • Expanding our research to JOURNEY supporters, contributors Drinking Gourd Project. bring untold stories to life JUST HAS and friends • Creating compelling BEGUN • Enhancing our visibility We have moved steadily forward since then, serving as the stew- programs ards of this historical landmark and enlisting support from you, throughout the the community and beyond. Within this Annual Report, our first, • Developing school curricula community, region, to cultivate understanding you will get a sense of what we have accomplished, including a nation – and beyond name change to The Robbins House, and where we are headed.

Of course this history is not only about a 544-square-foot, c.1823 THESE EXPERT STAFF, ADVISORS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS house; it is also about the people who lived there, the times HAVE HELPED GUIDE OUR JOURNEY they lived in and how that relates to where we are today. We’re hoping that a better understanding of our past will lead us to a STAFF more enlightened future. John Hannigan Scholar in Residence, part-time, sponsored by IMLS grant Elon Cook Scholar in Residence Asst./Director, specializing in African In a relatively short time we have accomplished so much, but American Public Humanities, part-time, sponsored by IMLS there is still so much left to do. Rebecca Sommers Bookkeeper, part-time 2016 ROBBINS HOUSE INTERPRETERS The Robbins House in Concord might be small, “ Susan Hansen, Kim Hill, Angelica King-Shaw, Andrew Krupa, David Lincoln, but it packs a wallop of an interpretive punch. This organization… truly is a community effort Zariyah Mercer, Ronni Olitsky, Michelle Purrington, Sarah Tan, of the best sort.” Christine Trufant and Joe Zellner — Harvard Professor Tayler Stoemer OUR SCHOLARS & ADVISORS Leslie Obleschuk “I heard a lot about the Revolutionary War and Civil War, but had never Professor Lois Brown Lorell Ambrose Ronni Olitsky heard about the black history that really happened here.” Professor Robert Gross Tom Beardsley Larry Sorli — CCHS Senior from Boston Gabriel Bowen Professor Kendra Field Nancy Butman Diann Strausberg Professor Elise Lemire Denise Dennis Donna Thomas “The Robbins House “An African American bus driver from the is a symbol of black South toured The Robbins House while waiting Professor Joanne Pope Melish Edith Griffin Jan Turnquist history and there for his passengers to get back from the North Professor Sandra Petrulionis Carol Gupta Leslie Wilson really are no other Bridge. He was so moved by our stories, he Professor Charles Willie Kate Atkinson Kaplan Joe Zellner symbols in Concord donated $50 and said he’d come back with Rob Morrison Linda Ziemba representing that.” tour groups of African Americans.” PARTNERS — CCHS Junior — Ronni Olitsky, Robbins House Interpreter Boston African American National Minute Man National Historical Park Lily Supovitz Historic Site Concord River Institute and Concord Academy CCHS Rivers & Revolutions “Our soldiers went with sword and bayonet to Concord Historical Collaborative Royall House & Slave Quarters contend for right and justice. We could not do Concord Museum Smithsonian Institution (NMAAHC) that. We contend against outrage and Concord Public Schools The Old Manse, oppression wherever we find it.” Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area The Trustees of Reservations — Ellen Garrison, Robbins House resident, 1865 Walden Woods Project 2 3 FINANCIAL 2016 TO ALL OUR CONTRIBUTORS SINCE WE BEGAN IN 2010 PICTURE AT A GLANCE THANK YOU Andrea & Jeff Adams Mary Louise & Al Couvillon James Hoyte & Janet & Jeffrey Schmidt Projected 2016 Expenses = $70,000 Projected 2016 Revenue = $50,000 Susan & William Adams John & Holly Cratsley Norma Dinnall Susan & Kurt Schwartz Governance, includes Individual donations = $10,000 to Karen Ahearn Sandra Crawford & NP James Insurance Agency Cynthia Schweppe Historic house Allison Aley Mark Weltner Susanne & Erik Jarnryd Jane Sciacca part-time director, maintenance date, thanks to 100 generous donors part-time bookkeeper, in response to our annual appeal Lorell Ambrose Nancy Cronin Kate & Peter Kaplan Judy & Jack Scotnicki and operations William Andreas Lynn & Jared Kass Elizabeth Seabury payroll taxes, James Cunningham Joseph Andrews M.D. Tom & Susan Curtin Gail Keane Kari & Ralph Shaner insurance 4% Kathryn Angell & George Dallas Judith & Jonathan Keyes Martha & Peter Shapland Programming, 80% 20% Dutch Leonard Laura & John Davidian Valerie Kinkade & Sarah Sharpe 36% includes Neil & Nancy Arkuss Casey Davis Kevin Grant Janet Silver & guides Average grant Kathryn Untermeyer Atwood Clairborne Dawes Beth Knauss & Ray Wong Jefferey Wieand 12% funding for Polly Attwood David & Beth Dawson Katharine Kolowich Amy & Adam Simon the past Thomas Bailey Sherry Dee & Jack Mobley Libby Kurten & Viktor Vejins David & Joan Siskind 14% 6 years = $40,000,/yr Louise Barber Susan Dee Adrienne Lamoureux Edith & Thomas Sisson Sibylle Barlow James & Carol Dwyer Sara Laschever & Tim Riley Wendy Slattebo 17% Publicity skewed by CPC money targeting restoration Carol Barnett David & Jennifer Eaton Elise Lemire Elizabeth Sluder Dorothy Barr & Robert & Virginia Lemire Darian Smith Exhibits & preservation work that is Susan & Mitchell Eckel 16% Edward Church Thompson Pamela Licht Penny Staples 99% complete Michael & Nancy Ehrlich Fundraising Rob & Katherine Beede Elephant Rock 2015 David Lincoln Fiona Stevenson Nancy & Reiner Beeuwkes Charitable Trust Tom Lincoln Barbara Strell Laurie Belton Caroline & John Ellis Sherry & Steve Litwack Pricilla Sturges Ellie Bemis Ellen Emerson & Nancy Lyons & Jean Martens Sarah Sutton Well over half of our revenue has come from grants – but we can’t count on this! Forrest Berkley & Marcie Tyre Bruce Kohler Geraldine Madigan Melita Teichert & W. Sabine Henry & Janet Beyer John Esty Maria Madison & Steve Block Anita & Hagos Tekle 2010 • Concord Community Preservation Committee (CPC) $30,000 to move TRH Shirley & Timothy Blancke Greg Farmer Nora Mann Soeurette & Guy Thomas 2011 • CPC $100,000 to restore TRH to original 1820s structure Steven Bloomfield Richard Fahlander & Gregory Maguire & Marian & Richard Thornton 2012 • CPC $60,000 to complete restoration Bruce & Jane Blumberg Kathleen Allen Andy Newman Bernard Topper 2012 • Nat’l Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) $10,000 for restoration Maryl & John Bode First Parish in Concord Sharon & Greg McGregor Valerie Tratnyek Caroline Bottum & Women’s Parish Association Joanne Pope Melish Gary Tregoning 2012 • Mass Humanities $1,500 Research Inventory Grant Peter Ljutich Kurt Fischer Carlisle & Carol Miller Christine Trufant 2013 • NTHP $5,000 to plan exhibit design John & Johanna Boynton David & Vivian Fisher Susan Miller Jan & Carl Turnquist 2013 • Mass Humanities $5,000 Project Grant to plan exhibit design Margaret Brace Carrie Flood Gary Monserud & Ann Jones United Woman’s Club Beverly Bringle Anne Forbes Darryl Morris of Concord 7.2015-7.2017 • Inst. of Museum & Library Services $100,000 for programming Mr. & Mrs. Robert Brooks Kim Frederick Bob & Gretchen Morrison Eric & Laurie Van Loon 5.2016 • Concord Education Fund $16,000 for curriculum development Barbara Brown MaryEllen & Ken Freeman Rob & Liz Morrison Philip & Lois Brown Kelly & Dave Frissora Nora Murphy & Mary Wren Vanderwilden Amy & Nick Bruning Robert & Janet Furey Ward Cheney Laurine Verrilli OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS Dinah Buechner Sarah Garland & Jean & Edward Nardi Kathleen Volp • First, we must cover our operating costs of $70,000/yr. Bettina Burbank Roland Hoch Barbara Nicholson Edna Wagner William & Mary Burtis Mary Gaylord Leslie Obleschuk Judy & Jim Walpole • Second, we seek $100,000 to provide interactive exhibits Marcia Butman & J. Sackton Molly Gilpatrick & Caroline & Patrick O’Brien Adelaide Walton and contract a grant writer/ fundraiser. Nancy & John Butman Russ Wolf Elizabeth O’Donnell Vivian Walworth Jim Callahan Johanna Glazer Norma Osborn Lorraine & Jerry Ward • Third, we plan to build an endowment of $2 million within three years Bruce Campbell & Jayne Gordon Deedo & Chris Painter Jerry & Carole Wedge to cover our annual operating costs over 25 years. Tessa Hadlock John Granahan Linda & Whit Painter Miriam & David Weil Jeff & Ellen Campbell Laura & Rob Granahan, Polly Peterson & Jon Solins Mari Weinberg HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP Debbie & John Canally The Staples Foundation Sandra Petrulionis Joe & Verona Wheeler Susan & Franklin Cannon Aliisa Gray Ronald Pettyjohn Chris & Jacqueline Whelan 1. Would you like to get involved with 5. Would you like to donate assets such Jon Cappetta Robert & Ann Gross William Plummer Robert & Mary White TRH as a board member, volunteer or as investments? Susan Carboni James Hagerstrom Michelle Purrington Mary & Thomas Wilinsky consultant? Mary & Bob Carey Christopher Hall Richard & Judith Quanrud Charles & Mary Sue Willie 6. Does your employer match donations? Myra Carlow Harlem Lacrosse & Carmin Reiss & Eric Green Lissa & Carter Winstanley 2. Can you suggest a fundraiser, 7. Donations are tax-deductible and can Candy & Stephen Carr Leadership Project Susan Reynolds Dr. Russell Wolf & development mentor or financial planner? Erika & Nicholas Christakis Anne Hayden & Ivan Burns James Richardson Dr. Martha Gilpatrick be made securely online through our Liz Clayton & Mike Sugarman Drs. William & Angela Healy Verna & Gregory Robinson Cynthia Wood & Ned Perry 3. Do you know someone with name website: www.robbinshouse.org. Deborah Clark Roberta & Douglas Herman Cheryl Mackino Rogers Woods Hill Table, recognition and social justice interests – 8. Bring your family and visitors to Mary & David Clarke Connie & Barry Hershey Julie Rohwein & Kristin Canty a performer, scholar, writer or financial John & Diane Clymer Nicholas Hiebert Jonathan Aibel Terry Yanulavich & The Robbins House, and have them tell Jennifer & Beau Coash Amy Rosenstein & Peter Dixon champion who could help raise Kimberly & Tony Hill their friends about us! Concord Bike Tours, Sherman & Judy Hill Garrett Harris awareness of The Robbins House? Sue Merlino Ruth Hodges Kitsy & Terry Rothermel 4. Are you associated with a foundation or Nancy & Tony Confrey Kathy & David Holdor Janet Rothrock John Conley & Liz Awalt Mary & Chas Horvath Paul & Theresa Ruhlmann corporation that offers charitable grants Please contact Liz Clayton at 978.501.0056 or [email protected], thank you. James Corcoran & B. Reid Barbara Howe Holly & Louis Salemy or donations? Christopher Corkery Pam & Mark Howell Bridget Saltonstall 4 5 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID The Robbins House Permit No. 66 P.O. Box 506 Concord, MA Concord, MA 01742 01742

HERE’S WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED • Developed presenta- • Hosted community IN JUST tions, speaker panels readings of Frederick 6 YEARS and reenactor programs ✔ Douglass’ “Fourth of WITH YOUR HELP: • Partnered with Concord July for the Negro” ✔ • Discovered that Patriot historical sites, such as speech Caesar Robbins’ the Concord Museum • Led the Harlem granddaughter Ellen with the Thomas Dugan Lacrosse and Leader- legally tested the 1st exhibit ✔ ship Project and Civil Rights Act of 1866 ✔ Concord-Carlisle • Held workshops with lacrosse players in an • Found over 100 letters museum professionals exploration of slavery ✔ written in the 1860s to create exhibit plans and Concord African by resident civil rights • Planned new exhibits Americans paths to activist Ellen Garrison! ✔ each season within independence ✔ • Moved and restored budget limitations ✔ • Gained national the c.1823 Robbins • Applied for, received momentum through House to its original and managed 9 grants ✔ training and conferences appearance ✔ • Inspired adding Concord’s with the Smithsonian • Engaged a scholar-in– African American Nat’l Museum of African residence to research history to 2nd grade American History & Concord’s previously curriculum; currently Culture, the Nat’l Assoc. unknown African developing online re- for Interpretation, the American history ✔ sources and classroom Assoc. of African • Created a map of over materials for various American Museums 40 African American grade levels ✔ and American Alliance historical sites in Concord ✔ of Museums ✔ JUST THINK WHAT WE CAN DO This annual report, our first, WITH YOUR CONTRIBUTION provides only a snapshot of TOWARD AN ENDOWMENT: the many accomplishments and great work taking place at • Create engaging, interactive exhibits The Robbins House. We hope • Offer extensive programming, you’ll take the time to learn reaching out to students in Boston more by visiting us and and throughout MetroWest browsing our website at • Achieve sustainability www.robbinshouse.org.