2016 Annual Report
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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