THE 1772 FOUNDATION Preserving American Historical Treasures ANNUAL REPORT / 2006 One of 1772’s first grantees twenty years ago, the Red Mill Museum of Clinton, N.J. received a $50,000 restoration grant in July of 2006. Photo by Jack Aquila, courtesy of the Red Mill Museum. The Liberty Hall Museum’s new Firehouse, dedicated in Spring of 2005. REMEMBERING STEWART BARNEY KEAN Founder of the 1772 Foundation tewart Barney Kean had a life-long interest “museum shuffle,” nor should they be. As a result in historic preservation, and some twenty-odd of their ability to access and digest large amounts of years ago he formed the 1772 Foundation to help information, young people today have keener noses preserveS unique historic structures with a particular for authenticity and relevancy, useful strengths when interest in farming, transportation and industry. His interpreting history. group of five Trustees, all of whom were old friends, As we move forward, we seek out groups who would meet once a year and approve preservation can work successfully with this new breed of student grants totaling approximately $100,000. While by giving them the opportunity for authentic, relevant the Foundation was designed to cover the entire experiences like the “Black Damask” orchard replanting United States, as a practical matter in view of the project, researched and carried out by students from limited resources in that earlier period, grants were the Baltimore Talent Development High School, a geographically confined to New Jersey, and southern project that is profiled in this report. New England where the founding Trustees were We are interested in schools that preserve domiciled. traditional building crafts through hands-on curricula, and how Stewart’s passion for preservation stemmed from two sources. distance learning can bring authentic historic adventures directly to First, he was born in Liberty Hall, and lived there a good part of students in a classroom far away, such as Amistad’s Sankofa sail to his life. This residence was originally built in 1772 by Governor Nova Scotia this year. Livingston, the first Governor of New Jersey. The Governor had We recognize that all Americans, regardless of age, are students a daughter who married a Kean, and the Kean family lived there of history or certainly should be. We are interested in groups for nine generations until Stewart’s mother died, at which point who can bring a new audience to history, or who can help us to he then converted it into a museum. Secondly, his mother had better understand the complexities of our shared experience. Two a passion for preservation, and in his earlier years he helped his wonderful examples of groups that are taking new and important mother restore a series of colonial houses in Elizabeth where they looks at history are James Madison’s Montpelier, where the Center lived. for the Constitution brings teachers to their campus to more Stewart died four and a half years ago, and since his death thoroughly study this core American document. These teachers the Board has been faced with the responsibility of expanding bring their increased knowledge back to tens of thousands of its geographic coverage, and committing more than twenty times students. what we formerly put out each year. Thus, we now have quarterly Likewise, the Archaearium at Jamestowne, Virginia has meetings, and dispense grants several times a year, as we don’t want provided a way for the average person to understand the meaning deserving recipients to have to wait for annual disbursements. The of over 1 million artifacts unearthed there. Without their advanced breath and scope of our commitments has compelled us interpretive building, these items are functionally mute to most of to focus more attentively on maintaining the quality of prospective us. They will celebrate their 400th anniversary next year, and the applicants. Archaearium will welcome them into the centuries-old history of In this regard, we now require two in-house persons to visit all this very important historic site. sites we are considering, and I believe having two points of view on The 1772 Foundation is also most supportive of those an applicant has enabled us to maintain a very high level of quality entrepreneurial groups who can successfully leverage preservation in our grant recipients. Moreover, I am very pleased to announce dollars. Endangered property funds, also called “revolving funds,” the election of two new Trustees to our Board who will no doubt have been a strong draw for the Foundation and we have funded prove most helpful in maintaining the quality of our grants going three thus far in Virginia and Georgia, as well as sponsoring a day- forward: Professor Gretchen Sorin of Cooperstown, New York and long session with corresponding print and web materials for the Dr. Nancy Davis of Bethesda, Maryland, both of whom are profiled October 2006 National Trust for Historic Preservation National in this report, will be joining us in January. Each of these women Conference in Pittsburgh. These highly leveraged funds have brings an extensive knowledge of, and passion for, the preservation the potential to save scores of historic structures with a relatively world and we look forward to having them on board. modest initial investment and we applaud the preservation ethic As we grow, we remain more determined then ever to honor and entrepreneurial spirit of those groups who manage these funds. Stewart’s gift to American historic preservation by funding projects In many ways, the foundation has changed immensely since that make an impact. Moving forward, we see significant trends Stewart’s passing. We have an office, staff, and a growing board. developing. Clearly, involving young people is a most critical Our work takes us throughout the country and into new areas component if we are to ensure the future of preservation. Without of preservation that were not evident in Stewart’s lifetime. Still, their interest, historic sites and museums will succumb to a Stewart Kean’s wishes are visible in everything we do. While we deepening lack of interest, the most serious threat to preservation greatly miss his friendship, generosity, and good humor, we still feel efforts in our country today. his presence in each of the successful preservation projects carried Young people today are accustomed to on-demand out by his foundation. We will continue to do so as we move information. Today’s middle and high school students have never forward. lived in a world where they could not instantly find the answer to any question on the internet. This technology is so immensely With warmest wishes for a happy and healthy 2007, powerful that we probably have not begun to comprehend its importance in the preservation world. The Foundation recognizes that technology is changing the way preservation will be carried G. Stanton Geary out. While it may have closed some doors to traditional patterns G.S. Geary of designing and using historic sites, it has certainly opened scores President, 1772 Foundation of windows. Young people are not interested in the traditional 2 1772 ANNUAL REPORT / 2006 1772 Foundation Fiscal 2006 - Grants Awarded Applicant ST Project Grant Award GRANTS AWARDED LIST Manchester Historical Society CT Cheney Brothers Machine Shop 25,000 Indian and Colonial Research Center Mystic CT brick repointing 5,000 Thompson Historical Society CT Old Town Hall 8,000 Connecticut Farmland Trust CT “Working the Land” 30,000 Joshua’s Tract Conservation & Historic Trust CT Gurleyville Grist Miller’s House 3,300 Mystic Seaport Museum CT Archives/Mill Restoration 40,000 Scotland Historical Society CT Waldo House beehive oven repair 6,250 Friends of Peirce Mill DC mill restoration 50,000 National Trust for Historic Preservation DC revolving fund education 50,000 Historic Savannah GA Endangered Properties Revolving Fund 60,000 Hancock Shaker Village MA trustees house and dwelling 70,000 The Bostonian Society MA Old State House 35,000 Clara Barton Birthplace MA house restoration 25,000 Museum Of African American History MA Boston-Higginbotham House Nantucket 50,000 Norman Rockwell Museum MA Rockwell’s studio roof 15,000 Whittier Home Association MA John Greenleaf Whittier Home 14,000 Maryland Historical Society MD Textile Conservation Project 75,000 Carroll Park Foundation MD Black Damask Orchard Project 35,000 Fire Museum Of Maryland MD Seagrave engine restoration 35,000 Historic Annapolis Foundation MD The Barracks 30,000 Trust for Public Land ME Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village 100,000 Maine Lighthouse Museum ME Ken Black Exhibition Hall 50,000 Jewett Eastman Memorial Committee ME rewiring match 2,750 Coastal Mountains Land Trust ME Beech Nut Restoration 25,000 Maine Historical Society ME Wadsworth-Longfellow House 30,000 Strawbery Banke Museum NH Cotton Tenant House 40,000 Lighthouse Kids NH White Island Lighthouse 25,000 Trust for Public Land NH Daniel Webster Farm 50,000 Holcombe Jimison Farm Museum NJ 1711 house restoration 15,000 Historic Cold Spring Village NJ Saving Coxe Hall 62,500 Liberty Hall NJ fire engine restoration 100,000 Trustees of the Ralston Cider Mill NJ Ralston Cider Mill 50,000 Red Mill Museum Village NJ Red Mill Preservation 50,000 The Farmers Museum NY More House 50,000 Historic House Trust of New York City NY Dyckman Farmhouse 20,000 Historic Hudson Valley NY Barn roof restoration 20,000 Independence Seaport Museum PA Olympia wheel house 50,000 Blithewold RI visitors center 50,000 Redwood Library & Athenaeum RI restoration of library 25,000