Report to Donors Lauren Howe-Kerr Collecting Coral Samples for Microbial Analysis in Mo’Orea, French Polynesia

2O2O RepoRt to DonoRs Lauren Howe-Kerr collecting coral samples for microbial analysis in Mo’orea, French Polynesia. Photo by Alex Veglia. FrOm the executive OFFicer “2020 was a year like no other in memory.” t underscored how crucial our need is for diversity, equity, and access. together, we will “use rigorous scientific research, historical study, the society’s resources to promote equality—and, in and examination and analysis of contemporary turn, enliven and strengthen the society’s founding Isociety and events regionally, nationally, and mission of promoting useful knowledge.” globally. Critical thinking and intellectual honesty The Society’s dedication to fulfilling its mission are more than admirable personal characteristics; amidst crisis was recognized and supported by they are essential to our collective well-being as you—our wide-ranging community of Members, citizens of the United states and the world. Friends, awardees, foundations, collaborating In 2020, as always, the American philosophical organizations, and others. You shared with the society provided “a forum for the free exchange society an excellent, even unprecedented, level of of ideas” and conveyed a shared “conviction philanthropic generosity that, in turn, made possible that intellectual inquiry and critical thought are the fullness of the Aps’s response to the times, inherently in the best interest of the public.” bolstered its current well-being, and reinforced its together, we did our utmost to respond to the foundation for future growth. year’s difficulties and imperatives with agility, thanks to your vigorous support, the society is flexibility, ingenuity, and resolve. On May 6 in in excellent financial health. stewarded by the response to COVID-19, Council passed a rare Investment Committee, our endowment grew to public resolution on behalf of the entire elected approximately $250 million as of December 31, APS Membership calling on Congress to enact 2020. this past year marked the 15th anniversary a National Defense Education Act for the 21st of the Lewis and Clark endowment Fund, which Century “to support at all levels the education supports exploration and field research. A fitting of America’s youth in science, history, analytical commemoration of this milestone was a bequest thinking, and the primacy of facts as the of nearly $935,000 from the estate of sibyl R. foundation of the nation’s future health, general Golden, which was directed to the William t. Golden well-being, and security.” endowment for Lewis and Clark Grants in scientific As the nation reckoned with racial justice in the Disciplines. wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Despite, or perhaps due to, the year’s challenges, Minneapolis and far too many similar incidents, 2020 was the most successful year ever in annual APS Members and staff paused to reflect on the giving to the Fund for the APS, which is comprised Society’s past—a history “inextricably entwined of the Members’ Annual Fund and Friends of the with race, slavery, and, later, pseudoscientific ideas Aps. A total of $1,016,372 was raised in essential that supported and perpetuated racist beliefs and unrestricted funding and general support for the practices”—and to think about a future in which society’s core programs—our superb Library, the Aps will directly confront issues of inequality. Museum, Meetings, public programs, research grants our shared commitment is to increase inclusion, and fellowships, and publications—an increase of 1 10.4% over 2019. Giving to the Fund for the Aps included $702,379 from 311 Members and their families, and $313,993 from 406 Friends of the Aps. our humble appreciation and great credit for this achievement go to Kathleen Hall Jamieson (Aps 1997), chair of the Fund for the Aps; Rolin Bissell, Friends of the Aps chair; and the devoted and unsparing work of all who serve on our respective hoto by Brett Wahl. Brett by hoto fundraising committees. p Annual giving was further strengthened by the COVID-19 Response Challenge, a matching- funds effort that raised $169,000 to assist those whose access to the Aps and its resources was adversely affected by the pandemic, including current Aps grantees and fellows as well as in- Leadership grant from the Institute of Museum person and remote visitors. I extend profound and Library services will fund the planning phase thanks and commendations to Drs. Jonathan Fox of Revolutionary City, a portal shared by the Aps and suzanne Markel-Fox, with whom I am honored with the Historical society of pennsylvania and the to have partnered in supporting the CoVID-19 Library Company of philadelphia that will provide Response Challenge by contributing its matching access to digitized archival material related to the funds. Financial resources raised by the Challenge, American Revolution. the neH CARes grant also along with critical assistance from the national provided particular assistance for the exhibitions endowment for the Humanities through an neH Dr. Franklin, Citizen Scientist—which was installed CARes (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and economic immediately before the pandemic required the security) grant, allowed the Aps to assist its Aps to close its facilities until it will be safe—and current grantees and fellows in adapting to new Benjamin Franklin’s American Enlightenment, circumstances with proxy researchers, remote Documenting Early American Science at the assistance, etc.; extend the period of residency for American Philosophical Society. long-term library fellows; and accelerate digitization NEH CARES funding enabled the Society to create of the society’s collection, making it nationally and a virtual tour and online catalog for Dr. Franklin, internationally accessible. Citizen Scientist, thereby sharing the exhibition’s thanks to thoughtfully directed giving from treasures and insights digitally while we wait to philanthropic foundations and government open it physically. A silver lining revealed in the agencies, 2020 was, as well, an extraordinarily transition of Aps programming from in-person to successful year for grant funding. the Aps online is notable growth in the size and geographic received a $200,000 grant from the national diversity of its audience. 2020 saw a 40% science Foundation’s Dynamic Language program, increase in the society’s audience, which included supporting the society’s work in documenting individuals from across the U.s., south America, endangered languages. A $96,400 national europe, Middle east, and south Asia participating in our offerings. Among the timely and topical Aps 2 Meeting presentations that drew avid national the first transformative treatments adopted was and international interest was the november 12 the mending of the text and reattachment of the conversation about CoVID-19 and progress in parchment binding of a rare third edition of nicolaus developing vaccines between Dr. Anthony s. Fauci Copernicus’s work De Revolutionibus Orbium (Aps 2001), Director of the national Institute Coelestium (Amsterdam, 1617), made possible by of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Mark J. James H. Hill, Jr. thompson (Aps 2017), former director-general of soon after March 16, when the Aps closed to the British Broadcasting Corporation and former the public and staff began working from home, president and chief executive officer of the new the society guaranteed ongoing full pay to all York times Company. employees, including Museum Guides and those Notable among the many new contributions on the Facilities team whose work depends fully received is an endowment established by Lotte on an open building. A successful application for Bailyn in memory of her husband, Bernard Bailyn salary support through the paycheck protection (Aps 1971), the preeminent historian of early program of the CARes Act did much to mitigate the America, who in 2020 donated his personal library budgetary impact of that promise. to the Aps Library & Museum. the Bernard Bailyn As I write this letter, neither I, my colleagues at Fund will support related activities in acquiring the APS, nor members of the scientific community early American materials. During this year, the or government leaders can say with certainty society’s commitment to scholarly research and when the Society and the country will return to public outreach about the era of the American “normal” and what that normal will look like. But I Revolution was strengthened by the consummation am heartened and truly humbled, in reviewing 2020 of the society’s partnership with the David Library and remembering what was accomplished against of the American Revolution, thus creating the significant odds. I extend my deep gratitude to the endowed David Center for the American Revolution Members, Friends, and Aps staff, and all individuals in the Aps Library. and entities who make our work possible and We extend thanks and commendations to John excellent. You have shown unfailing commitment (APS 2005) and Christine Van Horne for prepaying to the society over many, many years. Your rallying their planned gift to the Aps and establishing the together in 2020—a time of paralyzing pandemic, John C. and Christine K. Van Horne Fund, a Librarian social unrest, and political upheaval—not only to Discretionary endowment Fund. As of December maintain but to enhance the impact of 31, 2020, there are 99 members of the Richard the Aps—will forever be a source of inspiration A. F. penrose, Jr., Association—which recognizes and pride. planned giving to the Aps—who created lasting With gratitude and appreciation, legacies at the society by naming it a beneficiary in their wills, retirement accounts or insurance policies, or establishing a charitable trust or annuity. The Society extended the success of its enthusias- tically embraced Adopt-A-Book program with the Robert M. Hauser launch of Adopt-A-Conservation Treatment. Among 3 David CenteR for the AmericAn revolution At the Aps ol Feinstone, a Lithuanian-Jewish immigrant The richness, breadth, and diversity of the David who arrived in the U.S.

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