Conservation Stewardship Workshop
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The Rockefellers an Enduring Legacy
The Rockefellers An Enduring Legacy 90 / OCTOBER 2012 / WWW.WESTCHESTERMAGAZINE.COM alfway through a three-hour tour The views from Kykuit were astound- of the Kykuit mansion, the for- ing—possibly the best in Westchester. The mer home to four generations Hudson sparkled like a thousand stars lit up of Rockefellers, it became appar- in the night sky. Surrounding towns, includ- ent that I was going to need to ing Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, looked as Huse the bathroom—a large mug of iced coffee if civilization had yet to move in, the tree- purchased at a Tarrytown café was to blame. tops hiding any sign of human life. I felt like My guide, Corinne, a woman of perhaps 94, a time-traveler whisked back to a bygone era. Look around eagerly led me to a marble bathroom enclosed This must have been the view that had in- by velvet ropes, telling me this may have been spired John D. Rockefeller to purchase land you. How where John D. Rockefeller had spent a great in Westchester in 1893. New York City, where deal of his time. When, after several high- the majority of the Rockefeller family resided, much of decibel explanations, she gathered the nature was just 31 miles away and a horse-drawn car- of my request, I was ushered away from the riage could make the journey to the estate in the land, tour by two elderly women carrying walkie- less than two hours. It was the perfect family talkies, taken down a long flight of wooden retreat, a temporary escape from city life. -
Copyrighted Material
pter O ha n C e An Historic Overview of Venture Capitalism • Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. —George Santayana Why is an historical overview of VC important? Because history does in fact repeat itself, and a study of history allows us to frame an understanding of the present and the future. The playersCOPYRIGHTED and the investment climate MATERIAL change, but the entrepreneur’s innate instinct to risk capital for a return is no different today from what it was when John D. Rockefeller became America’s first billionaire in 1900. When Andrew c01.indd 1 10-12-2013 8:50:11 [2] The Little Book of Venture Capital Investing Carnegie joined forces with his childhood friend, Henry Phipps, to form Carnegie Steel in 1892, they were driven by the same conviction to improve the status quo as are the idealistic dream chasers of the twenty-first century. It was these early trailblazers who paved the way and developed the techniques that have laid the foundation for VC as we know it today. Arguably, historians will debate the nature of history and its usefulness. This includes using the discipline as a way of providing perspective on the problems and opportu- nities of the present. I believe it to be an important tool in providing a systematic account and window to the future. It is patently dishonest and irresponsible to perpetuate the popular mythology that those who created great wealth in America are to be despised and that there are no useful les- sons to be learned from an objective, historical review of their contributions to the subject at hand. -
Promise of Pocantico
- Prepared by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation , Partnerships Greenrock Complex Orangerie and Greenhouses Conference Center and Coach Barn Kykuit and Stewardship The Playhouse Breuer House and Guest Houses The Parkland : Redevelopment and Reprogramming of Use Patterns The Greenrock Village: Office and Shop Buildings The Commons: Orangerie, Greenhouses, and Coach Barn The Extended Campus: The Playhouse, Breuer House, and Guest Houses Future Expansion Creating Connections Evolution of the Landscape Conceptual Plan Rockefeller Brothers Fund Philanthropy for an Interdependent World Lake Road Tarrytown, New York .. www.rbf.org Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC .. www.nthp.org © Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Inc. All rights reserved. Ben Asen Mary Louise Pierson RBF Staff : . The Pocantico Center represents another remarkable Rockefeller resource, one directed to ever- greater public benefit and managed through a thoughtful, principled process entirely consistent with family traditions and philanthropy. In the Pocantico Committee of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund was charged with developing a long-range plan for the Center that is economically feasible and responsive to the surrounding community, and provides an enriching experience for a range of visitors. This report presents the plan that was approved by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund board on June , as a guide for future activity together with its partner, the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Over the past two years, the Committee drew upon many experts and professionals in relevant areas, conducted assessments of outside operations, and held meetings full of concentrated debate, examination, and discovery. The final product is a comprehensive document aligning statements of Mission, Vision, and Principles with insightful program initiatives and responsible financial considerations, all based upon the significant history and assets of Pocantico. -
Role Model for a Conservationist: John D. Rockefeller's Relationship to Nature
Role Model for a Conservationist: John D. Rockefeller’s Relationship to Nature By Dyana Z. Furmansky Independent Researcher [email protected] © 2013 by Dyana Z. Furmansky The visitor center at Grand Teton National Park’s Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve displays a large photograph of the Preserve’s namesake, posing with his brothers Nelson A. and John D. 3rd and their father, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. In the photo, taken in 1924, during the family’s first trip to the Teton Mountains, Laurance Rockefeller is fourteen years old. Before he died in 2004 at the age of 94, Laurance bequeathed 1,106 acres of what had been part of the Rockefeller family’s private JY Ranch, located inside the national park, to the National Park Service, for the establishment of the preserve. It opened to the public in 2008. An intriguing quote—attributed to Laurance—accompanies the photo just described: “Father, as his father had done for him, took us on these trips, not only for the thrill that young boys would get from such journeys, but also to inspire in us a portion of his own deep love for wilderness beauty and his interest in protecting it.” The nonchalance of the phrase, “as his father had done for him” may come as a surprise. Judging from Laurance’s statement, the family’s commitment to nature’s protection did not begin, as is generally accepted, with his much admired father, who, among many things, was an acclaimed conservationist. For Laurance an equally important role model turned out to be his notorious grandfather, John D. -
The View from Mount Tom: Perspectives from the Childhood Landscape of George Perkins Marsh
The View from Mount Tom: Perspectives from the Childhood Landscape of George Perkins Marsh Christina Marts As I write, the hills outside of my office in Woodstock, Vermont, are covered in their autumnal glory—the great wash of greens have given way to shades of crimson, golds, and blaze orange. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (NHP) sits outside the Woodstock village on a slight rise overlooking the fertile farm land that is now the Billings Farm & Museum and the hills and valleys surrounding the Ottaquechee River. Aptly named the “Green Mountain State,” today, approximately 80% of the land in Vermont is forested. The interplay and co-dependence of forests, agricultural fields, and small villages are the hall- mark of the Vermont landscape and core to the identity and foundational ethics of Vermont communities, and have been for over 200 years. This was the boyhood home of George Perkins Marsh, born in 1801. However, the land- scape that Marsh experienced over two centuries ago was very different than the one we know today. In his boyhood years, the land was cleared to make way for agricultural fields and to supply potash and timber for the growing settlements of early Vermont. Fires were frequent, and early in Marsh’s life a large fire devastated most of Mount Tom, the prominent summit behind the Marsh estate with panoramic views overlooking the Woodstock village and Ot- taquechee Valley. From an early age, Marsh was an exuberant learner. So much so, in fact, that by the age of about seven or eight Marsh nearly went blind from the strain of excessive reading under poor light and for nearly four years he could not read at all (Lowenthal 2000a). -
Cultural Resources in a “Natural” Park: Early Preservation Efforts at Menor’S Ferry in Grand Teton National Park
Cultural Resources in a “Natural” Park: Early Preservation Efforts at Menor’s Ferry in Grand Teton National Park By Elizabeth Engle Cultural Resources Manager, National Park Service Grand Teton National Park, Cultural Resources Moose, Wyoming [email protected] © 2013 by Elizabeth Engle Grand Teton National Park has long been celebrated for the grandeur of the Teton Mountains, and the Rockefellers, particularly John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his son, Laurance S. Rockefeller, have long been recognized for their role in conserving that natural setting. While their conservation work is unarguably important, my research at the Rockefeller Archives Center (RAC) in 2013 focused on another aspect of the Rockefeller’s involvement in Jackson Hole: their work with cultural and historical resources. Often overlooked and overshadowed by the majestic scenery, the cultural resources in Grand Teton National Park tell the stories of early American cultures, of the hardships of European settlement, and of the booming tourism industry greatly fueled by the establishment of the park in 1929 and expansion of the park in 1950. Specifically, I am interested in the large preservation effort undertaken in 1949 by Jackson Hole Preserve, Inc., a Rockefeller non-profit, at Menor’s Ferry, and how that fit into the larger picture of preservation in Grand Teton National Park and other Western, stereotypically “natural” national parks. Settled by Bill Menor in 1894, the Menor homestead was located on one hundred forty- eight acres on the western banks of the Snake River at a point where the braided river contracted into a single channel. Like most early settlers in the valley, Menor relied primarily on hunting, 1 trapping, and agriculture to survive. -
Matthew Nordan Nordan Boosts Venrock's Energy Efforts with Deep
Venrock Adds Another Key Ingredient to Energy Team: Matthew Nordan Nordan Boosts Venrock’s Energy Efforts with Deep Emerging Technology Expertise Cambridge, Mass., August 24, 2009 – Venrock, a premier venture capital firm originally established as the venture arm of the Rockefeller family, announced today that Matthew Nordan, co-founder and former president of Lux Research, has joined the firm as a vice president to focus on energy, environmental and materials technologies from Venrock’s Cambridge office. “We’re looking for game-changing technology – companies that will have a substantial and meaningful impact on the biggest market in the world,” said Ray Rothrock, partner at Venrock. “Venrock has a long history in the energy sector that started with Laurance Rockefeller in the 1930’s. As we continue to expand our portfolio and our team, Matthew adds deep and invaluable experience through his work at Lux Research and Forrester Research, and we are thrilled and privileged to have him join the Venrock team.” Nordan comes to Venrock from Lux Research, the advisory services firm where he served as president after co-founding the company in 2004. Under Nordan’s leadership, the Lux Research analyst team has become a globally recognized authority on the business and economic impact of emerging technologies, focusing on energy, the environment, and advanced materials. Nordan will remain an advisor to Lux, chairing the firm’s Research Advisory Council, which provides market-driven input on products and strategy. Earlier in his career, Nordan held a variety of senior management positions at emerging technology advisor Forrester Research in the U.S. -
Finding Aid Billings Family Archives
Finding Aid Billings Family Archives 1780-2004 (Bulk dates 1860-1950) Woodstock Foundation Catalog Number: 2004.003 Prepared by Marianne C. Zephir May 2014 Revised January 2017 Billings Family Archives, Acc. 2004.003 Finding Aid January 1, 2017 Biographical History: The Billings Family Archives were created by Frederick and Julia Billings and successive generations of the Billings family. The collection of manuscripts, photographs, and architectural drawings provide a rich source of information about the family's personal and business interests, and their domestic, social, and philanthropic activities. Frederick Billings (1823-1890), born in Royalton, Vermont, moved to Woodstock with his family in 1835. He was the fourth of Oel and Sophia Billings' nine children. He attended the University of Vermont, studied law, and would eventually travel to California during the gold rush where he made his fortune as a lawyer, land developer and railroad tycoon. He became very wealthy, traveled widely, but always considered Woodstock his home. In 1862, Frederick met and married Julia Parmly (1835-1914). Julia, born and raised in New York City, was the daughter of prominent New York dentist, Dr. Eleazar Parmly and Anna Maria Valk Smith Parmly. Julia was educated at a series of private day academies in New York, and traveled extensively throughout her life. Frederick purchased their Woodstock home in 1869. Frederick and Julia Billings had seven children. They raised their family in Woodstock and after 1881, the family split their time between Woodstock and a townhouse on Madison Avenue in New York City. Their children were educated by governesses at home, attended private schools and universities, traveled widely, and enjoyed the typical social and cultural activities of upper class society. -
UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES 11 September 2000 Dearm On
\ 4 UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES POSTAL ADDRESS ADRESSE POSTALE. UNITED NATIONS. N.Y. 10OI7 CABLE ADDRESS ADRESSE TELECRAPHIQU E: UNATIONS NEWYORK EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL REFERENCE: S-3840A - Tel: (212) 963-5495 ~ Fax: (212) 963-1185 11 September 2000 DearM On behalf of the Secretary-General, I should like to thank you for your letter dated 21 June 2000, in which you inform the Secretary-General that the National Institute of Social Sciences wishes to bestow upon him its Gold Medal Award. The Secretary-General is honoured and deeply appreciates that the Institute would like to present him with such a distinguished award. Much as the Secretary-General would have liked to be present at this important event, I regret to inform you that prior official commitments would not allow him to do so. The Secretary-General thanks you for your kind words and wishes you continued success in all your endeavors. Gillian Martin Sorensen Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations Mr. Arthur Ross New York (g nil Cw> JUN28 UR ROSS •XECUTJVE OFFICE OfTHESECRETARY4ENERAL j THREE MANHATTANVILLE ROAD PURCHASE, NEW YORK IO577-2MO (914) 696-9OOO 21st June 2000 Dear Kofi, As a trustee of the National . haveh_ e signal honor of inviting^ you to accept its Gold Medal award. The Institute is an organization incorporated by an Act of Congress and usually awards its Gold Medal to the most distinguished of our Americans. By a unanimous decision of ^pur Board lit was decidj^ the^unigue global leadership you have provided. _ We are proud indeed to have the opportunity of offering this to you. -
Fences, Conservation, and Tourism: a History of the Jackson Hole 43
Weeks: Fences, Conservation, and Tourism: a History of the Jackson Hole 43 FENCES, CONSERVATION, AND TOURISM: A HISTORY OF THE JACSKON HOLE WILDLIFE PARK MICHAEL WEEKS HISTORY DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER On a pleasant July day in 1948, a small crowd would promote equality and the local economy congregated in rows upon rustic logs on the edge of a through affording greater access to wildlife for all broad meadow in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Beyond visitors, while also bringing in tourist dollars. In short, the meadow to the west, they spied glimpses of the Laurance presented a JHWP which offered universal Snake River through aspen, fir, and pine trees. On the benefits for nature – human and non-human.1 horizon, Mt. Moran loomed, framed by a vast expanse of azure sky. The crowd’s eyes however were not fixed upon the distant view, but on the small makeshift podium placed at the foot of the benches, and on the seven dignitaries who were scheduled to speak that day (Figure 1). They had come to dedicate the Jackson Hole Wildlife Park (JHWP). Conceived in 1945, the Park would provide controlled habitat for a host of primarily big game animals from the region, affording tourists the opportunity for education and close-up viewing of native mammals. Figure 1. Laurance Rockefeller speaks at the opening Laurance Rockefeller was the most ceremony. Reprinted, by permission, from Grand Teton anticipated speaker. He was the grandson of John D. National Park: Jackson Hole Wildlife Park, Historic Records Rockefeller, America’s preeminent oil tycoon, and son Collection” of John D. -
By Samuel L. Blumenfeld It's a Popular Fantasy, Based on Po?Ular
so YOO WANT TO YlARRY A ROCKEFE LLER by Samuel L. Blumenfeld It's a popular fantasy, based on po?ular mythology. As pure ambitiOD tl:ere is something quite latrlable about wanting to marry a Rockefeller. It shmls that you want to better yourself, to aspire to the ranks of the winners. AftDr all, the Rockefellers are probably the richest family on earth, with an estirr.ated wealth of about four billion dollars Ul'Xier their controL, arrl all you have to do to be entitled to your fair share in petty cash is to bl; one of them. John D. Rockefeller, who started it all in the late 1800's by gf-'nerating the greatest single fortune in history through the creation and expar~ion of the Standard Oil Company (better knOlffi these days as Exxon), did his many descendants a 2 - SO YOU HANT TO MARRY A ROCKEFELLER tremerrlou~ service by m:1king them all millionaires at birth. The result is that every direct descerrlant of John D. Rockefeller enters a world as beautiful and secure as the one he just C8.me out of. It's as if a welcoming committee were on hand to tell him as he energed all wet am slimy, "Con~ratulations, you have j1:St been roade a millionaire. 1t But the little infant, esnecially if it is a male, inherits more at birth than just a tr~st fund and a lifetime pass to the fabulous family estate at Pocantico Hills. He inherits, to some degree, the Rockefeller winner psychology, which, in its transfer from generation to generation along with mother's mill: am grarrlpa t s oil, may be an even greater prize. -
ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND ANNUAL REPORT 1981 Table of Contents
ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND ANNUAL REPORT 1981 Table of Contents The Rockefeller Brothers Fund New York City Program 7 The Rockefeller Brothers Fund and its Program 13 How to Apply for a Grant 16 List of Grants National Program 18 New York City Program 24 International Program 30 Financial Data 38 Trustees 57 Officers 58 Staff 59 Index of Grants 60 The Rockefeller Brothers Fund New York City Program New York City has always been home to the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and local giving has always been an important part of the Fund's philan thropic program. The five Rockefeller brothers—who established the Fund in 1940 and were joined by their sister in serving as its first trustees—grew up on West 54th Street, in the heart of Manhattan. New York City, then, provided their first professional and cultural home. When they started the Fund for the purpose of coordinating their philanthropic interests, they envisioned it as an organization that would act as an individual citizen responsible to a community. And while the brothers and their sister applied the concept of community nationally and internationally, in the most immediate sense their community, and the Fund's, was New York City. A large proportion of the grants made during the Fund's first years went to support the general operating expenses of local cultural and social service organizations and local parishes. These annual grants to organizations of city-wide scope constituted the Fund's "recurring citizenship program." In the 1940s, New York City citizenship grants supported such groups as the Community Council of Greater New York, the Legal Aid Society, the United Hospital Fund of New York, the Urban League, the Community Service Society, and regional councils of YMCAs, YWCAs, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.