Fy2020 Annual Report Web.Pdf
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1 ON THE COVER (top to bottom): Rally honoring local suffragist Ella Findeisen and the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote (Eagle Tribune, August 12, 2020); Tent City (field hospital) at Emery Hill, Influenza Pandemic 1918, Lawrence, MA; guest speakers during our summer virtual program for Lawrence middle school students (The Rising Loaves); summer middle school student presenting her work; historic preservation of the Essex Company complex in progress (contractor Buddy Latham pictured) FRONT AND BACK COVER BACKGROUND IMAGE: Lawrence Dam Site 1846, Lawrence History Center Essex Company Photograph Collection. The year 2020 marks the 175th Anniversary of the incorporation of the Essex Company in 1845. On September 19, 1845, the very first stone was laid by the Essex Company in the construction of the Great Stone Dam. The Dam was completed exactly three years later to the day. BELOW: Lamb using PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic, Christopher Coughlin, Jurg and Linda Siegenthaler (credit to ECCF), Thomas Walsh, Cindy Parnagian and Kathy Flynn, Florentina Gutierrez, Halina Grabski The Lawrence History Center gratefully acknowledges the members of our extended family without whose time, talent, and energy we would not be able to care for and preserve our collections, assist researchers, review symposium proposals, publish books, host events, or engage our community as effectively as we do. We are also grateful for our terrific volunteer board of directors (listed opposite) for their energy, knowledge, and vision—without which we would not be able to carry out our mission to collect, preserve, share, and animate the history and heritage of Lawrence, Massachusetts and its people. Jessica Andors Kristen Harol Clarisse Poirier Dexter Arnold Armand M. Hyatt. Esq. Mayor Daniel Rivera Llana Barber Karen Hyatt Jim Ross Russ Barry Fr. Martin Hyatt Arlene Ross Jim Beauchesne Gary Thomas Keating Claire Russell Joseph G. Bella (December 30, 1949 - December 22, 2019) Matt Russell Matt Bigham Joan Kelley Louise Sandberg Betsy Brien Lawrence Family Development Bridget Shaheen Monica Bruni Charter School Students Marcia Sharp Ellen Bruton Lawrence Heritage State Park Staff Brian Sheehy Christopher Coughlin Marc Laplante Dan Sicard Vilma Martinez-Dominguez Christine Lewis Gary Sidell Syhia Eastman Robert Lussier Jurg Siegenthaler W. Dean Eastman Eugene McCarthy Linda Siegenthaler Enel Green Power North America Amanda McKenna Jonas Stundzia Wendy Estrella David Meehan Jim Sutton Marilyn Freeman Michael W. Morris, Jr., Esq. Lisa Torrisi Kathleen S. Flynn Michael Morris, Sr., Esq. Bill Traynor Sarah Gatzke Marianne Paley Nadel Dorothy Truman Halina Grabski Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School Stephanie Turmel Mary Jo Griffin Work Study Students Tom Walsh Quin Gonell Lauren Ordway Rick Wetmore Florentina Gutierrez Mary Morris Pannos Pamela Yameen ANNUAL REPORT 2019 | 2020 LAWRENCE HISTORY CENTER 2 by Susan Grabski, Executive Director The year 2020 has brought challenges to our organization and community with the COVID-19 pandemic unforeseen last fall when we set plans in motion for the year. Lawrence, in particular, has been disproportionately impacted with higher infection rates and deaths, as well as a greater number of residents employed on the front lines in the healthcare field. Adhering to the recommendations of local officials, LHC shut down operations in mid-March. Despite restrictions, LHC was able to safely and creatively continue to deliver quality content, programming and research assistance, to continue accepting donations to our collection, and to carry out the continued historic preservation of our home in the Essex Company Offices and Yard—a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Board of Directors, 2019 –2020 Prior to the mid-March as many as 51,500 and engaged symposium on May 1, 2021—A President (until 11/2019) shut down, LHC welcomed 17,100 on average a month. multi disciplinary look at the Mike Hearn over 1,550 visitors through its This increased interaction helps history of Public Safety in President (appointed 11/2019) doors and at events and us to enrich the broader telling Lawrence: What has worked? Kathleen Curry programs. Throughout the year, of Lawrence history through What hasn’t? How does Lawrence Vice President our volunteers logged 3,023 stories told in the post compare to other similar cities in the Mark Cutler service hours; and our research comments and the coming region and nation? (please see page Treasurer team fielded 271 requests on a together of our diverse 12). Mark Svendsen rich variety of subjects, locally community as we move through At our virtual Annual Secretary and from a dozen different a global pandemic and Meeting, Mark Cutler was Sara Morin Barth countries. subsequent racial unrest that installed as our new President, Directors Despite our closing to the followed the death of George Glennys Sanchez moved into Whimpper Barahona public and staff working Floyd (please see pages 4-7). the Vice President role, and two Anil “Nilly” DaCosta remotely, we knew that we While closed, we were able new board members—Michael Angell Pascual Flores needed to continue to connect to conduct critical restoration W. Morris, Jr., Esq. and Jineyda Robert Forrant with our community—a now and painting work on exterior Tapia—were elected. The Mary Guerrero ‘captive’ audience. To sheds, windows, and doors. We membership voted to change Karen Van Welden-Herman accomplish this, we began are also (at long last!) replacing the Bylaws to increase the size Andy Kelley pushing digital collection the elevator in our main of the board to ensure its Ellen Minzner Glennys Sánchez content out daily via our social building (please see page 8). diversity and community Jim Sutton media pages. The content Our placed-based summer representation while maintaining included photos, videos, program—The Rising Loaves— long term expertise, historical Board Member Emeritus Chet Sidell (1941-2018) scholarly research, oral and lost its 'place', but we created a perspective, and institutional video histories, short non- new virtual space in which we knowledge. Honorary Board Member Claudia Dengler narrated tours of our main all came together to share our We hope this Annual building, curriculum material to lives and serve 28 students and Report inspires you to engage with Founder Eartha Dengler support teachers with remote youth writing leaders (please see us in the future. I invite you to learning, and more. page 10). read further and to consider Staff As a result, we saw an The 2020 Eartha Dengler supporting our efforts during Executive Director immediate increase in our level History Award Ceremony to this very difficult time by Susan Grabski of engagement with people. Our honor Armand Hyatt has been making a tax-deductible Facebook followers grew 34% postponed to a date and format donation. Collections Manager & Research Coordinator Amita Kiley from 3,545 to 4,735 and our to be determined in early 2021. We hope to see you very soon Instagram followers grew 99% We have plans in motion Bookkeeper (part-time) at 6 Essex Street! Nancy Leonardi from 430 to 854. Posts reached for a virtual academic Head Researcher (Volunteer) Kathy Flynn Research & Collections…….….…………………………………………………………………………………...…………….. 4 Archivist (Volunteer) Dorothy Truman Digital & Teacher Resources …….……………….…….………………………………………………………………………. 7 Historic Preservation & Accessibility| 6 Essex Street ……………………………………………………………….. 8 Lawrence Student Writers Workshop: The Rising Loaves ………………………………………………………… 10 Lawrence History Center 2020 Eartha Dengler History Award Ceremony ……………………………………………………………………….. 12 6 Essex Street, Lawrence, MA 01840 Public Safety Symposium …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12 978-686-9230 Scrapbook: Students. Visitors. Events. Partnerships ………………………………………………………………… 13 www.lawrencehistory.org Our Supporters ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14 @lawrencehistory Financial Overview / Ways to Give ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15 @lawrence_history_center 3 WWW.LAWRENCEHISTORY.ORG On a daily basis, LHC fields research His hobby led him to LHC after he requests from local residents and beyond. developed a roll of film labeled Some inquiries are as straightforward as “Lawrence, MA”. All he knew about looking up a name in a city directory. Others the film type was that it was by Amita Kiley are a bit more challenging and entail discontinued in 1974, the film was a Collections Manager and consulting multiple sources in the archive. medium format Kodacolor-x, and the Research Coordinator Some are downright mysteries and we need Volvo was a 1971 or 1972 model. We to venture beyond the walls of LHC for In 2019, I ended my collection’s report help. This year we received more with the question, “where will our mission international research requests than ever take us in 2020?” Little did I know that, before. Some were easily answered in-house, despite the Covid-19 pandemic and global and for others we asked the community for shutdown, the mission of the Lawrence help: History Center (LHC) would still be able to take us around the world. A researcher in Melbourne, Australia e- Since 1978, dedicated staff and mailed us with questions about the volunteers have preserved and made available Jewish Community in Lawrence. material pertaining to the city’s history. As A genealogist in the United Kingdom technology grew and evolved, so did our sought information on a Greek reach. We’ve