newport historical society History Starts Here Fall 2020 newsletter volume 11 inside Civic Conversations V The Newport Show V Rhode Island Suffrage W Director’s Note civic conversation series W am old enough to have But this is not what we discovered. Our friends and donors In early March of 2020, the lived through many stepped up, and in fact we found new ones as the pandemic Newport Historical Society embarked I moments now considered moved through the country. Our efforts to continue to get on a series of conversations on historic, but it has never felt Newport’s history in front of visitors — especially virtual topics of civil discourse. The topics more obvious that we are ones — caught the attention of many. And a good number discussed were: making history then it does of our core supporters, some of whom were asked not just F What does a crisis ask of us right now. And it is unusually to give but to increase their giving, agreed with enthusiasm. as Americans? clear that organizations like Our members, who were slow to renew in March and April, F What does it mean to be NHS, which are the custodians came roaring back in May, with more than a few upping an American? of our history, can have a their level of support. relevant, and indeed vibrant F What does liberty mean to So, we are grateful. Profoundly and humbly thankful Americans today? role to play in changing times. for the value that you all have placed on our work, and F How American is protest, and Relevance does not mean your willingness to “subscribe to history” by supporting it. how much protest is American? altering our mission. For all the changes we have experienced, While there are still tough times ahead, and much work to be our mission remains almost identical to what it was in 1853: done to continue and solidify our successes, we know that we F The ‘Truth’ in America today. to collect the things that make it possible for us to study, do not have to prove our value to the community. You have F What should be part of a patriotic education? preserve and transmit the history of Newport and its place in shown us that you know. Although the first meeting was in person, Zoom has revealed itself to be in the world. Doing this work today, however, has involved real In this issue, in addition to updates on programming and many ways a perfect format for this kind of conversation. We can all see changes to our status quo. Not least of which was a strong activities in the pandemic era, we are highlighting some each other’s faces, we can have quiet sidebars in the chat room, and we can re-emphasis on individual fundraising, as we watched our of the things, and the people, that we are grateful for. indicate our support of a speaker without interrupting them. While we all earned income fall by over 40%. Thank you all, and please stay with us. We will continue to look forward to getting together in person sometime soon, the NHS is very When I began to reach out to our donors in the spring — need your support. enthusiastic about continuing this series online. by mail, email and telephone — I had no idea what to – Ruth S. Taylor, Executive Director The events are created with the assistance of Jim Ludes and G. Wayne Miller expect. And, I warned our staff that membership could really Salve Regina University Pell Center’s Story in the Public Square, and with fall away, as it has in many other places. The world was in the support of the EJMP Fund for Philanthropy, Karen Lloyd and Diana disarray, and an important museum survey suggested that Pearson. Thank you to all supporters, moderators, and attendees for Look for this symbol throughoutW this issue highlighting while our supporters cared about us, they were worried about making these conversations thoughtful, insightful, and cordial. some of the things and people for which we are grateful. other things more. I Strategic Planning Analytics: January 1 – October 20, 2020 NewportHistory.org Newport Historical Society We have begun to assemble data about how our work has changed in the last Pageviews: 147,553 six months, whether we are reaching our audiences effectively with new and Resource Center Users: 38,138 experimental approaches, and what others in the museum field are thinking 82 Touro Street, Newport, RI 02840 | 401-846-0813 about the future. New Visitors: 88.9%, Returning Visitors: 11.1% Museum of Newport History & Shop While the information is very preliminary, we are starting to be able to shape ShopNewportHistory.com 127 Thames Street, Newport, RI 02840 | 401-841-8770 some useful questions. Here is one example: the online world has become Pageviews: 36,730 Properties: Users: 6,505 very crowded with offerings from cultural institutions, just as our audiences Colony House, Washington Square, Newport are experiencing “Zoom fatigue.” While some of our programs have rapidly New Visitors: 90.5%, Returning Visitors: 9.5% Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, 17 Broadway, Newport expanded their audiences (online collections resources, for example), others Collections.NewportHistory.org are less visible, and less used. One question we might ask ourselves, is Great Friends Meeting House, 22 Farewell Street, Newport Pageviews: 116,454 “how do we rise above the noise?” Seventh Day Baptist Meeting House, 82 Touro Street, Newport Users: 82,244 TOP: An image of the participants on Zoom where we discussed Green End Fort, Vernon Avenue, Middletown how American is protest, and how much protest is American, on From a strictly financial standpoint we must recognize that if 2021 looks New Visitors: 99.4%, Returning visitors: 0.6% July 2, 2020. anything like 2020, with constrained sources of earned income, we are likely For more information go to: YouTube ABOVE: At the second Civic Conversation in April, the first on facing another tough year. We need to explore some likely scenarios based NewportHistory.org Zoom, on April 6, 2020 where we discussed “what a crisis asks of Views: 25,177 on data from the museum field, tourism trends, and what we expect might ShopNewportHistory.com us as Americans.” happen with the pandemic and its remedies as well as the US economy. New subscribers: 129 NewportHistoryTours.org This will be the work of staff and Board through the winter of 2020/21. Total subscribers: 430 page 2 v newport historical society FRONT COVER: Stills from videos of Elizabeth Sulock interviewing fall 2020 newsletter v page 3 living historians, scholars and museum professionals. W To Benefit the Newport Historical Society and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County In July 2020, the 14th Annual Newport Show, a week of antiques, art and exquisite objects, took place virtually. In this extraordinary year we are so grateful to our Founders, patrons, supporters, sponsors, contributors, exhibitors, and partners. W Thank you to our media sponsors: American Fine Art Magazine, Antiques & Fine Art Magazine, THE NEWPORT SHOW 2020 FOUNDERS The Magazine Antiques, New England Home, and Mrs. Brittain Bardes Damgard The Public’s Radio. Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Darden Thank you to John Smiroldo from Incollect and Mr. and Mrs. David B. Ford Antiques & Fine Art Magazine for working with us Mr. Bernard S. Gewirz to create a way for you to enjoy the exhibitors in an Mrs. Robert M. Grace attractive and easily accessible website. Mr. and Mrs. James B. Gubelmann Thank you to the Founders and other donors who Mr. and Mrs. S. Matthews V. Hamilton, Jr. made this 14th year of an important Newport tradition Mr. and Mrs. Peter D. Kiernan III possible. Mr. and Mrs. William Leatherman Thank you to Diana Bittel who rallied the exhibitors for The Honorable Juliette C. McLennan the online show and who always supports us. Mr. Douglas L. Newhouse and Dr. Holly M. Bannister And thank you to the person whom we owe all of this, Mrs. Frederick H. Prince Mrs. S. Matthews V. Hamilton, Jr. — without her, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Purviance there would be no Newport Show! Jerry and Lorna Shafir Luise Strauss Mr. and Mrs. Archbold D. van Beuren PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: Diana Bittel of Diana H. Bittel Antiques Ms. Barbara van Beuren and Mr. Stephen L. Glascock A screenshot of the online dealer’s hall Bob Haneberg of The Hanebergs Antiques Mrs. John A. van Beuren Lori Thompson Finke and Mark Finke of Arlie Sulka of Lillian Nassau, LLC Ms. Diane B. Wilsey Jayne Thompson Antiques James Butterworth of Antique American Wicker Jasmine Doussiere of Silver Art by D & R page 4 v newport historical society fall 2020 newsletter v page 5 W Recent Acquisitions W in memoriam pAinting of Arion Affold DAVID B. FORD m s Ates hArles And David B. Ford passed away on September 20, o c 2020. Among David’s many community roBert chArles connections, he was an inaugural member of the Gift of Mr. and Mrs. S. Matthews V. Hamilton Jr. Newport Historical Society’s Leadership Council, The Newport Historical Society recently received a and a supporter of The Newport Show every donation of a portrait of Marion Saffold Oates Charles year of its operation, including 2020. (1919-2018) and her husband Robert Charles (1913- David supported the NHS in many ways — 2000). The portrait depicts Oatsie and Robert sitting in including participating in the original planning their parlor circa 1980. to revitalize this organization over 13 year ago. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Oatsie was the Property granddaughter of William C.