Historic Cherry Hill
Contents -- October 2006
- Getting the Bugs Out
- Leading the Charge
- Frisbee Center Notes
- Looking Ahead Towards New Leaders
- Picking Up The Pace
- Get in Shape for the Holidays!
- History in the Technological Age
Getting the Bugs Out
Historic Cherry Hill is one of only nine institutions nationwide to receive a prestigious grant under the "21st Century Museum Professionals" program at the Institute of Museum & Library Services, a federal agency.
Cherry Hill, in partnership with the Upstate History Alliance (UHA), will share knowledge and expertise with small history museums and historic sites in the region to help them protect and preserve their collections. The museum will present a series of six workshops on techniques and procedures that can be used to protect valuable and fragile collection objects from damage caused by insects and other vermin. Special emphasis will be placed on procedures that are feasible for small institutions. UHA, a regional museum service agency, will assist with promoting the workshops.
The project is an outgrowth of another project funded by IMLS, an infestation abatement project focusing on the site's extensive textile collection. Working with
Edward Frisbee Center for
Collections & Research
Conservator Gwen Spicer and Conservation Assistant Abby Zoldowski, Cherry Hill Curator Erin Crissman surveyed, froze, vacuumed and rehoused more than 4,000 textiles, representing about half of the overall textile collection. The project was integral to the larger effort to relocate the museum's diverse and vast collections from the 1787 historic structure into the state-of-the-art Edward Frisbee Center for Collections & Research. Notes Crissman, "The ultimate goal is to provide outstanding care for, and access to the site's unique and nationally significant collections. "
"The 21st Century Museum Professionals program promotes leadership at our nation's museums and ensures excellence in the services that benefit the American people," said Dr. Anne-Imelde M. Radice, Director of IMLS.
IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to grow and sustain a "Nation of Learners" because lifelong learning is essential to a democratic society and individual success. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in families and communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first century skills, and increase civic participation.
[contents]Leading the Charge
With 32 years of service to Historic Cherry Hill between them, Denise Carnell and Michael Beiter are ideal choices to serve as co-chairs of the museum's first formal Annual Fund.
Annual Fund Co-Chairs
Mike Beiter & Denise Carnell
Denise first joined the ranks as a volunteer guide in 1990, joining the staff in 1992 as Volunteer Coordinator. When she and husband Andrew moved to Sanibel Island in 2001, Denise had to step down from her paid position, but rejoined the volunteer corps. Denise was drawn to HCH by a lifelong love of history and antiques, furthered by living in an 1850s Greek Revival house and her work with New York State historic sites. She later learned that her mother-in-law and Emily Rankin were both members of the Fort Orange Garden Club.
Denise's skills and interests go well beyond Cherry Hill. She graduated from Vassar College, and worked for many years at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. She has volunteered as a tutor for Literacy Volunteers of America and the former Bryn Mawr bookstore, but the volunteer position that probably rivals her devotion to Cherry Hill is as a singer at Glimmerglass Opera, where she has sung soprano in the chorus for 27 years.
Notes Denise, "Cherry Hill is like a petri dish of the American experience - a mini saga of the history of our country".
Mike Beiter was initially drawn to Cherry Hill for the gardens. He had "outgrown" his own yard and found the museum's five acres and beautiful garden created by master gardener Hazel Van Aernam extremely tempting. Within two years, he was asked to join the museum's Advisory Board, and from there moved up to the full Board. Mike served as President when the museum finished the campaign for the Edward Frisbee Center for Collections & Research, and presided at the opening ceremony. For many years, he has been instrumental in planning the Albany History Fair, and was responsible for conceiving the museum's popular "non event" and "imaginary" fund raising appeals.
Mike serves as a Fiscal Analyst in the New York State Comptroller's office, and he often coordinates groups of volunteers there to take on an array of community projects. He grew up near Buffalo in Lockport, and graduated from St. John Fisher College. Since volunteering in the gardens at Cherry Hill, Mike has moved to a home with far more spacious grounds, where he, partner David Getman and dog George maintain spectacular gardens, often hosting social events for Cherry Hill and other organizations.
Mike says of the museum: "I find it reassuring that Cherry Hill, once the home to multiple generations of a family, continues to operate as a family - a family of staff, volunteers, board members and community committed to preserving this incredible local institution."
Members and friends of Cherry Hill will be hearing from Mike and Denise in the coming weeks as they launch the 2006 Annual Fund drive. The goal for this year's campaign is to raise $25,000 - revenue that is critical to Cherry Hill's annual operating budget. Mike and Denise expect to have exciting news to share in January!
[contents]Frisbee Center Notes
Research Notables
Historic Cherry Hill's impressive collection of Van Rensselaer-Rankin family manuscript material is gaining new attention from historical scholars. Several large projects are underway that rely either extensively or partially on HCH's manuscript collection. First, Alan Taylor, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of William Cooper's Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early American Republic (1995 Alfred A. Knopf), has been to visit several times in recent months. His next book will focus on relationships between enlisted men and officers during the War of 1812; HCH's collection of papers relating to Solomon and Stephen Van Rensselaers' participation at the battle of Queenstown Heights has been useful to him so far. Taylor's previous work looks critically at social class in the early republic, often from the perspective of "other-than-elite." Overall, his scholarship meshes well with HCH's mission to explore how the Van Rensselaer-Rankin family reacted to change in their lives. Cherry Hill can certainly benefit from any new scholarship from a renowned author who has such a fresh perspective on early American history. HCH hopes to maintain an ongoing relationship with him during his research and writing process. Taylor teaches at the University of California at Davis.
Clearly a fan of New York State history, Taylor is also advising a UC Davis doctoral student-Elizabeth Covart-on her dissertation. Covart plans to explore the relationships between the Dutch population in Albany and the Yankee populations of New England. Again, HCH's collection was a must-see for her research. Originally from New Hampshire, Covart may relocate to the Albany area to begin work in earnest on her project. More on her work as it progresses.
Jane Ladouceur has also been working on a dissertation using Cherry Hill's manuscript collection. Jane's history with Cherry Hill is a long one - she began as a volunteer museum teacher in 1995. Currently a professor of History at the College of St. Rose, Ladouceur is working on a doctorate in that field from the University at Albany. Her project will focus on Catherine Van Rensselaer Bonney (1817-1891). Bonney was the youngest child of Solomon and Arriet Van Rensselaer and is perhaps one of the most active, and arguably most independent, women in the family - her accomplishments include such things as traveling throughout the United States with her father, teaching at a girls' school in Ohio, traveling to China twice as a missionary, and writing the two-volume family history A Legacy of Historical Gleanings in 1876. Ladouceur feels that Catherine Bonney and her relationship with her sisters will provide a window into how elite 19th century women with fluctuating economic and social power negotiated the life choices available to them in a rapidly changing society. Specifically, how did these women manage their lives when many of the values they grew up with were no longer socially important?
All of these projects are important to Cherry Hill's mission of further exploring this family's relationship to change in their lives and aid in making our collections accessible to wider audiences.
Resources
Advisory Board member and Cherry Hill family descendant David Joslin has generously donated a copy of Family Tree Maker (a genealogy computer program) to the Edward Frisbee Center for Collections & Research. Cherry Hill staff will now be able to add to Joslin's work on the Livingston/Gould branch of the family by inputting further information about the Van Rensselaer-Rankin family and other tangential relations. The program should help immensely with genealogical research requests, and help staff sort out all of the Harriets and Kilians!
The University of Michigan has developed an online collection of digitized publications, called "Making of America Books". Third-generation family member Catherine Bonney's Legacy of Historical Gleanings (1876) is included, and can be reached by the following link: http://www.hti.umich.edu/m/moa. The two-volume family history can be read online and has a wonderful search feature. Curator Erin Crissman finds this a particularly useful tool, since she describes Bonney's own index as "decidedly unhelpful."
[contents]Looking Ahead Towards New Leaders
Historic Cherry Hill's Governance Committee, comprised of Board President Kathy Quandt, Alane Hohenberg, and Board members Tony Opalka and Mike Beiter, have been working over the summer to achieve several objectives relating to Board development and recruitment. The committee has established a goal to expand the Board to 15 by summer 2008, and has begun to identify key prospects. Guided by consultant Ann McGuiness, the group has developed a profile for desired new members: "Highly regarded leaders who have respect, passion, and enthusiasm for HCH and its mission. Board members must be willing to spread their enthusiasm for Cherry Hill outward to the broader community, and help the museum establish connections to a philanthropic circle of friends and associates." Other work will include revising the Board job description, improving new Board member orientation, and developing best practices for vetting and interviewing potential members to the Board.
The committee encourages individuals to submit nominations that reflect the desired profile.
[contents]Picking Up The Pace
Historic Cherry Hill has been awarded a 2006 Get Set! grant of $2,500 to continue its critical work with non-profit fund raising specialist Ann McGuiness. With the grant funds and additional monies donated by Cherry Hill Board members and close museum associates, the museum will implement McGuiness' recommendations following her development audit last spring. Current work includes development of a Case for Support and other elements essential to capital campaign planning, establishing a formal Annual Fund with co-chairs Denise Carnell and Mike Beiter, and establishing a Bequest Society with chair Priscilla Frisbee. The grant, from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), is administered by the Upstate History Alliance.
McGuiness received her masters in Public Administration from Columbia University. A Certified Fund Raising Executive, she is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and a former member of the Board of Directors of Women in Development of Northeast New York. She has served as a consultant to a broad range of organizations including the Interfaith Aliance, the National Partnership for Women and Families, and the Pacific Council for International Policy. She has served as Development Director for several national organizations including NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Women's Political Caucus and Families USA. She has also taught graduate level classes in "Fund Development" for the College of St. Rose.
HCH has been fortunate in receiving several Get Set! grants in recent years to work with a roster of outstanding consultants to achieve its unique mission, and Board, staff and volunteers are eager to continue their work with McGuiness in the coming months.
[contents]Get in Shape for the Holidays!
Volunteer Coordinator Linda Dunkerley is organizing work crews to help with the raking of the Cherry Hill grounds on two dates: Saturday, October 14 and Saturday, October 21. Crews will work from 9 a.m. through 12:30 p.m., and refreshments will be provided. If you're able to come on either date, for all or part of the scheduled times, please email: linda@historiccherryhill.org.
[contents]History in the Technological Age
Friends of Cherry Hill are invited to share their email addresses so that the museum can provide timely information on upcoming events and news. If you'd like to be included in such email notifications, contact: lauren@historiccherryhill.org.
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The Rankin family plot at the Albany Rural Cemetery was featured during
a recent tour as part of the Albany Heritage Area Vistitors Center's
"Tours of Albany" series.
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