Report of the Administrator

6

JANUARY 6, 1975

THE OPEN HOUSE at the Hadwen-Satler Memorial was a great success due to the work of Chairman Phoebe Swain and her committee. Even Mr. Hadwen's portrait sparkled as he must have at similar Christmas parties held there during his lifetime. Over 350 people attended.

Lectures at the Peter Foulger Museum by Mr. Stackpole and one by Mrs. Barbara Johnson have also been a tremendous success. One in August was so well attended that we had to turn away over 100 people. Mr. Stackpole has also done an excellent job with walking tours and lectures to delegations from the Bermuda Bureau of Tourism, the Japanese Broadcasting Co., the Schenectady Historical Society, Moses Brown, Wheeler, and other schools, as well as assisting a sizable number of people doing research in the Peter Foulger Museum Research Library, plus answering no end of written and telephone inquiries for information on Nantucket history and genealogy. Mrs. Hussey has been of great assistance in this during the summer months.

We again ground corn, whenever a favorable wind, at the Old Mill and were able to turn the top to a new angle. We are working on a plan to solve the difficulties of turning this top but miss the availability of oxen and horses. One of the vanes broke during the summer but, fortunately, it was quickly repaired. The sidewalls have been reshingled with fire-resisting wooden shingles. Hopefully, they will quickly weather to a better color.

The International Marine Manuscript Archives has offered to re-microfilm our log books and valuable marine records with a better and more usable filming. Because of the size of our collection it may take some time to get this done but it will be a great convenience and security.

In conjunction with the Bicentennial Committee we are working on an audio-visual documentary of Nantucket, past and present. This has considerable merit but the details have not as yet been finalized.

Last summer, the Island Tours operated a "shuttle trip" between our buildings pointing out many historic buildings and sites as well as allowing our patrons to spend a short or longer time at each of our exhibits. From our standpoint this was very succssful and we hope they can continue it next year.

The Oldest House, under Mrs. Baird's chairmanship, has had the front roof reshingled with fire resisting wooden shingles and the displays have been cleaned up and improved. The Nantucket

REPORT OF THE ADMINSTRATOR 7

•Garden Club has assured us they will make further plantings around the yard and are interested in restoring the old well. We have had a number of people asking us to take a stand against the proposed Coffin Park which will adjoin this property. Many of us do not like the idea of a park here but also there are a number of our members who believe this is needed and feel that its value to the community will exceed the harm it will do to the area.

Mr. Chace has made a great improvement in the exhibits at the Whaling Museum and his staff, with Mr. Swift doing the "talks," have assisted in interpreting whaling to the tour groups, schools and day to day visitors.

It became necessary for one of our friends to recall a few of the exhibits we have had on loan for some time but we have found replacements. We are tremendously pleased that Mr. and Mrs. Robert Waggaman have given us the very valuable collection of scrimshaw, paintings and various articles which they have loaned us for many years. This is one of the most appreciated gifts in our possession.

On December 29th Vice President Jones presented our recently retired President, Henry B. Coleman, with a memorial plaque in behalf of the Association as an expression of our appreciation for the time and talent Mr. Coleman has served in our behalf while we were under his leadership.

Attendance at all of our buildings started slow this summer but increased to the best ever by the end of the season. This was especially noticeable at the Nathaniel Macy House where Mrs. Baldwin is the chairman. We hope this will continue because it is one of our best exhibits, charming and truly portraying a Nantucket home in the 1700's.

Mrs. Greene, chairman of the Fair Street Museum, was able to have this opened for most of the summer and is busily preparing for a real exhibit here for the Bicentennial. We are looking forward to this with great expectation.

Mrs. Freeman, chairman of the 1800 House, has been able to obtain two mannikins to bring to life the "borning room" and is working on plans to better exhibit the dresses, hats, etc., in the Quaker room display. A few of these are on display at the Old Town Building where Peter MacGlashan has done such a fine job decorating the windows.

We have received back a number of portraits and prints sent away for restoration and with the result that deterioration has been halted. Even though expensive, we must find ways to continue this preservation work.

Leroy H. True