President's and Administrator's Report

7

P r esi d e n t 's — A d m in istr a to r 's R e p o rt

OLD BUILDINGS NEED constant repair, old portraits need periodic restoration, old records need special protection. That is the story of our greatest responsibility and our constant problem. We have been able to continue, even accelerate our preservation program with major repairs to the buildings, restoration of a number of oils, and prints, and do some furniture repairs, but whenever one sees the word "old" before anything, be assured it will need care tomorrow.

Besides great improvements in our property we have made strides in our educational program. A hundred or more students did research in the Peter Foulger Library. This was especially appreciated by classes from the University of Mass. who used it most of the winter. We provided articles for the paper, lectures, taught 40 mini-course classes in the High School, programs for Channel 3, and acquired some excellent tape interviews with older citizens. We continued to publish the quarterly "Historic Nantucket", provided no end of information in answer to inquiries from all over the country, several people are using prints from our pictorial collection for their publications, and we published "Nantucket During the American Revolution" by Edouard A. Stackpole.

The archaeology program again conducted digs at the Oldest House and at Quidnet and we have reason to believe that the latter may have made an important discovery. We arranged for the Garden Club to beautify the Hadwen House-Satler Memorial grounds and we cleaned up the Abiah Folger Franklin and Forefather's Burial Ground sites. We assisted in the Bicentennial celebrations in town and in Siasconset.

After long negotiations and problems we have the famous Lightship Nantucket in its permanent berth at Straight Wharf and nearly ready to open as a museum. Plans are progressing to have seamanship classes for young people aboard this ship.

We are very proud of the exhibit "18th Century Nantucket" put on at the Fair Street Museum this summer, acclaimed by lay and experts as an outstanding presentation. A catalog of the exhibit was printed by the Association and in connection with it, the excellent research book "The Mystery of John Jackson" (18th century silversmith) by Mrs. Jean Merriman was published and given to us.

8 HISTORIC NANTUCKET

A new Building Survey program was originated and we have researched and issued 176 plaques to Nantucket houses built before 1812. A few more will soon be added.

Our Association has been greatly improved and expanded through the efforts of a devoted staff and many dedicated volunteers contributing both time and money. We are most grateful to them all for their constant efforts to make this Association a potent influence in the community.

There is a great need for more help to give care to beautiful old furniture, to assist as guides and to do research. Skill and training are helpful but anyone can do any of these with persistence and care. Most people enjoy it. Plus the need for volunteers we often need replacements in our paid staff and welcome applications.

Membership is our life blood. Fortunately, it has increased each year but we must not be complacent. Please urge your friends to join. Working together we can make a good Association even better.

Leroy H. True.