4 minute read
President - Administrator's Report at Annual Meeting
P re si d e n t — A d min istr a to r ' s R e p o rt t o t h e A n n u a l M ee tin g
J u ly 1 8 , 1 9 7 8
AS AN ASSOCIATION, our mission is to collect, preserve, and exhibit memorabilia of Nantucket. To do this effectively, we must also sponsor a research and educational program.
During the past year we have made substantial additions to our collections. A few items were purchased; others, some of very great value, were given to us. I have a tremendous urge to boast about the worth of these but security people insist that we must never mention a price. These accessions were listed in the July issue of Historic Nantucket.
I think we have also done a fair job in preservation. We have held the line against our great enemy — deterioration — in all the buildings, and spent nearly $10,000 in restoration at the Mill. Ten paintings have been restored by Morton Bradley,an expert in this field,and our Curators havel been very diligent in having items cleaned and repaired. Temperature and humidity in the vault is constantly monitored. Perhaps the most important preservation of all is the work being done in the Peter Foulger Library in conjunction with the research there. Protective jackets and acid free folders have been provided. We have not been completely successful in eliminating wood borers in some of the furniture. This will have top priority this year.
All of our Curators are very conscious of the need to do a good job presenting their exhibits to the public. Mr. Chace at the Whaling Museum and Mrs. Macgregor at the 1800 House have been exceptional, and Mrs. Swain, Mrs. Baldwin, Mr. Egan, Mrs. Baird, Mr. Stackpole, Mr. Gilbert, and Mr. Richmond have donated no end of time and talent to improving their exhibits. I hope you all have inspected the results. If not please do so soon.
We deeply regret the resignation of Miss Gardner as Registrar. She has been one of our most conscientious workers over a number of years.
The Garden Club have rebuilt and are caring for the attractive garden behind the Hadwen House-Satler Memorial. They are working on plans to make this even more beautiful. Other friends have arranged and cared for the lovely garden behind the Macy House and Mrs. Macgregor has set out a most interesting herb garden at the 1800 House.
We have accepted the responsibility of furnishing the International Marine Archives with quarters at the Old Town Building that they may continue to accumulate and make available their large microfilm library of marine logs, manuscripts and journals. We have sponsored 3 out-
8 HISTORIC NANTUCKET standing art exhibits at the Fair Street Museum.
We have had a professional Archivist working with our material at the Peter Foulger Library through a matching grant from the National Endowment for Humanities and an Archaeologist through another such grant through the Massachusetts Historical Commission correlating information about past "digs" and archaeological discoveries. Some items date back several thousand years. Other research and education projects are being worked on by CETA employees. The Preservation Institute and several individuals have turned over results of their research to be added to our collection.
Mr. Stackpole again conducted classes in Nantucket history. He has written articles, done a TV series and made speeches to civic groups here and off island. Nantucket school classes are admitted free to our museums and these "field trips" seem to have educational importance, depending greatly upon the interest of the teacher. Renny Stackpole is working on a program for teaching Nantucket history in the schools. If he is able to implement this, well and good, but if not we must again make an effort to have it done.
As you can see I have only touched lightly on a year of hard work by many devoted people. The officer, curators, hosts and others are what makes the Historical Association. Almost without exception their accomplishments are great and we arc most appreciative of what they have done and are doing.
Leroy H. True
Treasurer's Report
Balance Sheet as of May 31, 1978
ASSETS
Cash on hand & demand deposits $12,016
Savings Accounts 44,422
Pledge Receivable 1,500
Investments 273,355
Physical Plant 1,202,969 $1,534,262
LIABILITIES
Taxes Payable 421
Unrestricted fund balance 1,505,003
Restricted fund balance 28,838 1,534,262
INCOME
Admissions
Dues
Donations
Plaques
Merchandise sales
Interest & dividends
