Maria Mitchell Association Annual Report by Novation Media

Maria Mitchell Association Annual Report 2011

4 Vestal Street. Nantucket, MA, 02554 508.228.9198 www.mmo.org

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association is promotion of the legacy of Maria Mitchell and exploration, education and enjoyment of Nantucket’s land, waters and skies beyond. In fulfilling our mission we recognize the historic persona of Maria Mitchell, the foremost American woman scientist and educator of the 19th century, and her potential impact on contemporary thought by passing on her legacy of intellectual curiosity, respect for and love of nature, learning by doing, and the ideal of individualism. Maria Mitchell’s contributions to astronomy, science, and education are the basis for our continuing tradition of high quality research and teaching which inspires today’s learners and tomorrow’s scientists. The NMMA provides scientific resources and educational programs for the community, uses Nantucket Island as an exceptional natural laboratory in which to study science and the environment, and maintains research and/or representative collections of Nantucket’s biodiversity. We strive to delight our members, supporters, and visitors by providing high quality programs, services, and facilities. We strive to ensure our financial viability and the preservation of our buildings and important collections so that current and future generations can share in this legacy. We strive to collaborate with other institutions (both on- and off-island) to share relevant organizational assets to accomplish these objectives, obtain cost efficiencies, and reduce our impact on the environment.

Letter from the President Dear Members and Friends: Thank you for your generous gifts to the Maria Mitchell Association that allow us to accomplish all that you will read on the pages that follow. Your support is especially appreciated as we launch the planning for the Nantucket Aquarium and Science Center, Malcolm W. MacNab, M.D., Ph.D. slated for an opening in 2015. (Until then, please President, MMA Board continue to visit our facilities in their present of Managers locations.) MMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family-focused programming delivers activities that allow students of all ages to take something away from the programs and facilities you enjoy. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents and children, aunts and cousins, grandparents and grandchildren, families come in groups to visit the blue lobster at the Aquarium, feed the snakes at the Natural Science Museum, or attend a stargazing night at the Observatory. You may also know that we celebrate the Mitchell Family, not only through the legacy of Maria Mitchell, but also in the way we tell the story about how the Mitchell Family lived and learned in the Mitchell House. And we celebrate those many families who are now into the fourth or fifth generation as members of the Maria Mitchell Association! Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the kind of dedication and loyalty that keep institutions like the MMA strong and growing after 109 years, while retaining the important traditions that make us unique! Finally, I want to acknowledge the family of board, staff, interns, and volunteers who do outstanding work for the Association day in and day out. Thank you to all for your exceptional contributions. Sincerely yours, Malcolm W. MacNab, MD, PhD President, MMA Board of Managers

Letter from the Executive Director To our Members and Friends: The Maria Mitchell Association is an organization focused on the exploration and enjoyment of the natural world of Nantucket. You help us to achieve this focus when you join us on a walk or stargazing night, visit the Aquarium or Mitchell House, and call us with your questions about the insect or bird you’ve just seen in your back yard. We are delighted to be your island resource to satisfy or stoke your curiosity about Nantucket’s natural wonders.

Janet E. Schulte, Ph.D. Executive Director

MMA is also a place where learning happens all-year round. The year just past saw record enrollments in Discovery classes – where we educate a rising generation of naturalists who develop and practice a deep respect for the habitats they explore with our staff and interns. MMA’s college and graduate school interns – numbering as many as 24 in any summer – go on to pursue careers as research scientists, astronomers, museum staff, archivists, and science teachers. Did you know that one in every twenty women who holds the PhD in Astronomy or Astrophysics in the United States participated in the MMA Astronomy Internship program, known as the “Research Experience for Undergraduates” or “REU?” That’s the program that is funded by the National Science Foundation and received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mentoring in 2008. MMA staff visit the local public and private schools to lead hands-on instruction on topics ranging from how a snake moves to building robots to the geological features of Sankaty Head. The semi-annual opening of the Edith F. Andrews Ornithological Collection to our birding friends brings out dozens of people eager to learn more about avian morphology or just to be amazed at the number of Northern Cardinals or Ospreys we have in the collection. We will carry this energy and enthusiasm for learning about Nantucket’s skies, lands, and waters and the creatures that inhabit them when we move to the new Aquarium and Science Center on Washington Street in the not too distant future. Keep visiting our web-site to learn more about our plans. None of these exciting activities and programs would happen without our Galaxy of Support. Thank you to each of you who contribute your time, talent, and treasure to the ongoing operations and future aspirations of the Maria Mitchell Association. Yours truly,

Janet E. Schulte, PhD Executive Director

Explore, Educate, Enjoy: The Annual Report of the Maria Mitchell Association Highlight: The (future) Nantucket Science Center The year 2011 will be remembered at the Maria Mitchell Association as the year in which we assumed responsibility for the Washington Street properties (31 and 33 Washington Street). Planning for its future, we organized a team of MMA staff and board, a surveyor, a hydrologist, and staff from the Nantucket Land Council to prepare an application for the Nantucket Conservation Commission to build a new facility on the site. Staff and board members traveled to two dozen museums and aquaria in ten states and three foreign countries to collect ideas and many photographs of what works well in small science centers. Centerbrook Architects and Planners returned to Nantucket to aid us with initial design work and to present drawings at a preliminary session with the Historic District Commission. As stewards of the site that will become the future Science Center, we addressed immediate needs: building and landscaping maintenance (including a volunteer party to remove 1.5 tons of leggy privet) and finding tenants for three of the buildings. We hosted events in the main building at 33 Washington Street to introduce members, friends, and other island organizations to our evolving plans about what we expect to build on the site. And, we took initial steps to prepare for a fundraising campaign to support the project. The excitement and enthusiasm for the Science Center project is contagious. We hope youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll catch the fever, too, as our plans move forward with an anticipated opening in 2015! Meanwhile, please continue your exploration of Nantucketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural world by visiting the Aquarium, Natural Science Museum, Mitchell House, and Observatories at their present locations on Washington Street, Vestal Street, and Milk Street Extension.

EXPLORE The research and collections management projects of the Maria Mitchell Association All departments maintained an active research agenda in 2011 and continued to work on documenting and improving collections management. Highlights of this impressive body of work by MMA’s staff, interns, members, and volunteers are indicated below. Please visit online or call 508.228.9198 for copies of a department’s 2011 Annual Report to the Executive Director providing details on the research projects, conference presentations, and publications of the departments’ staff. The highlight of the 2011 research program in Astronomy was the demonstration by the REU student Kayla Raymond and Dr. V. Strelnitski that the very first structures (“mini-galaxies” and “mini-quasars”) formed several billion years ago in the expanding universe can be detected by their hydrogen recombination lines in radio domain. This result was reported by Ms. Raymond at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society and by Dr. Strelnitski at the Symposium of the International Astronomical Union in South Africa. It was received with high interest by the astronomical community. The first observational programs aimed at discovering these oldest material structures in the Universe are in preparation. In addition to this theoretical demonstration, the other major research results of the Maria Mitchell Observatory in 2011 were: 1. A demonstration through the use of several new sources of strong (“maser”) emission of water vapor, that the gas in the sites of active star formation is in a state of turbulence that is similar to the atmospheric and laboratory turbulence on earth. This demonstration was in contrast with what had been predicted for the “interstellar supersonic turbulence” (2011 MMO REU student Naomi Alpert supervised by V. Strelnitski). 2. Important new features in the variations of hydrogen emission from close binary stars containing a red dwarf and a white dwarf star were discovered using

Explore, Educate, Enjoy MMO’s new method of photometry with narrowband filters (2011 MMO REU student Caitlin Brecklin supervised by V.Strelnitski and G. Walker; in co-authorship with David Sliski, Leslie Brown, and Barbara Bosworth.) 3. Unusual activity in the optical variability of three active galaxies (“blazars”) was discovered by the 2011 MMO REU student Santina (Michelle) Consiglio, supervised by Gary Walker, Alan Marsher, and Svetlana Jorstad. 4. The earlier suspected anti-correlation between the variations of the continuum radiation and radiation in a hydrogen spectral line in the “star-laser” MWC349 was confirmed and more carefully studied by the 2011 MMO REU student Alex Hillbrand supervised by Vladimir Strelnitski and Gary Walker; in co-authorship with David Sliski and Barbara Bosworth. 5. The chemistry of the circumstellar disk around the “star-laser” MWC349 was studied theoretically for the first time using a sophisticated computer package CLOUDY. Predictions of chemical composition were drawn from these computer simulations, which will be used for observational proposals to discover these species and determine the evolutionary status of this enigmatic object. (2011 MMO REU student Krister Lagergren supervised by Vladimir Strelnitski and a former MMO REU student, currently a University of Chicago graduate student, Alissa Bans.) REU Students presented posters on their 2011 research projects at the Annual Meeting of the American Astronomical Society. During the winter and spring months, Dr. Strelnitski welcomed several volunteers to assist with observations, data reductions, and preparing the glass slide collections for their transport to the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) in North Carolina. PARI is a national repository for astronomical glass slides and offers a state-of-the-art storage facility. MMA’s 8000+ astronomical photographic plates were taken with the 7.5 inch Cooke/Clark telescope between 1913 and 1995. The plates are on permanent loan to the facility where they are more easily accessed by researchers and reside in a better climate for their long-term preservation. A small representative sample of the slides remain in the MMA Archives. Thanks to Gary Walker and Scott Leonard who safely transported the slides through a snowstorm in the North Carolina mountains.

The research activities of the Mitchell House, Archives, and Special Collections focus on the conservation of the Maria Mitchell Birthplace and the papers and library of Maria Mitchell, the Mitchell family, and the Maria Mitchell Association. As the need arises, the Curator also oversees the conservation of other historic properties on the MMA campus. The conservation activities were undertaken with support from the Community Preservation Act, the M.S. Worthington Foundation, and gifts from individuals to support particular projects. A complete listing may be found in the Giving section of this report. The major building conservation projects undertaken in 2011 were: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Painting the sashes on the southern side of the Mitchell House Re-shingling around windows on the western and southern side Restoration of a trellis under part of the 1825 Kitchen Completion of the grain painting conservation in the 1825 Kitchen Cleaning and stabilization of the Mitchell Family stone monuments in Prospect Hill Cemetery Ongoing restoration of the William Mitchell garden Creation of informative garden labels with QR codes for Smartphones by the Mitchell House Curatorial Assistant, Olivia Hull Updating of a 1987 Historic American Buildings Survey on the Hinchman House by Preservation Institute: Nantucket student Ashley Chaffin Conservation of Hinchman House façade through stabilization of the front porch, new fascia board and gutter, and repainting.

Work based on the papers and library of Maria Mitchell, the Mitchell family and the Maria Mitchell Association included: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Research on several smaller artifacts in the MMA collection included study of the 3.5” Alvan Clark in the Maria Mitchell Observatory’s collection. Continued work to clean, stabilize, and re-locate the Special Collection books to the climate-controlled storage space in Drake Cottage. Ongoing effort to arrange and re-house the MMA Institutional Archives Re-housing and recording approximately fifty of the Observatory’s glass plates which were selected to remain at MMA after the collection was sent to PARI. The selected collection includes the first five and last five slides taken by each director of the Observatory during her tenure. More than forty research requests related to Maria Mitchell, her family, and the MMA Archives and Special Collections were made to the Department in 2011.

Explore, Educate, Enjoy The Department of Natural Sciences continues to conduct research and forge collaborations to study the biodiversity of Nantucket’s flora and fauna. A list of collaborators and funding sources is included in the Giving section of this report. The research projects of the Natural Sciences Department in 2011 were: 1.

2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

American burying beetle reintroduction resulting in a presentation at the Northeast Naturalists Conference in Spring 2011 and a report of the project in the 2011 Re-introduction Specialist Group book. To learn more visit: http://www.iucnsscrsg.org/rsg_book.php Purseweb Spiders on Tuckernuck Island including a paper published in the 2011 Journal of Arachnology, volume 39, pp. 171-173. Biodiversity of Harvestmen spiders on Nantucket; poster presentation at the 2011 Nantucket Biodiversity Conference. Population Dynamics and Movements of Nantucket Ospreys. Banded eight chicks in five nests, including the chick of Señor Bones, the Osprey outfitted with a satellite transmitter. Population Survey of the Barn Owls of Nantucket. A total of 51 fledglings and 2 adult Barn Owls were banded in 2011; eight banded birds were recaptured. MMA/Nantucket Shellfish Association Scallop Research Projects included: continued study of the wild populations of Bay Scallops and their distribution, survival and reproduction in Nantucket waters; Histology laboratory at Nantucket High School and the Brant Point Boat House; continued monitoring of spat lines; deployment and monitoring of an artificial settlement structure by Scallop Research Intern, Helen Cheng; and the completion of another round of benthic surveys. Biodiversity inventory of the Marine Fishes and Invertebrates of Nantucket and Madaket with 77 species of vertebrates and 50 species of invertebrates collected. A complete list can be found in the “2011 Annual Report Scientific Collecting Permit No. 146078.” Biodiversity of the Snakes of Nantucket to study the activity periods, habitat use, life history traits, and approximate densities for the snakes of Nantucket. Second season of Bee Inventory and Specimen Processing with the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Nightjar Surveys on Nantucket with 5 Whip-poor-wills heard on 15 June and an incidental report on 7 June. Road Kill Survey of Nantucket to identify areas with high road mortality and to possibly identify important animal travel routes. Dragonflies and Damselfly Inventory located 20 species of dragonflies and 9 species of damselflies. Continuation of Spring Surveys of Horseshoe Crabs on Nantucket. Survey for Tiger Beetles of Nantucket found five species, including one of special concern.

The activity of the Natural Science department generally creates new specimens for MMA’s biological collections. In 2011, 36 new specimens were added to the Edith F. Andrews Ornithological Collection and two open houses were held for interested individuals to view the collection. The Entomology Collection received special attention this year. Beetle, grasshopper and butterfly specimens collected since 2000 were sorted and catalogued by interns Eric LoPresti and Julia Blyth. New labels were put on the specimens.

EDUCATE The educational program and learning resources of the Maria Mitchell Association We welcomed the arrival of Whitney Morris as Education Director in May. The MMA summer Discovery program will never be the same. Her experience with and passion for environmental education led to immediate modifications in the summer 2011 offerings and resulted in the Board’s approval of her proposal to add new adventure and safety features to the Discovery classes. This summer, we had 203 total families participate in the 2011 Discovery Program Classes filling 445 spots, 93% of the total capacity. Twenty-two percent of the students (104) were year-round Nantucket residents. This year, MMA offered a 50% discount for all Discovery Program classes to island residents. New this year, the EGCF, a non-profit organization based out of Southern Connecticut, offered a scholarship program that reduced the cost of each class by 80% of the membership rate. Eleven children participated in this program. The Discovery staff delivered nine private programs including private Discovery Programs, corporate events, and birthday parties. Marketing exposure was enhanced by staffing a table at the Farmer’s Market three times. The interns provided games and activities, as well as MMA information, which proved to be a great opportunity for recruitment to the Discovery Program, as well, as providing exposure for the Museum and Aquarium. We are grateful to our colleague island organizations for their support of the Discovery programs through the resources and expertise they provide to our young students. The Mitchell House Junior Historians classes included two new topics among its offerings: a “Nantucket Girls” class teaching children about Nantucket women and girls in the 18th and 19th century and a class on crafting kaleidoscopes and bubble blowers to teach about optics and popular 19th century children’s toys.

Explore, Educate, Enjoy Mitchell House teamed up with professional conservators to host several historic preservation workshops utilizing the Mitchell House as subject. These workshops included a Behind-the-Scenes tour of Mitchell House focusing on its conservation and its architecture; a demonstration of the historic processes concerning lime mortar – used on the Mitchell House chimney – with island conservation mason, Pen Austin, and a workshop on historic paint analysis utilized in the Mitchell House led by principals of the New York-based Integrated Conservation Resources, Inc. These workshops were co-sponsored with the Nantucket Preservation Trust and Nantucket: Preservation Institute, two long-term collaborators with the Mitchell House and the Maria Mitchell Association. Staff from the Mitchell House, the Nantucket Historical Association, and the Nantucket Preservation Trust created a walking tour focused on four centuries of domestic life on Nantucket by comparing the architecture and lifestyles of those who inhabited the Oldest House, Greater Light – from barn to early 20th century home – Mitchell House, and Hadwen House. The tour, offered during Preservation Month (May), was a great success and plans are underway to continue to offer it. The Naturalist-in-Training (N.I.T.) program, re-designed in 2010, welcomed 35 new participants and 19 returning N.I.T.s. This year, the Nantucket Shellfish Association funded the participation of three N.I.T.s on the scallop research program which allowed them to complete their NIT certifications. Certified NITs become the trained volunteer workforce that assist at the Aquarium and Natural Science Museum and provide support to the summer Discovery Classes. Members and friends also learn about the natural world of Nantucket through bird walks in a collaboration with the Linda Loring Nature Foundation (450 people), insect, spider, and wildflower walks (147) marine ecology walks (896), beach combing walks (42) and Stargazing Nights at the Loines Observatory (963). The delightful weather of the summer of 2011 meant that the MMA’s museums and facilities experienced a drop in attendance from 2010: Aquarium (5806), Natural Science Museum (1573), Mitchell House (765). However, a second afternoon tour nearly doubled attendance at the Vestal Street Observatory (456). This year, a Doctor Fish was the featured creature for the Aquarium’s naming contest. “Stitches” was the winning appellation. The Mitchell House and the Vestal Street Observatory tours were open on weekends through Columbus Day; the Natural Science Museum remained open 10

on Saturdays offering family-focused programs on topics ranging from electricity, to Bone CSI, to snakes. Staff led “Nantucket Ambles” on Sunday afternoons in the off-season with up to 25 people attending. The Astronomy department hosted six public lectures: “Dark Energy and the Accelerating Cosmos” by Dr. Joshua Roth (Lesley College); “Gravitational Wave Echos from the Universe” by Dr. Laura Cadonati (UMASS, Amherst); “Basics of Celestial Navigation” and “The Origin of Time” by Dr. V. Strelnitski, and “Research News from Maria Mitchell Observatory” – a joint lecture by the 2011 MMO REU students. Dr. Jill Tarter, the Bernard M. Oliver Chair for SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and Director of the Center for SETI Research gave a talk to a packed house at the Nantucket Atheneum titled ‘setiQuest’ – Building a Global Community to Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. The quest for learning permeates the work and thinking of all MMA staff members. In response to a suggestion that more scientific education was needed to understand the complexity of coastal erosion and shoreline processes at work on Nantucket, Executive Director, Janet Schulte briefly returned to the role of curriculum designer. She led a collaborative effort with the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, the Nantucket Garden Club, the Nantucket Planning and Economic Development Commission, and ‘Sconset Trust, to offer a workshop on “erosion” in August 2011. Dr. Peter Rosen and Dr. Sue Halsey, both respected coastal geologists, offered a twohour program to a crowd of 150+ interested individuals at the Coffin School. MMA offered field trips and classes to on- and offisland groups. Several classes from the Nantucket Elementary School joined MMA staff to learn about life cycles, habitats, the solar system, and animal adaptations. Off-island schools included Waldorf School of Belmont, New York School of Interior Design, Lesley University, and The Grammar School, Putney, Vermont. These students worked with MMA staff from the different departments to learn about astronomy, the natural sciences, and history. Science education and history programs ranging from live animals to astronomy were also held at the island’s private schools, several pre-schools, the Nantucket Community School, and the Boys and Girls Club. 11

Explore, Educate, Enjoy Mitchell House Curator, Jascin Leonardo Finger, took her show on the road to the Nantucket Elementary School. She taught a unit on Maria Mitchell, the Mitchell Family, and Nantucket life in the 19th century to 130 third graders over several weeks in the spring. Each unit included short talks by Jascin, hands-on work crafting 19th century instruments and mementos, and presentations with artifacts from the Mitchell House. Supported by the Community Foundation of Nantucket, the third-grade unit promises to continue to grow and become a key way that the island’s third graders will learn about Maria Mitchell and her amazingly talented family. The Natural Science Department partnered with the Rotary Club of Nantucket (represented by Annie Mendelesohn) to give native tree saplings to all 5th graders on the island. Rotary funded the project and MMA staff designed the class presentations and facilitated communication with the schools. Students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute lived at the Maria Mitchell Association in Fall 2011 as part of their “Interactive Qualifying” course in their program of study. The students were divided into teams to conduct research projects for different island organizations. One team of students – Aileen Caceres, Christa Coscia, and Christopher Surprenant– conducted a study for MMA and other Island non-profits titled, “Determining the Feasibility of a Shared Collections Storage Facility.” The students interviewed staff from several island organizations to ascertain the storage needs for each organization and to make recommendations for how a collective group might move forward with the development of a shared facility. Citizen Science Projects invite members and friends to become active participants in the MMA’s ongoing research projects. Citizen scientists of all ages joined osprey and barn owl banding trips, the American burying beetle expeditions, and Horseshoe crab surveys. Volunteers also worked in the Observatory to prepare the glass slide plate collection for its transport to PARI and to assist with data reduction and observations. Maris Humphreys volunteers to catalog the Nantucket Biodiversity Library.

ENJOY The special events and relationships we celebrate Throughout the spring, summer and fall, MMA staff held workshops, “Hard Hat” events, and special programs at 33 Washington Street, the future home of the Nantucket Science Center. The aim was to introduce members, friends, partner organizations, and supporters to our plans for the site, to get their feedback, to generate interest, and to enjoy the space. One of the special programs was an Exposition by the Naturalists-in-Training who gave demonstrations of the projects they worked on over the summer including bird-skinning, a poster documenting the biography of Maria Mitchell, and data from the scallop research project. More than 1000 people visited the facility through one of these opportunities or when the space was loaned to other organizations as a meeting place, party spot, or exhibit space. Groups as diverse as the Hamilton College alumni association, the Nantucket Land Council, and Habitat for Humanity took advantage of the opportunity to use the space. At each session, MMA staff gave brief presentations about the facility and aspirations for the future. Three hundred and sixty people braved the fearful “Haunted House” that MMA staff built in the facility to celebrate Halloween. At least three hundred of them made it all the way through the scary walk. Birding Events Our sixth annual off-island spring birding experience was held in Central Park in May 2011. Paul Sweet, Ornithology Collections Manager at the Museum of Natural History led the small but enthusiastic group through the Park on a beautiful spring morning. A week later, birders on Nantucket identified 113 species of birds as part of the annual Birdathon. The 2011 Annual Meeting was held at 33 Washington Street site on June 17th. Andrew Mckenna-Foster, Director of Natural Sciences Education and Programs, delivered an engaging talk on the American burying beetle research project. Reports from the President, Treasurer, Chair of the Nominating Committee and Executive Director were also given. An Evening with the Stars, MMA’s annual fundraising gala was held on Sunday, July 10th at Sankaty Head Golf Club. Nat Philbrick served as the honorary chair of the event. His gracious remarks reminded all about the deep affection our 13

Explore, Educate, Enjoy members, friends, and supporters have for MMA and all it has offered the island. He expressed his enthusiasm for the Association’s future plans and the great promise those plans hold for the inquiring minds that will explore and enjoy it. A special thank you to the Gala Committee who makes sure the event is top drawer and to the many Gala Sponsors whose financial support makes the Gala such a celebratory and outstanding event. The evening featured a silent auction with items ranging from cocktail cruises to signed baseballs to private star parties. More than 200 people attended the Gala with raised funds to support MMA’s research, education, and public outreach efforts. The Mitchell Housed opened the 1825 Kitchen to Nantucket Preservation Trust’s annual Summer Kitchen Tour in July 2011. 452 People in the 1825 Kitchen in 6 Hours! While lacking a Viking Stove or even running water, the Mitchell House kitchen was a big hit as people compared modern kitchens to one of 1825. MMA’s partnership with NPT now includes admission to the Mitchell House as a benefit of NPT membership. NPT holds the conservation easement to the Mitchell House and has been key in helping to showcase the Mitchell House to its members. Maria Mitchell’s Birthday Celebration: August 1st The annual celebration of Maria Mitchell’s birthday included games and activities led by the Environmental Education interns, an appearance by the Martian Cat and skits by the Astronomy REU interns, free tours of the Mitchell House, Observatory and the Natural Science Museum, a small touch tank from the Aquarium, the annual exhibit of Maria Mitchell’s Gold Medal, and a special pilgrimage by the summer staff to Maria’s gravesite following the day’s festivities. Sconset Walks featuring the neighborhood’s birds, wildflower, and geology led by Andrew Mckenna-Foster for members of the ’Sconset Trust continued into their fifth season. The Maria Mitchell Association received a 2011 Clean Harbor Award from Nantucket Community Sailing for our work to promote better scientific understanding of Nantucket’s waters through water quality research, shellfish and Osprey population studies, and classes promoting environmental practices. The award was presented at the prize ceremony during Nantucket Race Week in August. MMA has expanded its technological touch to its members and friends through an improved presence on the website and through Facebook and Twitter. Facebook friends received regular status updates about the goings on, activities, and 14

programs at MMA; Twitter followers can get up to the minute bird sightings or other discoveries; and the blog, “Maria’s Attic” features behind-the-scenes information about the Mitchell House, Archives and Special Collections. In addition, you can now find historic photographs of the Mitchell family on the MMA’s website as well as a short biography of Maria Mitchell with “pop-ups” of photographs and information of the period in which Maria Mitchell lived. MMA provided a touch tank for the Nantucket Maritime Festival sponsored by ReMain Nantucket and Egan Maritime Institute in September. In December 2011, Executive Director Janet Schulte delivered a powerpoint presentation at the NHA’s weekly Brown Bag Lunch Series on the “History and Vision of the Nantucket Science Center.” The annual winter holiday reception held each December was a joyful event attended by 48 of our fabulous volunteers. Little known to our members and friends, one of the job responsibilities for each MMA staff member is to volunteer in the community. MMA staff offer their time and talents to a variety of island organizations including The Lighthouse School, The Montessori Children’s House, Habitat for Humanity, One Book One Island, the Nantucket Public Schools, Prescribed Fire Crew, Autism Speaks, Historic Structures Advisory Board, Credit for Life Fair, and the Clean Team.

Explore, Educate, Enjoy In Memoriam: M. Jane Stroup On November 4th, the MMA lost a dear friend. M. Jane Stroup, Ph.D., known to all as Jane, was the MMA’s first year-round librarian, her tenure running from 1970 through the spring of 1994. Jane was known for her quick wit, her fantastic annual reports presented to the membership in verse, and for being the year-round presence of the MMA for so many years – the Library lights were the only ones on Vestal Street in the MMA complex of buildings. Jane was a lover of the natural world – from birds to wildflowers – capturing these in her sculpture and her poetry. She was a member of the Nantucket Artists Association. An English and Biology major in college, Jane went on to earn her Master’s Degree and then her Ph.D. at New York University. She moved to Nantucket in 1968 and would later also become well-known for the wonderful garden and greenhouse she shared on Candle House Lane with Joan Manley. She was a woman of many talents, gracing all with her humor, love, and incredible knowledge and intelligence. In 1987, Jane was thanked by the MMA’s president Jane Merrill for her long service to the MMA. In her public thank you, President Merrill said “Although many science libraries have bigger collections than the Maria Mitchell Science Center, none is more friendly, better organized, or better cared for . . . The user is assured of a warm welcome . . . ” Jane will be greatly missed.

Our Galaxy of Support Thank you for your generosity! Your gifts to the Annual Appeal, an Evening with the Stars Gala, membership, and special campaigns and gifts allow MMA to continue a legacy of exploration, education, and research. We are especially grateful to the members of the Maria Mitchell Circle who provide leadership support in their annual giving. Membership in the Maria Mitchell Association brings you into the heart of MMA’s activities and programs to explore and learn about the unique and special marine, terrestrial, and celestial “habitats” of Nantucket. Annual Members provide important unrestricted gifts to support our programs. The benefits enjoyed by our members include: discounts on classes, programs and workshops; invitations to join our citizen science research activities; free admission to the Natural Science Museum, the Aquarium, the Mitchell House, Vestal Street Observatory tours, and Stargazing Nights at Loines Observatory; a 10% discount in the museum shops; and a subscription to the E-comet newsletter. For a complete list of 2011 members, please contact the MMA at (508) 228-9198. There are many ways to give to MMA. Please consider the MMA in your estate plans with a bequest, a gift of stock, mutual funds, securities, IRAs, or other retirement plans; or with a gift of cash, a gift in-kind, or a matching gift from your business/employer. You may choose to support a specific program or department or give an unrestricted gift which can be directed to where it is most 18

needed. We are happy to discuss the options with you. Please contact us at (508) 228-9198. We strive for accuracy in this list. If your name has been omitted or listed incorrectly, please let us know at (508) 228-9198 ANNUAL APPEAL $25,000 Caren Lambert & Charlie Ryan $10,000 Mr. & Mrs. Amos Hostetter The Kenneth & Hazel Roe Foundation $5,000 Cox Foundation, Inc. The H.L. Brown JR Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. John Weatherley $2,500-$4,999 Mr. & Mrs. Pierre Nicolas Uberto Crosby Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Cross Mr. H. Crowell Freeman Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lawler Mr. & Mrs. Richard Menschel Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. Seiger $1,000-$2,499 Mr. Ward C. Belcher Mr. & Mrs. Harrington Bischof Ruth & Robi Blumenstein Mr. & Mrs. J Stewart Bryan Choate Hall & Stewart LLP Mr. & Mrs. John L. Daniels Ms. Susan Deutsch Mr. & Mrs. David Dillard Mr. & Mrs. James Duffy Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Geschke Mrs. Paul Gibian Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Glasser Judy Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Terry Lenzner Mr. & Mrs. Jack Leonardo

Mr. & Mrs. Ken Logan Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm MacNab Marie C. & Joseph C. Wilson Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Marlin Miller Mr. & Mrs. Greg Morzano Mr. & Mrs. Carl M. Mueller Mr. & Mrs. Scott Nathan Josh Posner & Ms. Eileen Rudden Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Singer Mr. & Mrs. Ned Symes Mr. & Mrs. William C. Wallace $500-$999 Arsenault Gallery Mr. & Mrs. Philip D. Bartlett Mr. & Mrs. Jay Bowditch Mr.& Mrs. David Cheek Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Cooney Peggy Gilfoy Dr. Julie Kaufman Dr. & Mrs. R. Fredric Knauft Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Larsen Ms. Joan H. Manley Mr. & Mrs. G. Nicholas Miller Ms. Margaret Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Nathaniel Philbrick Dr. Douglas Horst & Ms. Maureen Phillips Mr. & Mrs. Robert Schwed Mr. & Mrs. Gregg Seibert $250-$499 Ms. Clara Bingham Ms. Joan R. Bolling Mr. & Mrs. William S. Brenizer Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Brown Eugene & Carol Atkinson Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. John Falk Mr. & Mrs. Sam Flax Mr. & Mrs. Randy Gretz The Hon. & Mrs. Ray Grubbs Mrs. Dorothy K. Hesselman Judith F. Lee & Robert Schwarzenbach Madaket Marine Mrs. Barbara H. Malcolm Ms. Betty Ann Morris Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Newhouse Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Al Novissimo Mr. & Mrs. E. Prather Palmer Mr. & Mrs. Harry T. Rein Ms. Janet E. Schulte Mr. & Mrs. James M. Stewart Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey Verney $100-$249 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Aguiar Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Anathan Mr. & Mrs. Norman J. Asher Mr. & Mrs. John Bartlett Mr. & Mrs. Eric Baurmeister Ms. Maureen V. Beck Ms. Bonnie Buratti Ms. Martha Carr Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Constable Ms. Amanda Cross Dr. Elizabeth A. Daniels Ms. Judy Deutsch Mr. & Mrs. George A. Fowlkes Mr. & Mrs. Jay Fraser Mr. & Mrs. Herb Frerichs Ms. Fay Gambee Dr. Henry Gewirtz Ms. Fifi Greenberg Ms. Toby Ann Greenberg Mr. & Mrs. James Grieves Laura Simon & James Gross Ms. Ellen Harde Mr. Charles C. Harwood Mr. & Mrs. William H. Hays III Mr. & Mrs. David Horst Ms. Judith T. Karpen Ms. Betty P. Kenan Mr. & Mrs. Eric Kraeutler Mr. & Mrs. John G. Lathrop Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Deane Leonard Mr. & Mrs. Larry Levine Mr. & Mrs. William Lothian Mr. & Mrs. James Lowe Mr. & Mrs. David Manley Mrs. Mary Lou McGuire Mr. & Mrs. Eugene G. McGuire Mr. & Mrs. William C. Miller IV Mr. Stephen Mirick 19

Our Galaxy of Support Dr. & Mrs. Robert W. Noyes Mr. & Mrs. Henry Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill Ms. Nannette Orr Mr. Richard Peisch Mr. Robert S. Perkin Mr. & Mrs. H. Flint Ranney Richard Brooks Insurance Agency Mr. & Mrs. Kermit Roosevelt Mr. Roger Roux Mr. Errol Rudman Ms. Dorothy Savarese Ms. Alexandra Stepanian Mr. & Mrs. Harris Stone Landey Strongin Mr. & Mrs. Derek E. Till Mr. Michael L. Trimpi Mr. & Mrs. Donald Trott Mr. & Mrs. John Wagley Mr. & Mrs. William Waller Ms. Suellen Ward Warren and Susan Stern Family Fund Mr. & Mrs. John W. Webster Mr.& Mrs. Clark Whitcomb Mr. & Mrs. W. Lee Wiley Mrs. Mary-Elizabeth Young Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Zschau Up to $100 ($99 or less) Ms. Mary C. Avery Ms. Joan Badie Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Blackshaw Mr. & Mrs. Richard Brauman Ms. Amy Brill Mr. & Mrs. Richard Brimer Dr. & Mrs. George Butterworth Ms. Martha Stahr Carpenter Mr. Hill Carter Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Erik Caspersen Mrs. Lilma Cook Jascin Leonardo & Eric Finger Mr. & Mrs. Jeramiah Ford III Julia Waggener & Richard Foster Ms. Marcia Fowle Mrs. William Grieder Mr. & Mrs. Garth Grimmer Mr. & Mrs. David Hargrave 20

Mr. & Mrs. William Hill Ms. Eleanor Jones Mr. & Mrs. Lee Lloyd Mr. & Mrs. Warren Lyman Mr. & Mrs. John Miller Mr. & Mrs. Judson Potter Dr. Joanna Rankin Mr. & Mrs. J. West Riggs Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Rothman Mr. & Mrs. Mort Schlesinger Lars & Nancy Soderberg Mr. & Mrs. Vladimir Strelnitski Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Sziklas Mrs. Anne Troxell Mrs. Roger C. Ward Ms. Barbara Wareck Joel & Judith Weinstein Mr. & Mrs. Stephen A. Wise MARIA MITCHELL CIRCLE The Maria Mitchell Circle recognizes individuals who make unrestricted gifts to the Annual Appeal or Membership totaling $1,000 or more. Mr. Ward C Belcher Mr. & Mrs. Harrington Bischof Mr. & Mrs. Robi Blumenstein Mr. & Mrs. J Stewart Bryan Choate Hall & Stewart LLP Community Foundation for Nantucket Cox Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Pierre Nicolas Uberto Crosby Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Cross Mr. & Mrs. John L. Daniels Ms. Susan Deutsch Mr. & Mrs. David Dillard Mr. & Mrs. James Duffy Falconwood Foundation, Inc. Mr. H. Crowell Freeman Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Geschke Mrs. Paul Gibian Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Glasser Mr. & Mrs. Amos Hostetter Judy Family Foundation Ms. Helen Kurtz

Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lawler Mr. & Mrs. Terry Lenzner Mr. & Mrs. Jack Leonardo Mr.& Mrs. Ken Logan Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm MacNab Marie C. & Joseph C. Wilson Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Martin McKerrow Mr. & Mrs. Richard Menschel Mr. & Mrs. Marlin Miller Mr.& Mrs. Greg Morzano Mr. & Mrs. Carl M. Mueller Mr.& Mrs. Scott Nathan Mr. & Mrs. Nick Nicholas Ms. Margaret Reynolds Mr. Josh Posner & Ms. Eileen Rudden Mr. Jonathan Molot & Ms. Hattie Ruttenberg Caren Lambert & Charlie Ryan Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. Seiger Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Singer Joan Manley & M. Jane Stroup Mr. & Mrs. Ned Symes The H.L. Brown JR Family Foundation The Kenneth & Hazel Roe Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Helmut Weymar The Gilbert Verney Foundation Mr. & Mrs. William C. Wallace Mr. & Mrs. John Weatherley GALA SPONSORS 2011 Corona Borelis — $15,000+ Dr. Mary A. Poor Cygnus — $10,000 Caren Lambert & Charlie Ryan Ursa Major—$5,000 Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Martin McKerrow Ursa Minor— $2,500 Mr. & Mrs. Howard Blitman Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Cross Mr. & Mrs. David Dillard Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Geschke Mrs. Paul Gibian

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Greig III Judith F. Lee & Robert Schwarzenbach Mr. & Mrs. Michael Nelson Mr. & Mrs. Nathaniel Philbrick Cassiopeia— $1,000 Ms. Susan Baer Mr. & Mrs. John Belash Mr. & Mrs. William Birch Mr. & Dr. Bernard Brennan V Cape Cod Five Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Douglass Ellis Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Hale Mr. & Mrs. Peter Howell Ms. Helen Kurtz Mr. & Mrs. Peter Manus Neuberger & Berman, LLC Fund Mr.& Mrs. James Nolen Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Roman Josh Posner & Ms. Eileen Rudden Mr. & Mrs. Joseph R. Seiger Mr. & Mrs. Ned Symes Mr. & Mrs. William C. Wallace Aquila — $500 Mr. Ward C Belcher Mr. & Mrs. David Cheek Mr. & Mrs. John L. Daniels Ms. Susan Deutsch Mr. & Mrs. Daniel W. Drake Dr. Ronnie Elwell Mr. Robert A. Emack Mr. & Mrs. John Falk Dr. Henry Gewirtz Drs. Margaret & John Goldman Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Greenberg The Hon. & Mrs. Ray Grubbs Mr. & Mrs. William H. Hays III Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Hickey Mr. & Mrs. Peter L. Kellner Mr. & Mrs. John J. Kennedy Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lawler Mr. & Mrs. Edward Lawrence Lebowitz Family Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm MacNab Ms. Eileen P. McGrath 21

Our Galaxy of Support Mr. & Mrs. C. Hardy B. Oliver Garrett Thornburg & Catherine Oppenheimer Dr. Douglas Horst & Ms. Maureen Phillips Ms. Janet E. Schulte L. Dennis & Susan R. Shapiro Mr. Geoffrey Silva Mr. & Mrs. Peter Smith Mr. & Mrs. Phillips Smith Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Soros Mr. & Mrs. Warren Stern Mr. & Mrs. Harris Stone Mrs. Anne P. Strain Dr. Jephtha Tausig-Edwards Mr.& Mrs. Peter Thomas Mr. & Mrs. Derek E. Till Mr.& Mrs. George West GALA GIFT AND TICKETS Ms. Mariann Hundahl Appley Mr. & Mrs. John W. Bickel III Mr. Jason Bridges & Ms. Courtney Nemeth Mr. & Mrs. Richard Charpie Mr. & Mrs. Victor Conklin Mr. & Mrs. James Duffy Egan Maritime Institute Peggy Gilfoy Mr. John A. Herndon Mr. & Mrs. William Hill Monica O’Neil & Stephen Jennings Mr. & Mrs. John Johnson Ms. Patience Killen Nancy Gillespie & Ulrich Lachler Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Deane Leonard Mr. & Mrs. James Lowe Ms. Judy Macleod Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm MacNab Mr. & Mrs. Bruce D. Miller Mr. & Mrs. David Morrow Mr. & Mrs. Eloy Nava Mr. & Mrs. Harry Ostrander Mr. Bruce Percelay Dr. Douglas Horst & Ms. Maureen Phillips Charlie & Marty Polachi Mr. & Mrs. Abrar Qureshi Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Read 22

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Richards Penny Scheerer & John Schwanbeck Mary Farland & James Shockey Susan Florence & Alan Smith Rev. Georgia Ann Snell Mr. & Mrs. Charles Soule Rev. and Mrs. William Steelman Mrs. Anne P. Strain Mrs. Ada B. Strasenburgh Mr. & Mrs. Ned Symes Mr. & Mrs. Jotham Tausig Mr. & Mrs. Bill Untereker Ms. Suellen Ward Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Weinstock Dr. & Mrs. John Cornelius West Mr. & Mrs. Larry Wetzel Mr. & Mrs. F. Scott Wilson Mr. & Mrs. Derek Young GALA SILENT AUCTION ITEM DONORS Addison Craig Ambrosia Annie Bogert Belongings Best of the Beach Bill & Hannah Wallace Black-Eyed Susan’s Candy Greig Caren Lambert & Charlie Ryan Center Street Bistro Claire Murray Clay Art Studio Coastal Vintage Home & Garden Company of the Cauldron currentVintage Dune Restaurant Eric Finger, Finger Boatworks Erica Wilson Freedmans of Nantucket Mr. & Mrs. Harris Stone Island Buggie Island Cashmere Island Variety J. McLaughlin Jim Sulzer Mr. & Mrs. John Belash

Johnstons Cashmere Kidding Around Le Cherche Midi Le Languedoc Leslie Linsley Mr. & Mrs. Martin McKerrow Mr. & Mrs. Michael Nelson Milly & Grace Mitchell’s Book Corner Molly Fitzpatrick & Joan Duesing Murray’s Toggery Shop Nantucket Bike Tours Nantucket Bookworks Nantucket Brand Nantucket Carving & Folk Art Nantucket Edible Landscapes Nantucket Golf Club Nantucket Gourmet Nantucket Natural Oils Nantucket Preservation Trust Nantucket Theatre Workshop Mr. & Mrs. Nathaniel Philbrick Nina McLemore Petticoat Row Bakery Pi Pizzeria Pinwheels Ralph Lauren Red Sox Sarah Greig Shreve, Crump & Low Skirtin’ Around Sotheby’s Stephanie’s Nantucket Store #2 Sweet Inspirations Ted Blank Thayer Laffey The Chanticleer The Galley Restaurant The Lion’s Paw The Roamin’ Pizzeria The SeaGrille The Toy Boat Tim Parsons Town Restaurant Wannacomet Water Company White Elephant

GIFTS IN HONOR OF MEMBERS AND FRIENDS In Honor of John Daniels The Hon. & Mrs. Ray Grubbs Ms. Janet Schulte In Honor of Stuart Fierty Ms. Marcia Fowle In Honor of Leonard Greenberg Mr. & Mrs. Howard Blitman In Memory of Dorrit Hoffleit Ms. Margaret Doleman Ms. Judith Karpen In Honor of Dr. Bob Kennedy Mr. & Mrs. John Falk In Memory of M. Jane Stroup Mr. & Mrs. David Manley William and Barbara Maple In Memory of Mrs. Virginia Charles Swain Mr. Jonathan Swain In Memory of Douglas Unruh Susan Wallace Barnes NANTUCKET SCIENCE CENTER CAMPAIGN Mr. & Dr. Bernard Brennan V Mr. & Mrs. David W. Cox Mr. & Mrs. John L. Daniels Mr. & Mrs. James Duffy Misses. Emma & Isabelle Dunlap Mrs. Paul Gibian Miss Ella Griffiths The Hon. & Mrs. Ray Grubbs Ms. Susan Kaplan Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lawler Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm MacNab Mr. & Mrs. Peter Manus Mr. & Mrs. Martin McKerrow Ms. Tamsen Merrill Nantucket Clambake Company 23

Our Galaxy of Support Nantucket Elementary School Mr. & Mrs. Michael Nelson The Perkin Fund Dr. Mary A. Poor Josh Posner & Ms. Eileen Rudden Caren Lambert & Charlie Ryan Ms. Janet E. Schulte Mr. & Mrs. Harris Stone Mrs. Anne P. Strain RESEARCH and OUTREACH PROJECTS American Burying Beetle U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Roger Williams Park Zoo Nantucket Conservation Foundation Nantucket Cottage Hospital Nantucket Land Bank Massachusetts Audubon Society Astronomy National Science Foundation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Research Experience for Undergraduates American Astronomical Society Barn Owl Research Project Nuttall Ornithological Club Tamara Munk Birdathon 2011 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Aguiar Mr.& Mrs. Mark Aguiar Kenneth & Cynthia Blackshaw Ms. Karen Borchert Barbara E. Bund Mrs. Carol A. Caton Jay Wennemer & Ellyn Einhorn Ms. Ann Radding Mr. David Ryan Landscaping Noreen C. Slavitz Lynn Zimmerman & George Thomas Education Programs Nantucket Golf Club Foundation

Erosion Workshop Mr. & Mrs. Arthur G. Broll Norwood & Marguerite Davis Mr. & Mrs. Douglass Ellis William & Marilee Matteson Dexter and Susan Paine Mr. & Mrs. Brian Simmons Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Singer Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Tuttle Mr. Helmut Weymar Mr. & Mrs. Jim Walker Mitchell House, Archives and Special Collections Community Foundation for Nantucket Community Preservation Act M. S. Worthington Foundation Patricia Halsted Sanford Kendall James Storrow Clarissa Porter Natural Science Museum Cape Cod Five Foundation Nantucket Shellfish Association Osprey Research Project Peter & Maria Kellner Lynn & Nick Nicholas Karen & Josef Fischer Scallop Research Shellfish and Harbor Advisory Board Nancy Sayles Day Foundation Nantucket Shellfish Association Snakes Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative

FOUNDATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS

GIFTS TO THE COLLECTIONS OF THE MARIA MITCHELL ASSOCIATION

American Astronomical Society

The Mitchell House, Archives and Special Collections accepted several gifts in 2011:

Community Foundation for Nantucket Community Preservation Act Marine Home Center M.S. Worthington Foundation, Inc. Nancy Sayles Day Foundation Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative Nantucket Golf Club Foundation Nantucket Shellfish Association National Science Foundation – Research Experience for Undergraduates Nuttall Ornithological Club Richard Coyle Lilly Foundation Shellfish and Harbor Advisory Board US Fish and Wildlife Service

1. Eileen McGrath: letters from L. Noblick, former Natural Science Assistant Director 2. Deborah Stackpole Merritt: Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities 1926 publication 3. Nancy Giragosian: perennials for Mitchell House garden restoration 4. Jeanne van Etten: Maria Mitchell tree topper made for Nantucket Historical Association Festival of Trees 5. Nantucket Conservation Foundation: Nantucket wool for Mitchell House “Nantucket Girls” class project 6. Mr. and Mrs. John Sayer: Seven 19th century tin and iron kitchen implements including: toaster, tin lantern, and foot warmer –tin objects may have been fabricated by Peleg Mitchell Jr. 7. Elizabeth Gilbert: Philip’s Chart of the Stars, ca. 1925 8. Todd Stout: wood plinth for bust of Maria Mitchell The Astronomy Department accepted the donation of furniture and artwork for the MMA guest apartment from the DiCurcio family. The Natural Science Museum accepted the donation of an aquifer model from the Wannacomet Water Company and a multimeter for the electricity programs from Phil Gallagher.

Financial Report The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Statement of Financial Position December 31, 2011 (With summarized Financial Information for 2010)

Assets Cash and cash equivalents Inventories Pledges receivables Other receivables

2011

2010

$531,147

$518,963

2,878

1,152,092 4,335

Employee receivable Investments

5,085 10,000

3,290,457

3,488,924

Beneficial interest in real estate trust

318,000

Remainder interest in property

429,360

413,240

Deferred expenses

Property, plant, and equipment, net

7,271

5,080,324

5,213,327

$10,815,864

$9,970,417

$ 76,286

$ 105,829

Unrestricted

6,632,675

7,046,999

Temporarily restricted

2,178,264

888,950

Permanently restricted

1,928,639

10,739,578

9,864,588

$10,815,864

$9,970,417

Liabilities and Net Assets Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Net assets

Total net assets

The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Statement of Activities Year ended December 31, 2010 (With Summarized Financial Information for 2009) Operating activities: Revenue and support Programs Admissions

Unrestricted Temporarily Permanently Restricted Restricted $180,408 35,495 -

2011

2010

180,408 35,495

$182,306 41,436

Museum Shop Memberships Grants Contributions

20,509 84,460 11,360 136,533

142,789 17,991

20,509 84,460 154,149 154,524

23,045 101,176 224,630 189,800

Special events Investment return designated for operations Rental income

131,398 228,000 34,995

125,696 270,000 7,615

2,122

1,468

165,051 190,589

(165,051)

190,589

31,644

Total revenue and support

1,220,920

( 4,271)

1,216,649

1,198,816

Expenses Program services Management and general Fundraising and capital campaign

1,178,622 161,763 96,392

1,088,946 159,702 93,659

Total expenses

1,436,777

1,342,307

Change in net assets from operating activities (215,857)

(4,271)

Interest income Net assets released from restriction- Satisfaction of program restrictions Satisfaction of capital-related activities

(220,128) ( 143,491)

Non-operating activities: Investment return, less amounts designated for operations (198,467) Contributions and grants restricted for capital activitiesDonation of remainder interest in property Gain on sale and disposition of assets Net assets released from restriction Satisfaction of capital restrictions

1,468,054 16,120

- ( 198,467) - 1,468,054 -

16,120

14,847 182,373 15,780 3,096,497

(190,589)

( 31,644)

Change in net assets from non-operating activities

( 198,467)

1,293,585

1,095,118

3,277,853

Change in net assets

(414,324)

1,289,314

874,990

3,134,362

Net assets, beginning of year

7,046,999

888,950

1,928,639

9,864,588

6,730,226

Net assets, end of year

$6,632,675 $2,178,264 $1,928,639 $10,739,578 $9,864,588

The financial statements for 2010 have been audited by Bollus & Lynch, LLP, who have rendered an unqualified opinion on them. Complete financial statements are available on request. 27

Board and Staff MMA BOARD OF MANAGERS Officers: Malcolm W. MacNab, MD, PhD John L. Daniels, First Vice President Patty Gibian, Second Vice President Deborah J. Manus, Clerk Michael Nelson, Treasurer Honorary Vice Presidents: Eileen McGrath Robert W. Noyes, PhD Managers: Term Expires

Elizabeth G. Grubbs, Carvin Associates, Development Consultant Astronomy Vladimir Strelnitski, PhD, Director of Astronomy Nancy Strelnitski, Observatory Assistant Gary Walker, MS, Telescope Engineer and Astronomer David Sliski, BS, Summer Research and Teaching Assistant Education Whitney Morris, MA, Summer Education Director

2012 Lisa Clarey-Lawler Patty Gibian Michael Nelson Anne Parks Strain 2013 Patricia L.R. Brennan, PhD John L. Daniels Deborah Manus 2014 Caren Lambert, PhD Toni B. McKerrow Mary Archibald (Bebe) Poor, DVM Edward Symes III Howard N. Blitman Dennis Cross Malcolm W. MacNab, MD, PhD Eileen Rudden

MMA STAFF Administration Janet E. Schulte, PhD, Executive Director Isabella Wagley, Marketing and Development Associate Joan Alison Stockman, Financial Administrator Scott Leonard, Property Manager 28

Mitchell House Jascin Leonardo Finger, MA, Curator Olivia Hull, Curatorial Assistant, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth Natural Sciences Andrew Mckenna-Foster, MS, Director of Natural Science Education and Programs Robert S. Kennedy, PhD, Senior Research Fellow Edith F. Andrews, MS, Ornithologist Emeritus Valerie A. Hall, Research Associate Peter B. Boyce, PhD, Research Associate Cheryl Comeau Beaton, Director, Maria Mitchell Aquarium W. Forrest Kennedy, BS, Aquarium Advisor 2011 INTERNS Astronomy (NSF-Research Experience for Undergraduates) Naomi Alpert, Vassar College Caitlin Brecklin, Michigan State University Michelle Consiglio, University of Notre Dame Alex Hillbrand, Cornell Univeristy. Krister Lagergren, University of Virginia Kayla Redmond, University of North Carolina, Ashville

Aquarium Hannah Siebens, BA,Vassar College Brenda Ferriera, BS, Unity College Erikson Smith, Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific Helen Cheng, BS, Stony Brook University (scallop research) Education Kelly Lee, The College of New Jersey Celina Hoar, Roger Williams University Laura Stone, Dickinson University Meagan Bonefante, Eckerd College Brittany Dzwonchyk, University of Connecticut Elisabeth Mox, Miami University Marketing and Public Relations Annie Bogert, Middlebury College MMA Marine Science Intern Christine Seibert, Junior, Home schooled Mercy Paine, Junior, Glenholm School Natural Science Museum Julia Blyth, BA, Ohio Wesleyan University Eric LoPresti, BS, Brown University Allison Feldman, BS, Binghampton University VOLUNTEERS Astronomy Steven Bopp (NPS) Barbara Bosworth Leslie Brown Tom Calderwood Meredith Muller Nikolay Nakov (NPS) Alan Sliski Mitchell House Patricia Michaelson, Ph.D., Tour Guide Maris Humphries, Rare Book Cataloger

Natural Science Volunteers Marcia Aguiar Ornithology Ginger Andrews Ornithology Harry Bartlett Ornithology Jason Beale Museum Animal Care Oliver Bender Scallops Lois Boland Scallops Michael Boland Scallops Amanda Boyd Horseshoe Crabs and Ornithology Kenneth T. Blackshaw Ornithology Leah Cabral Animal Care and Scallops Daniel Drake Scallops Das Durgama-Lescault Horseshoe Crabs Nancy Giragosian Administration Will Halik Museum Nikki Huang Ornithology Maris Humphreys Biodiversity Library Diane Lang Ornithology Scott Leonard Horseshoe Crabs Erik Lokensgard Ornithology/ Scallops Martin McKerrow Scallops Tamera Munk Ornithology Caldwell Munk Ornithology Jerry Newhouse Horseshoe Crabs Justine Paradis Harvestmen Project Michelle Perkins Horseshoe Crabs Liz Rollins Scallops Madi Sanders Museum Animal Care Lynn Scholz Scallops Sandy Spencer Scallops/Ospreys/ Horseshoe Crabs/ Barn Owls Sarah Teach Horseshoe Crabs Ruth Thompson Museum Gift Shop Jeff Tocci Horseshoe Crabs Dick Verville Scallops

Board and Staff Volunteers through the Naturalist in Training Program (Hours) * = NITs were funded by the Nantucket Shellfish Association Anabel Brown 3 David Brown 9 George Brown 3 Thomas Carroll 12 Christopher Chai 6 Dominic Costanzo 32.25 William Daffin 12 Charlotte Dowley 3 Katherine Dowley 3 Kieran Dowley 3 Andrew Flax 33 Christopher Fraker 3 Sadie Goetze 6 Oliver Gordon 3 Olivia Gotham 13 Perry Hanson 6 Isaac Hersh 180 Abigale Hines* 37 Jolie Jaycobs 12 Anne Jennings 10 James Jennings 6 Harriet Ketchen 7 Finn Kusler 18.5 Heyward Lathrop 10 Alexander Libman 10 Anne Macleod 6 Ned Manus 270 Henry Michaelis 3 Spencer Morrow 48.5 Emily Okun 6 Nicholas Panchy 29 Crawford Patton 34 Sarah Paulsen 9 Madeleine Phillips 3 Will Pincine 3 Michael Proch* 52 Sophie Proch 39 Morgan Ravenscroft 7 Tristram Ravenscroft 13 Natasha Recoder 3 Olivia Reed 3 30

Charles Ryan David Ryan* Grace Sullivan Mackenzie Welch Ben Wolfson Jonah Wolfson Lila Wolfson Callum Zehner

27 37 29 6 21 21 3 9

Administration Marcia Aguiar Kenneth Blackshaw Jordan Concannon Bledsoe Sally Charpie Mary Ann Dober Debra Elmegreen Ronnie M. Elwell Fay Gambee Barbara Kates-Garnick Candy Greig Elvira Harden Dolly Howell Jack Kennedy Judith Lee Jim Lowe Tricia Lowe Karen MacNab Martin McKerrow Greg Maskell Debbie Stackpole Merritt Michelle Perkins Ann Radding Patty Rottmeier Pam St. Pierre Esta-Lee Stone Tara Vittone Hannah Wallace Jo Zschau COLLABORATIONS Collaborations The Maria Mitchell Association is proud to establish collaborations with other non-profit organizations and universities to offer the best in programs and to conduct

research vital to understanding and preserving Nantucket’s natural areas and unique natural history. Our collaborating organizations are: American Association of Variable Star Observers Artists Association of Nantucket Boston University Children’s House of Nantucket City University of New York Egan Maritime Institute Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology Linda Loring Nature Foundation The Lighthouse School Long Island University Massachusetts Audubon Society Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Nantucket Atheneum Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative Nantucket Boys and Girls Club Nantucket Community Sailing Nantucket Conservation Foundation Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission Nantucket Land Council Nantucket Marine & Coastal Resources Department Nantucket Public Schools Nantucket Preservation Trust Nantucket Shellfish Association Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum National Collaborative of Women’s History Sites National Grid National Museum of Natural History Oxbow Associates, Inc. Preservation Institute: Nantucket Roger Williams Park Zoo Rotary Club of Nantucket ‘Sconset Trust Shearwater Excursions

The Trustees of Reservations Tuckernuck Land Trust UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station UMass Dartmouth School of Marine Science & Technology University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of Rhode Island US Fish and Wildlife Service Vassar College ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS 1902-1911 Mary W. Whitney 1912-1914 Mrs. Wilfred Lewis 1915-1926 Ellen Folsom 1927-1929 Alice M. Howland 1930-1946 Margaret U. Davis 1947-1948 Charles Neal Barney 1949-1953 Margaret U. Davis 1954-1959 Charles G. Snow 1960-1962 Edouard A. Stackpole 1963-1973 B.F.D. Runk, PhD 1974-1980 Alfred Bornemann, DEng 1981-1989 Jane W. Merrill 1990-1991 Robert K. Noyes 19912-1994 Robert W. Noyes, PhD 1995-2000 Daniel W. Drake 2001-2007 Judith F. Lee 2007-2010 Toni B. McKerrow 2010Malcolm W. MacNab, MD, PhD

4 Vestal Street Nantucket, MA02554

Maria Mitchell Association Annual Report 2011 Non-Profit Organization Permit 7 Nantucket, MA 02554