Museletter IGNITE your curiosity. DISCOVER your story. SEPTEMBER 2018 General William J. Palmer, born September 18, 1836, pictured with one of his many Great Danes. From the collection of CSPM.
GIFT OF HISTORY BREAKFAST Promises Made, Promises Kept By: Matt Mayberry, Museum Director On Thursday, August 23, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum hosted the eighth annual Gift of History breakfast at the Antlers Hotel. This event is a way to introduce people to the museum and its mission, and it is also our biggest fundraiser of the year. This year’s event had a record crowd, with 550 people filling the main ballroom. The overarching theme of the program was the critical role the museum plays in creating community. CSPM Board president, Jennifer Malenky, kicked off the program by welcoming dignitaries and elected officials. She noted that while she is a native of Colorado Springs, she needed to leave the city in order to really appreciate what makes it so special. After returning to Colorado Springs, she discovered the importance of the museum for her and her young son. Mayor John Suthers with CSPM supportors Mayor John Suthers and his wife, Janet, attended the event. He extended a warm welcome to the crowd and gave them a preview of his upcoming State of City address that draws on his own passion for local history. He noted that history from the city we know and love today is the result of innumerable decisions, small and large, that have been made over the past 147 years. “There are 73 incorporated cities in Colorado,” Suthers stated, “but 1,500 ghost towns.” An appreciation of history is important in the understanding of why Colorado Springs has thrived, and this knowledge gives additional weight to the decisions he makes each day. We premiered two new videos that morning. One focused on the impact of CSPM’s series of events known as Food Truck Tuesdays and, the other video was on the powerful impact Volunteering has on the lives of our volunteers. Food Truck Tuesdays: (View Food Truck video) Volunteer Programs: (View Volunteer video) The videos were produced in cooperation with the City of Colorado Springs Communications Office and SpringsTV. We appreciate their support and especially the efforts of Jennifer Schreuder and Frank Bokoski. Jennifer Malenky welcoming Mayor John Suthers MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 2018| PG 2
Museum Program Coordinator, Meg Poole then shared the story of Junior Docent volunteer, SJ Shaver. SJ is a high school freshman. After leading interpretive programs at the museum for two summers, SJ has learned that different people absorb information in different ways. While some can spend hours reading text, others make connections through music, video, and other media. The museum works for SJ and others because it builds meaningful connections to its audience by meeting their unique needs. In his remarks, CSPM Director, Matt Mayberry noted that 2018 marks the midway point in the museum’s ten-year strategic plan. Vision 2023 imagined a future in which hundreds of thousands of people would connect with the museum in “innumerable compelling ways to discover the past, make sense of the present and shape the future.” It’s rewarding to see this vision becoming a reality. This year CSPM is on pace to exceed 100,000 visitors and program participants for the first time in its history, and visitation is up in every category the institution tracks as compared to last year’s record attendance. In the past year, private donations have allowed the museum to invest $474,835 to support operations, strategic priorities, and capital improvements. Over the next five years, the museum has equally ambitious goals to celebrate the City’s 150th Anniversary in 2021, and expand exhibition and collection storage space. Meg Poole, Program Coordintor presents CSPM’s Junior Docent Program The day’s program concluded with comments by Development Director, Lance James. Lance is responsible for coordinating the breakfast event and is usually behind the scenes making sure everything goes off without a hitch. This year’s event was different as Lance recently announced he was leaving the museum to become the executive director of the Pikes Peak Library District Foundation. Lance reflected on his three-plus years at the museum and how transformational it’s been for him to share local history, especially that of Winfield Scott Stratton with his two young children. His touching remarks were a perfect way to close the program. The Gift of History event would not have been possible without the support of the 46 amazing table captains that filled the room. We also appreciate our corporate sponsors who underwrote the cost of the event: DA Davidson & Company, Ent Credit Union, Osborne, Parsons and Rosacker CPA, Wells Fargo Private Bank and the Tiemens Foundation. Thanks also to the volunteers from Colorado Springs Utilities that helped with guest check-in. Lance James with friends We are delighted to share that the event was a wonderful success! We had twelve new members added to CSPM’s Clock Tower Society and successfully met a $10,000 challenge grant from the Helen McCaffrey Charitable Trust. While gifts and pledges are still coming in, our tally through August 31 was $43,773 in gifts received, $14,899 in current year pledges and $4,000 in sponsorships. Our thanks go out to all that participated! MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 2018| PG 3
UPCOMING EVENTS September & October 2018 Children’s History Hour – How to Babysit a Grandpa Wednesday, September 19 & Saturday, September 29 10:30 am - 11:30 pm Families are invited to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum for a history adventure on the third Wednesday and last Saturday of each month! Children ages 3-6 will enjoy story time, a family-friendly exhibit tour, and crafts and activities theme: How to Babysit a Grandpa Reservations Required. $3 Suggested donation per child, free for members Museum Day: Women Making History in the Pikes Peak Region Saturday, September 22 10:00 am - 2:00 pm It’s National Museum Day and CSPM is offering guided tours (noon & 1:00 pm), a family-friendly scavenger hunt, and a “make & take” craft station – all highlighting the contributions of women in the Pikes Peak regional history. No rsvp necessary, free and open to the public. DIG Day Saturday, October 6 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Can you DIG it? Dig Day is a hands-on opportunity for families to learn about archaeology, mining, geology, and paleontology. Community partners present educational booths throughout the museum. Also, try your hand at “digging” carnival games! Drop-in to learn something new! Reservations Required. $3 Suggested donation per child, free for members Children’s History Hour: Can You Dig It? Wednesday, October 17 10:30 am - 11:30 am Families are invited to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum for a history adventure on the third Wednesday and last Saturday of each month! Children ages 3-6 will enjoy story time, a family-friendly exhibit tour, and crafts and activities. We explore a new theme each month! Food Truck Tuesdays Every Tuesday, now through October 30 | 11:00 am - 1:30 am Colorado Farm and Art Market - CFAM Every Wednesday, now through October 13 | 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm Please RSVP for events at: www.cspm.org/rsvp-for-an-event or 719-385-5990 MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 2018 | PG 4
MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT! Volunteer Of The Month Sue Grant, CSPM Acquisitions Committee Sue Grant is an integral member of CSPM Acquisitions Committee who brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to every meeting. She asks great questions, provides important feedback and keeps the collections staff on our toes! We appreciate her deep commitment to the work of the museum, not to mention her quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. -Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History NEW BOOKS! MUSEUM STORE Gifts Artisans Jewelry Books Sargent’s Women by Donna Lucey Now that Elsie Palmer’s Portrait is back home at the Fine Arts Center, and we’ve just finished our Panel Discussion with author, Donna Lucey and her book, “Sargent’s Women: Four Women Behind the Canvas,” this book is available in the Museum’s Store. ($18.95) Autumn by David A. Carter Young ones will love preparing for the change of season and sharing a darling new pop-up book titled “AUTUMN,” by David A. Carter ($14.95) Store Hours Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 am – 4:45 pm CSPM members receive a 10% discount! PARTNERS SPOTLIGHT Many thanks to our Gift of History Breakfast Corporate Sponsors! MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 2018 | PG 5
By: Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History The museum exhibits team is currently reinterpreting the life and work of noted author Helen Hunt Jackson. To do so, we are creating a new set of exhibits outside the three rooms of the historic Jackson house on display in the museum’s third floor north gallery. Additionally, we are taking this opportunity to photograph, catalog and clean the hundreds of Jackson Family artifacts within its walls. In particular, two especially fragile items are undergoing professional conservation to prepare them for exhibit. Paulette Reading, a textile conservator in Denver is adding special hanging sleeves to the back of a nineteenth-century heirloom quilt and cleaning the entire textile. A new wall case will be built to accommodate this irreplaceable collection item which has not been on exhibit for several years. Rennie Hunt 19th century hierloom quilt, in Helen Hunt Jackson home Helen Hunt Jackson’s beloved portrait of her son, Rennie is being cleaned, stabilized and reframed by paper and print conservator, Jennifer McGlinchey Sexton here in Colorado Springs. Importantly, the temporary closure of the exhibit the past few weeks has allowed us to carefully assess the ongoing preservations needs of these collection items and take appropriate measures. A Home of One’s Own: The Life of Helen Hunt Jackson opens Saturday, October 27 The updated exhibit will reveal new details about her life, work, friendships, influences and family while examining how her advocacy work grew out of an evolving sense of justice and connection to place. CSPM is excited to be nominated as a finalist in the “Best Museum” category by readers of the Independent and the community! The final round of voting runs until September 25 and we would love to have you vote for us at: www.CSINDY.com Winners will be announced in the Independent’s October issues. MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 2018 | PG 6
CSPM HAPPENINGS What IF Festival – Saturday, September 8 More than 1,300 visitors came into the Museum during the 9th Annual Imagination Celebration What IF Festival that was held on the Museum’s grounds. CSPM was one of the Festival’s partners and invited attendees inside the Museum to enjoy our Build-A-City children’s crafts and activities! Thank you to all the volunteers that made the day a great success! Build-A-City Children’s Activities City Vision – Write the Vision for Your City What’s in a Flag? – Design the Flag for Your City I Spy Challenge – Make Your Own Surveyors Telescope Celebrate Our City – Be Mayor for a Day Sesquicentennial Booth - Share Ideas on how we should Celebrate the City’s 150th Anniversary in 2021! Follow CSPM on social media! MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 2018 | PG 7 MUSELETTER SEPTEMBER 2018 | PG 7
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