Museletter IGNITE your curiosity. DISCOVER your story. NOVEMBER 2018 El Paso County Courthouse Exterior at Night (Sept. 1906) From the collection of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
As December approaches, CSPM is excited to host its annual Festival of Lights Family Fun Day! This special holiday event has been a tradition at CSPM for more than thirty years and typically brings thousands of visitors to the Museum. From 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, December 1, guests will enjoy holiday fun for the whole family, including performances, activities and demonstrations. Best of all, the event is FREE and open to the public, although a $3 suggested donation is appreciated. This year, the exciting roster of performances includes music and magic. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet and greet local sports mascots. Saturday, December 1 10:00 am - 2:00 pm FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Professor Higgins Magic Show! MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018| PG 2
The museum will be filled with festive activity stations: •United States Postal Service booth, write and mail letters to Santa Claus! •Face painting and holiday crafts •Slim Rails Model Train display •Demonstrations by the Pikes Peak Weavers Guild & Rocky Mountain Lace Guild •Colorado Springs Trails & Open Spaces teach about local wild life •CSPM Hands on History stations located throughout the museum Although Festival of Lights Family Fun Day officially ends at 2 pm, there is still more holiday fun to be had around the museum. After the museum closes for the day, head outside to watch the 34th annual Festival of Lights Parade, which will travel down Tejon Street at 5:50 pm. During the parade, CSPM staff members will be outside the museum handing out free cookies and hot cocoa. Immediately following the Parade, the museum will light up with the debut of CSPM’s annual Holiday Light Show! We look forward to sharing this magical holiday tradition with the community! Live entertainment schedule: 10:00 am - 10:20 am Taylor Elementary Choir (Main Lobby) 10:30 am - 11:15 am Professor Higgins Magic Show (Div. 1 Courtroom) 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Almagre Saxophone Quartet (Main Lobby) 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm Children’s Chorale (Main Lobby, South Stairs) 12:45 pm - 1:15 pm Palmer High School Orchestra (Div. 1 Courtroom) 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm Four Winds Recorder Ensemble (Third Fl.) For full schedule of events, visit: www.cspm.org/festivaloflights MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018| PG 3
New Exhibit Opening Francis Drexel Smith: A Legacy on Canvas Nov 17. 2018 - Dec. 28, 2019 Credit: (Garden of the Gods), 1921, CSPM collection, Gift of Florence K. Lawrie The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is excited to announce the opening of our newest exhibit, Francis Drexel Smith: A Legacy on Canvas. In conjunction with the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Broadmoor Art Academy, the exhibit will run November 17, 2018 – December 28, 2019. During five decades as a professional artist in Colorado Springs, Smith completed hundreds of canvases and was a key supporter and contributor to the nascent Colorado Springs arts community. This exhibition will feature more than 20 paintings, many executed between 1920 and 1945. During that time, he entered works in juried shows throughout the country, including museums in Buffalo, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Denver, Seattle and New Orleans. Born to a wealthy Chicago family in 1874, Francis Drexel Smith came to Colorado Springs in 1900. Like so many other well-off emigrants from the East and Midwest, he came for his health, recovered and stayed for a lifetime. One of three children, Frank Smith was a typical middle child – quiet, reflective and responsible. As a parent, he was gentle and supportive, raising his autistic son and four stepchildren to become successful, productive adults. His children and contemporaries described him as a whimsical man who loved costume parties and formal dinners. In the 1920s, he often wore a raccoon coat, as depicted in John McClymont’s 1920 full-length portrait that will greet visitors to the exhibit. Smith’s career as a professional artist began in the very early 1900s, after having studied under John Vanderpoel in Chicago. Vamderpoel was a rigorous and exacting teacher who demanded that his students master traditional skills. He was a member and officer of the Colorado Springs Arts Society, the city’s first artists’ association, a founder and board chair of the Broadmoor Art Academy and a founding trustee of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. He maintained his studio there for nearly 20 years. In the 1930s, Smith’s work deepened and matured. Clearly influenced by contemporaries such as Kansas native John Steuart Curry, Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton, Smith abandoned complex still lifes and dark, mystical landscapes for spare depictions of urban spaces, often suffused with bright natural light. MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 4
West Colorado Springs, exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1931, is a fine example of this period. Simple, unornamented one and two-story houses rise from an unpeopled landscape framed by western foothills and a translucent sky. It is a careful, mysterious work that transcends categories. Is it an actual Westside neighborhood? Yes, but one uncluttered and reduced to its essence. Was it done en plein aire, as were many of his paintings? Probably, given the accuracy of the mountain backdrop. Smith was honored by a one-man show at the Fine Arts Center in 1938 and by a memorial exhibition in 1957. His was a long, productive and often exuberant life, especially after 1913, when he married Edith Farnsworth, a widow with four young children. Slender and petite, Edith was a ferocious tennis player and an exceptional athlete. During a party the Smiths attended at El Pomar, host Julie Penrose bet Edith $100 that she could not pick up another guest, the 6’ 4” Butler Williamson and throw him into the Penrose Swimming Pool. That was lot of money at the time, given that Colorado Town, one of the paintings in this show, was priced at $100 when it was exhibited at the Chicago Art Institute in 1934. “Mrs. Smith accepted this challenge to femininity,” wrote Marshall Sprague in his 1983 history of the Cheyenne Mountain Country Club, “picked up Williamson and dumped him fully clothed (spats and all) into the Penrose pool. As he emerged dripping, Mrs. Penrose handed the triumphant Mrs. Smith $100.” Like so many other welloff emigrants from the East and Midwest, he came for his health, recovered and stayed for a lifetime. To learn more about the artist and to view his work, be sure to visit Francis Drexel Smith: A Legacy on Canvas at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum beginning on November 17, 2018. PARTNER SPOTLIGHT MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 5
UPCOMING EVENTS November & December 2018 New Exhibit Opening Francis Drexel Smith: A Legacy on Canvas Saturday, November 17, 2018 – December 31, 2019 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tuesdays – Saturdays The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is excited to announce the opening of our newest exhibit, Francis Drexel Smith: A Legacy on Canvas. In conjunction with the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Broadmoor Art Academy, the exhibit will run November 17, 2018 – December 28, 2019. Born to a wealthy Chicago family in 1874, Francis Drexel Smith came to Colorado Springs in 1900. Like so many other well-to-do emigrants from the East and Midwest, he came for his health, recovered and stayed for a lifetime. During five decades as a professional artist in Colorado Springs, Smith completed hundreds of canvases and was a key supporter and contributor to the nascent Colorado Springs arts community. This exhibition will feature more than 20 paintings, many executed between 1920 and 1945. Fall Family Fun Days Tuesday, November 20 & Wednesday, November 21 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Looking for something fun to do during the Thanksgiving holiday break? Stop by the museum to enjoy wonderful regional history exhibits, complete a familyfriendly scavenger hunt, and check-out the children’s “Trade at Bent’s Fort” interactive exhibit. At 10:30 am, children ages 3-6 can enjoy Children’s History Hour. Free guided tours are also offered each day at 11am and 1pm. RSVP required $3 Suggested Donation per Child, Free for Members Children’s History Hour – Fall in Colorado Wednesday, November 21 & Saturday, November 24 10:30 - 11:30 am Families are invited to the 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 Fall in Colorado crafts and activities. RSVP required, $3 Suggested Donation per Child Festival of Lights Family Fun Day Saturday, December 1 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Join the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum for our annual FREE holiday celebration. Enjoy a full performance schedule, crafts, and activities led by a variety of community organizations. And, immediately following the Parade, enjoy once again CSPM’s Annual Holiday Light Show! Don’t miss this special tradition that’s brought magic to the Pikes Peak region for 34 years! ONGOING EXHIBITS: New permanent exhibit just opened: A Home of One’s Own: The Life of Helen Hunt Jackson League of Wives: Vietnam’s POW/MIA Allies & Advocates until Dec. 29, 2019 MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 6
MUSEUM STORE Holiday Shopping Ideas! Gift Book: Whitney H. Galbraith’s book “Valley of the Shadow” Hardcover $34.99 P/B $23.99 Children’s Book: Children’s pop-up books: “The Mitten”, a delightful folk-tale, $19.00 Stocking Stuffers: Peanut & Bourbon Bacon Pecan Brittle Local Gift: Hand-painted pendants by local artist Julie Malfitano MEMBERS: *MEMBERS 20% off through Dec. 26th store-wide! (Sale items excluded) *Submit a favorite recipe with a $25 donation to be included in the Fannie Mae Duncan Cookbook (donations go toward printing of cookbook). Send your Recipes and/or little anecdotes to: Carol Denning, CSPM Store; 215 S. Tejon St. CS, CO 80903 We are proud to be a member of the Give! 2018 Campaign! Support CSPM via Give’s campaign to help ignite curiosities and discover stories through new exhibits, programs, and community events. Donate to CSPM from Nov 1 - Dec 31: Indygive.com/CSPM MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 7
MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT! Congratulations to Leah Davis Witherow – Woman of Influence 2018 Award Recipient At the 2018 Women of Influence Event held on Nov. 15, Leah was one of 13 women honored in Colorado Springs for her numerable professional accomplishments and a person who consistently gives back to the community. CSPM Congratulates Leah on this very deserving award: “As the Curator of History and Archivist for the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Leah Davis Witherow has had a lasting and impressive impact on preserving and sharing the history of our community. Over the past 16 years that I have been volunteering at the Museum, I have watched her create fascinating and accessible exhibits, both static and interactive, and develop programs that are both appealing and instructive. Her knowledge, her guidance of the presentation of the museum’s artifacts, her ability to lead tours back through local history, and her informational and at times humorous presentations are what made her an exceptional recipient for a Woman of Influence Award.” - CSPM Volunteer, Joyce Morgan “Leah’s list of professional accomplishments is long and worthy of this award, but it’s her personal commitment to preserving, protecting and sharing our community’s history that makes her an outstanding Woman of Influence recipient. There’s no topic too broad or too obscure that Leah won’t research and present to groups. When she speaks she always looks for the personal stories of the people who made a difference and encourages her audience to be the next history maker. When Leah speaks people listen, learn and have a better understanding of who we are as a community.” - Jan Martin, CSPM Board of Director, Martin Business Group “I have known Leah for nearly 25 years, and it has been my privilege to supervise her since 2002. In Leah’s capacity, she is responsible for the overall content and accuracy of the museum’s exhibits and programs. She also supervises some of the CSPM staff, and works closely with the museum’s acquisitions committee to ensure that newly acquired artifacts serve the museum’s mission and reflect the broad history of the community. She is in great demand as a speaker for local clubs and organizations, constantly seeking out new stories that illustrate the unique and fascinating history of the Pikes Peak region. She is deeply committed to the idea that the only way to really understand the place in which we live is to know and appreciate its history which is also a key objective for the museum’s mission “to build a lasting connection to the Pikes Peak region by preserving and sharing our cultural history.” “In an age of increasing cynicism and tribalism, multiple studies indicate that museums are widely seen as among the most responsible and truthful institutions in our country. This reputation is not an accident. It required a deep commitment to the highest ethical standards of our field and to maintaining our public trust obligations. These are values that I know Leah embodies and models in her work. In these and many other ways, Leah certainly deserves the Woman of Influence Award, and we congratulate her.” - Matt Mayberry, MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 8
MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT! Teresa Weaver-Volunteer of the Month Teresa started as a docent for CSPM in 2012. Telling the story about Eddie was a favorite of hers, but she decided she wanted to do more, so Teresa started working with Carol in the Museum Store. Teresa stated, “As a kid, I loved museums, and I always had a secret desire to work in one. I’m also a huge history buff. My favorite memory is when I had a gentleman from California ask me which bump to the west was Pikes Peak. My favorite topic is Helen Hunt Jackson. I kind of identify with her a bit. I am an avid reader, and am a former member of the Red Hats.” Teresa retired from the Army after 25 years of service in 2006 and is a Girl Scout Alumna. Theresa also volunteers at the USO on Mondays and works with Girl Scout troops teaching them outdoor skills, such as camping and hiking. She and her husband also love to camp with their Teardrop camper. “I keep myself pretty busy with all of these things, but I am most relaxed while at the museum,” said Theresa. Carol Denning, Museum Store Manager, says, “It’s such a pleasure to working with Teresa! She makes all our guests feel welcome and imparts knowledge of the city and museums history readily. The store is grateful to her contribution of time.” CSPM Reaches 100,000 in Visitor Attendance! CSPM is excited to record its 100,000th visitor to the museum! This achievement is on its way to setting an impressive attendance record for 2018. In 2017, the total recorded visitor count was 90,760, an increase of 16% over 2016. This record speaks well for the museum and its ongoing efforts to offer new and engaging exhibits, programs, and events that appeal to a wide variety of demographics, especially since national trends for visitor-serving organizations mostly report flat or diminished attendance in recent years. To celebrate the milestone, CSPM awarded the 100,000th visitor, Don Prather, a certificate for a personal Director’s Tour that will take Don and seven of his chosen guests behind the scenes and to the Clock Tower of CSPM. Don came into the museum with his daughter Emily, and his father, Wade. Don was also awarded a $100 gift certificate to the Museum’s Store which he was happy to receive as well because he was looking for some books on the history of Colorado Springs! “This record-breaking attendance is a testament to the hard work and creativity of the CSPM staff, volunteers, and board members, in addition to their efforts to ensure that local history plays a meaningful role in our community. Our strategic plan, Vision 2023, imagined a museum that is brimming with energy, excitement, and activity. Now, half-way through this ten-year plan, we are thrilled to see that vision becoming a reality,” said Matt Mayberry, Museum Director. Don, Emily & Wade Prather MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 9
AAM Accreditation – Mark of Distinction On October 31, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum submitted the self-study documentation for its upcoming accreditation review by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). AAM Accreditation is the mark of distinction for museums in the United States. It means that the institution in question lives up to the high standards of excellence and public service established by the museum field. The accreditation process features a high profile, peer-based validation of a museum’s operations and impact. During the process, every aspect of the CSPM’s activities will be evaluated by AAM staff, a team of visiting committee members, and the National Accreditation Commission. A recent census conducted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services shows that there are 35,000 museums in the United States and only about 3% (1,070) of those institutions are accredited. Accreditation means increased credibility and value with donors, policy makers, community and peers. The CSPM has been accredited since 1992 and goes through the re-accreditation process each decade. A final decision by the Accreditation Commission is expected next August 2019. CSPM HAPPENINGS City of Sunshine Program Day - Meg Poole explains various treatments for TB patients Matt Mayberry presents at PPLD Regional History Series Talk Kelly O’Hara Getting Ready for HHJ Exhibit Opening - Caitlin Sharpe, Christian Palma MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 10
CSPM HAPPENINGS Supporting UCHealth’s Citywide MANtenance Campaign with Blue Lights Jim Wahl - Ringing the Clock Tower Bell for Veterans Day Celebration at 11:11 am Halloween History Hunt South Staircase was closed off for window restoration Festival of Lights - Family Fun Day Coming Soon w/ Creative Crafts! MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2018 | PG 11
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