Porter-Phelps-Huntington Foundation Inc

A MORE INCLUSIVE HISTORY: PORTER-PHELPS-HUNTINGTON MUSEUM COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT AND EXPANDED INTERPRETATION [THE PORTER-PHELPS-HUNTINGTON MUSEUM CONSISTS OF AN 18TH-CENTURY FARMSTEAD ON 27 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND ALONG THE CONNECTICUT RIVER IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. THIS HOUSE, ITS FARMLANDS, AND ITS FURNISHINGS AND PAPERS REMAINED IN THE SAME FAMILY FROM CONSTRUCTION IN 1752 UNTIL BECOMING A MUSEUM IN 1949?PROVIDING AN UNUSUALLY COHERENT MATERIAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND ARCHIVAL RECORD OF RURAL COMMUNITY LIFE. GIVEN SIGNIFICANT NEW RESEARCH AND THE DEPTH AND VARIETY OF ITS COLLECTIONS, THE MUSEUM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO OFFER A MORE COMPREHENSIVE INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCE, REFLECTING THE STORIES OF THE LIVES OF INDIGENOUS, ENSLAVED, INDENTURED, AND DAY LABORERS ON THE SITE?MAKING IT A PLACE OF VALUE FOR CONTEMPORARY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND RECALIBRATING LONGSTANDING NARRATIVES OF RACE AND CLASS. THIS PROJECT WILL UPDATE THE MUSEUM?S COLLECTIONS DATABASE WITH ATTENTION TO THIS BROADER HISTORY AND WILL REVISE AND EXPAND THE MUSEUM?S INTERPRETIVE PLAN AND TOUR.] [PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO HIRE NEW AND RETAIN EXISTING STAFF TO CREATE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCE AT THE PORTER-PHELPS-HUNTINGTON FARMSTEAD MUSEUM. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED WILL BE TO UPDATE THE MUSEUM?S COLLECTION DATABASE AND TO REVIEW ITS ARCHIVES IN ORDER TO EXPAND NARRATIVES AT THE MUSEUM TO INCLUDE VOICES FROM INDIGENOUS, ENSLAVED, AND INDENTURED COMMUNITIES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: A NEW INTERPRETIVE SCHEMA AT THE MUSEUM; INCREASED SCHOLARLY AND GENERAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT; AND NEW SCHOLARSHIP. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: MUSEUM VISITORS, SCHOLARS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND STUDENTS AT AREA SCHOOLS. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.]

FORTY ACRES AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: STORIES OF INDEPENDENCE AND SERVITUDE [TO COMMEMORATE AMERICA?S 250TH ANNIVERSARY THE PORTER-PHELPS-HUNTINGTON MUSEUM SEEKS TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THAT CENTER THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WHO LABORED AT THE FORTY ACRES FARMSTEAD, AND WHOSE STORIES EMBODY THE COMPLEX RELATIONS BETWEEN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE AND SERVITUDE: ? CESAR PHELPS, ENSLAVED TO THE PHELPS FAMILY, SERVED AT FORT TICONDEROGA?A REMARKABLE LETTER HE SENT FROM THE FORT IN 1776 SURVIVES IN THE COLLECTION. ? PEG BOWEN, AN ENSLAVED WOMAN, RESOLD TO THE PHELPS FAMILY IN 1778, APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE NEW VERMONT CONSTITUTION'S PROHIBITION AGAINST ADULT SLAVERY. ? JOHN MORRISON, A BRITISH PRISONER OF WAR AND SKILLED ORNAMENTAL GARDENER WAS INDENTURED AT FORTY ACRES AND CREATED A GARDEN THERE. ? GEORGE ANDRIES A HESSIAN MERCENARY SOLDIER IN THE BRITISH ARMY, TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE MARY ANDRIES, WORKED AT FORTY ACRES UNTIL 1809.]

THE PORTER-PHELPS-HUNTINGTON MUSEUM, AN 18TH-CENTURY FARMSTEAD IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, WILL UNDERTAKE HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON THE EXPERIENCES OF FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE STORIES EMBODY THE COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE AND SERVITUDE. IN ADDITION, THE MUSEUM WILL RESTORE A GARDEN ORIGINALLY CREATED BY ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS. THE MUSEUM WILL PARTNER WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST TO HIRE TWO GRADUATE STUDENTS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, WRITE NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS, AND ASSIST WITH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. MUSEUM STAFF WILL CONTRACT WITH A GARDENER TO PREPARE AND PLANT THE NEW GARDEN. THE PROJECT WILL BROADEN THE MUSEUM’S INTERPRETATION AND POSITION IT TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO MASSACHUSETTS REV250 PROGRAMMING TO COMMEMORATE THE NATION’S FOUNDING. THE RESULTING ARCHIVE OF MATERIALS WILL BENEFIT RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS AND THE NEW GARDEN AND PROGRAMMING WILL ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE.