E-Broadcast
To: AKMP Members and Friends
From: Viki Sand, Executive Director & CEO
Date: November 5, 2009

Now is the Time!
Today we are all encouraged to reflect upon our philanthropic giving patterns in new ways. While these are difficult economic times, they are also times when individual gifts can truly make a difference. This year you can be part of one of the most exciting and important times in the history of the Atwater Kent. In a city with extraordinary historical resources, the Philadelphia city history museum has embarked upon three major initiatives to make the shared stories of Philadelphians accessible in dramatic new ways: 1) completion of a $5.8 million renovation to the historic 1826 Museum Building that addresses long-standing environmental, safety, and accessibility issues, adds two galleries, and provides flexible programming space to accommodate substantially increased opportunities for adult groups and schoolchildren; 2) opening a new off-site, 10,000 square foot Collection Research Center that makes the 100,000 item collection accessible as never before; and 3) inauguration of enhanced marketing and development strategies to sustain the museum for generations.

When you receive the AKMP Annual Giving Campaign appeal in the mail in the next few weeks, please give special consideration to the Atwater Kent, Philadelphia's history museum. Every gift, whatever the size, is an investment in our shared history as Philadelphians.

Acknowledgement of AKMP members and contributors from fiscal year 2008-2009 is included at the end of this report.

AKMP Joins Commemoration of John Brown's Raid through Loans to National Archives and African American Museum in Philadelphia
From October 23 to December 5, 2009, historical organizations in Philadelphia are commemorating John Brown's pre-Civil War raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), through a series of public programs and exhibitions held throughout the city. As one of the partner organizations of "John Brown: 150 Years Later," AKMP is exhibiting important artifacts related to Brown and the raid in exhibitions at the National Archives Mid Atlantic branch (9th and Chestnut streets) and the African American Museum in Philadelphia (7th and Arch streets).

At the National Archives, the exhibition, Picturing John Brown, features the portrait of John Brown by 19th-century, Philadelphia African American artist David Bustle Bowser. The portrait was painted in 1865 and is from an original painted by Bowser when Brown stayed with the Bowser family in Philadelphia in 1858, the year before the raid. Also exhibited is one of the 1,000 pikes Brown commissioned to arm enslaved Africans who were expected to join the rebellion. After the raid failed and Brown was captured, the pikes were seized, and some were made into souvenirs.

In the African American Museum's inventive new core exhibit, Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia, AKMP is exhibiting a rifle owned by 19th-century anti-slavery activist Robert Purvis. The rifle is believed to have been purchased by John Brown for the raid on Harpers Ferry. Audacious Freedom celebrates the lives of African Americans in Philadelphia from the city's founding through the 1880s.

The public is invited to a commemorative vigil for John Brown and a living history performance on Tuesday, December 1 at 7 p.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church. The day marks the 150th anniversary of vigils held for Brown by the black community in Philadelphia after he was hanged.

For a complete schedule of John Brown commemoration programs, visit www.civilwarphilly.net. For hours and admission information for the National Archives and the African American Museum in Philadelphia, visit their Web sites www.archives.gov/midatlantic and www.aampmuseum.org.



Collection Research Center Makes Accessible AKMP Textile & Costume Collection
The AKMP textile and costume collection, featuring more than 4,500 pieces spanning 300 years of Philadelphia history, has recently been unpacked and made accessible in the new Collection Research Center. A new racking system, the final piece of the project, has been constructed and holds 238 costumes and 23 boxes of textiles. The work has been supervised by Susan Drinan, AKMP Registrar, who is also a member of the Board of the Mid-Atlantic region of the Costume Society of America.

The collection includes political and military flags, early 19th-century Quaker clothing, school girl embroidery, and Stetson hats. There are everyday household objects such as rugs, draperies, bedding, and doilies. In addition, the collection features pieces related to life celebrations including a gown, cape, and tiara from a Quinceanera; baptismal outfits; and wedding dresses. Over 1,600 political and commemorative ribbons have been collected, including those representing Lafayette's visit in 1824, Mummer's Parade badges over the years, and those from the Republican Convention in 2000. The earliest dated piece is a linen napkin made from thread spun by Elizabeth Hard while she was living in a cave along the Delaware River in 1686. One of the most contemporary pieces is an inmate's denim jacket from Holmesburg Prison that, when confiscated, revealed heavy paper plates tied inside to provide protection for a young prisoner. A hand-painted window shade made by George Kraupa for the Centennial in 1876 was donated in spring 2009. It was displayed on the door of his brother Thomas' window shade store at 2231 North 2nd Street.

One of the first researchers at the new facility was local doll expert Lee Schultz, an art teacher for the Overbrook School for the Blind. In order for her students to study forms and clothing from earlier times, Lee creates historically appropriate dolls. On her visit, Lee concentrated on the Letitia Penn doll, one of the few mid-18th-century dolls existing in the United States. Originally the doll was believed to have been sent from England by William Penn's daughter, Letitia, to a child in Philadelphia in 1699. Contemporary scholarship dates the doll to the later period.

Since 2001 the museum has raised approximately $750,000 to upgrade the management and care of the Philadelphia History Collection, now numbering over 100,000 items. In addition to three competitive awards from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency, AKMP received funding from the Heritage Philadelphia Program of the Pew Charitable Trusts and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development along with proceeds from the sale of deaccessioned items that were determined to be outside the AKMP mission. The Office of the Commissioner of the Department of Public Property was instrumental in securing and providing support for the Collection Research Center. For information concerning research hours and fees, contact Susan Drinan, 215.843.1713.

Renovation Update
With the removal of partitions, duct work, and falling plaster, the architectural features of John Haviland's historic 1826 Museum Building have been revealed. In October a group of historic preservationists led by John Milner and John Carr, who prepared the Historic Structure Report for the building in 2007, toured the facility with Viki Sand, AKMP Executive Director & CEO. Others on the tour included representatives from the Philadelphia Historical Commission, Eastern State Penitentiary, and the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. In April 2009 AKMP received approval from the Philadelphia Historical Commission for the proposed renovation. The museum has enlisted Stephen Grebinski, University of Pennsylvania Master of Fine Arts student to create a photographic record of the project.

In September 2009 Maleda Berhane, Director of Project Management Services at Concordis Real Estate Advisors joined the renovation team serving as the owner's representative. Berhane has ten years of experience in representing owners of corporate and institutional real estate on the pre-construction and construction phases of renovation and new construction projects. She is serving in a similar capacity for the African American Museum in Philadelphia on their interior renovations and new plaza addition.

Administrative and interpretive programming staff are now located in the Photography Building at the corner of 7th and Ranstead streets, just steps from the Museum Building. Executive Assistant Emily Cooper and Maintenance Manager Pedro Molina oversaw the emptying of the Museum Building and move to temporary office space. Office furniture, equipment, and organizational files are being stored in Northeast Philadelphia through the generosity of AKMP trustee Rick Gettlin.


AKMP Trustees Host Membership Events
Treasurer Robert Mortensen and trustees Elizabeth Laurent and Richard Gettlin have hosted receptions during the past several months designed to inform friends and colleagues about the exciting activity taking place at AKMP and to encourage membership at this important time. The three events have attracted 115 people and generated 31 new memberships. In addition to good cheer and lively conversation, participants have had the opportunity to get "up close and personal" with several objects from the collection transported by Kristen Froehlich, AKMP Director of the Collection, and Jeffrey Ray, AKMP Senior Curator. Drawing particular attention has been the baseball uniform of legendary Phillies third-baseman Mike Schmidt; recently donated photos of social activism in the 1970s and 1980s by documentary photographer Neil Benson; and a child's dress (c. 1840) made of free-labor cotton.

AKMP members and contributors who would like to host a reception and spread the word about the good work taking place at the Philadelphia history museum are encouraged to contact Jennifer Fuges, AKMP Director of Development, at Jennifer.fuges@atwaterkentmuseum.org.

AKMP Exhibit, So, what's the story about violence in Philadelphia? Becomes Part of PAL's Newest Center
In summer 2009, Charlotte Council, Philadelphia Deputy Police Commissioner and AKMP Trustee, brought the highly regarded panel exhibit, ,i>So, what's the story about violence in Philadelphia?, to the Lenfest Police Athletic League (PAL) Center, at 10th and Pike streets, for display in the computer and all-purpose rooms. The exhibit, AKMP's part in a two-year, anti-violence program headed by the Free Library of Philadelphia and including the House of UMOJA and Kid's Corner (WXPN), provides historical context for issues of violence in the city from the 1840s to the present. The program was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

AKMP Trustee and Staff Recognized
Lisa Yang, Secretary of the AKMP Board of Trustees, was honored as the 2009 Cheryl & Howard Hassman Devereux Leadership Award Recipient by Devereux located in Villanova, PA, at its annual gala in October. The award is given annually for generosity, leadership, and personal commitment to Devereux, a non-profit organization providing services throughout the country for persons with emotional, developmental, and educational disabilities. Congratulations to Lisa for this important recognition!

Kristen Froehlich, AKMP Director of the Collection, has been named to the judging panel for the Annual Awards of the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations (PFMHO) in 2009. The committee is evaluating 21 nominees for 4 awards to be presented at a celebratory luncheon in November at the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

During the fall semester Jeffrey Ray, AKMP Senior Curator, is teaching a fine arts course, "The Aesthetic and the Art Nouveau," at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. The course examines the history of the Arts and Crafts Movement, the Aesthetic, and the Art Nouveau from the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London through 1914.

AKMP Programs Continue
While the Museum Building is closed for planned renovations through September 2010, AKMP staff continues to work on projects related to major collection initiatives, exhibitions in the renovated space, newly planned programs for young people, and private facility rentals. Current business hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday

For updates, visit www.philadelphiahistory.org or call:
Collection Research / Rights and Reproductions, 215.685.4839
Programs / Exhibitions, 215.685.4835
Facility Rentals, 215.685.4827
Public Relations, 215.685.4827
Membership, 215.685.4825
Administration / Business Office, 215.685.4835

Continuing public programs include:
• Collaborations related to 150th Anniversary of John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry, Civil War Sesquicentennial, National History Day 2010, and Quest for Freedom
• Curatorial discussions and collection research
• Scheduled "behind the scenes" facility tours


List of Members - July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009
The Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia recognizes its dedicated members who through their contributions provide continuing support for the collection, exhibitions, and educational programs. We proudly list members by giving level and gratefully acknowledge their commitment during the past year.


Director's Circle - $1,000
Regina Blaszczyk and Lee O'Neill
Mark and Sandra Colatrella
Jennifer L. Fuges and James G. Anderson
Mr. and Mrs. Howard H. Lewis, Esq.
Robert E. Mortensen
Viki Sand

Sponsor - $500
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest R. Shapiro

Contributing - $250
Frank and Margery Cooper
Allen F. Davis, Ph.D.
Mark H. Haller
Gregory Kleiber
Jane Krumrine
Mark Lipshutz
Charles A. Peters
Kristen Rupert and John Foote
Lawrence Spitz and Carol Klein

Sustaining - $125
Roberta Bernstein
Steven and Carol Bernstein
Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Carver
Tobey and Mark Dichter
Aaron Goldblatt and Laura Foster
Vince and Chris Grieco
Ron and Linda Henry
Richard Hoffman and Susan Kellogg
Nancy K. Hulme
A. Atwater Kent, III
Donald and Katharine Kriebel
Wynn and Anne Lee
Stephen and Janet Mullin
Robert S. Price, Esq.
Lizabeth and Stephen Raynes
Dr. and Mrs. Gus Spector
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Staudt

Participating - $75
Mrs. Joseph T. Beardwood, III
Gardner A. Cadwalader
Henry and Mickey Disston
Joseph Evancich
Greta and Alan Greenberger
Francis W. Hoeber
Stephen and Judith Kastenberg
Janet and Lewis Klein
George F. Koch, Jr.
Elizabeth Laurent
LeVoyne Littlefield
Tom Moran
Louise E. Seltzer
Steve Shore
Paul Steinke
Jennie Zehmer

Household - $55
Kim and Rob R. Baron
David L. Barquist
Leslie Benoliel and Alex Hamilton
Robert and Carole Berley
Seth C. Bruggeman and Hilary I. Lowe
Dr. and Mrs. James Dannenberg
Mary K. Doherty
Murray Dubin and Libby Rosof
Jan Felman and Harvey Schwartz, M.D.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris Finkel
Stan Freed
Mr. and Mrs. Jerrold A. Frezel
Ben-Zion and Jane Friedman
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gettlin
Catherine Green
Michael Hairston and Dan Rothermel
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Holgren
Jo-anna and William Horn
Stephen and Jennifer Horton
Isador and Myra Kranzel
Stuart and Harriet Lacy
Charles E. Mather, III
Dave Maynard and Suzannah Hall
James J. Mazzarelli, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. McAdoo
Caroline and Thomas Metcalf
Charles and Kitty Mills
Barbara Moore
Craig Oliner and Alyson Owen
Dawn Pratson and Skip Fischer
David S. Rasner, Esq.
Hal and Sue Rosenthal
Dr. and Mrs. Nathan Schnall
Emily Snedden and Kyle Yates
Marjorie Snelling
Helen M. Stailey
Nora Tillman
Fred and Margaret Vincent
Sara and William Vogel
Fred and Arleen Weinstein
Gilbert and Alberta Wilson Jr.

Individual - $35
George Ahern
Susan M. Babbitt
Herman Baron
Perry Benson, Jr.
Lawrence D. Bodine
Ruth E. Brown
Sandra L. Cadwalader
Charlotte Council
J. Drew Coyle
Joan Decker
Matthew DeJulio, Jr.
Kevin F. Dooley, CM
James A. Drobile
Burton Eisenberg
Kathleen A. Foster
Louis Grieco
Sally F. Griffith
Janet Hagan
Carol Ann Harris
Steven D. Levin
Mrs. Sydney M. Lowndes
Kathleen M. McDevitt
Randall M. Miller
Yolanda Pagano
Steven J. Peitzman
Andrew Saul
Marie Schwarz
Joseph J. Shapiro
Joel R. Simon
Anne W. Sims
Rebecca Stoloff
Barbara Titus
Jason Trenchard
Mark Weisman
Kiersten Wildermuth

Student/Senior - $25
Sheldon Wolf
David and Eleanor Andrews
Regina Bannan
Sylvia Boccassini
Rosina A. Coltellaro
Carol Corson
Margaret A. deBrandt
Dana Dorman
Jean C. Drake
Hazel Leona Griswold
Jean Haskell, Ed.D.
Russell Jackson
Dorothy G. Kapenstein
Jerome Kaplan
Elaine Katzer
Robert Kettell
Andrew K. Kevorkian
Carol LaBelle
Betty S. Light
Michael Lipschutz
Paul and Mary Mangelsdorf
Rose M. Marinaro
Richard V. Nowakowski
K. Mabel Schaefer
Herb Schwartz
Stephen Seplow
Lois Shestack
Joel Spivak
Eugene G. Stackhouse
Bert Strieb
Shirley Sue Swaab
W. Scott Tuttle
Peter A. Tyrrell, Jr.
Frank A. Weer
Cecilia Moy Yep


List of Contributors - July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009
The Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia gratefully acknowledges the support of individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies during fiscal year 2008-2009. * Notes those contributors who are also AKMP members.

Major Funding
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania—Redevelopment Assistance
Capital Project (RACP) Grant ($1,000,000)
Capital Programs, City of Philadelphia ($858,370 continuing)
The William Penn Foundation ($718,094 continuing)
National Endowment for the Humanities ($595,970 continuing)
City of Philadelphia ($275,971)
Citywide Capital Grant Fund ($250,000 continuing)
Institute of Museum and Library Services ($142,186 continuing)
Institute of Museum and Library Services ($132,942 continuing)
Keystone Historic Preservation Grant Program,
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission ($85,000 continuing)
Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative ($60,000 continuing)
The McLean Contributionship ($50,000 continuing)


Gifts of $20,000 to $49,999
Atwater Kent Foundation
Atwater Kent Trust
Gregory Kleiber *
Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation (two years)
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Philadelphia Foundation
Poor Richard's Trust/David Seltzer

Gifts of $10,000 to $19,999
D. Jeffry Benoliel
Connelly Foundation (continuing)
Independence Foundation (three years)

Gifts of $1,000 to $9,999
The Barra Foundation
Peter A. Benoliel and Willo Carey
Mark and Sandra Colatrella *
Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation
Samuel S. Fels Fund
Fox Rothschild, LLP
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gettlin *
Hamilton Family Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Howard H. Lewis, Esq. *
Liberty Property Trust
Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation
L Y Charitable Lead Trust/Lisa Yang
Mrs. Louis C. Madeira
James J. Mazzarelli, Jr. *
Robert E. Mortensen *
Pennsylvania Abolition Society
Philadelphia Activities Fund
Quaker Chemical Foundation
David S. Rasner, Esq. *
F. Douglas Raymond, III
Woody Rosenbach


Gifts of $500 to $999
Kim and Rob R. Baron *
Constance W. Benoliel-Rock
Eden Charitable Foundation
Bruce Kuklick and Elizabeth Block
Mrs. Henry Mitchell
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest R. Shapiro *
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Staudt *

Gifts of $100 to $499
George Ahern *
Kay Bearman
Leslie Benoliel and Alex Hamilton *
Lawrence D. Bodine *
Leonard Braitman and Cynthia Little
Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Carver *
Amanda Cooperman
Carol Corson *
Charlotte Council *
Tobey and Mark Dichter *
Murray Dubin and Libby Rosof *
Aaron Goldblatt and Laura Foster *
Tucker C. Gresh
Vince and Chris Grieco *
Mark H. Haller *
Ron and Linda Henry *
James and Kathleen Hilty
Robert P. Leiby, Jr.
Rose M. Marinaro *
Joe and Kathy Martz
Randall M. Miller *
Tom Moran *
F. Stanton Moyer
Steven J. Peitzman *
Charles A. Peters *
Marion and Mike Pulsifer
Lizabeth and Stephen Raynes *
Thomas D. Rees
Dan and Barbara Rottenberg
Kristen Rupert and John Foote *
Dr. and Mrs. Gus Spector *
Anna Coxe Toogood
Barbara Wallace

Gifts of $1 to $99
Anonymous
Carolyn and Timothy Adams
Stanislav Alexseev
Susan M. Babbitt
Perry Benson, Jr. *
Shirley Bonnem
Matthew DeJulio, Jr. *
Kevin F. Dooley, CM *
Burton Eisenberg *
Joseph Evancich *
Kathleen A. Foster *
Robert and Caryl Gorman
Louis Grieco *
Henry and Gail Hauptfuhrer
Isador and Myra Kranzel *
Edna Lamb
Walter Tsou and Jean Lee
Steven D. Levin *
Dorothy H. MacQueen
Kathleen M. McDevitt *
Cecilia Moy Yep *
Ethel Rasner
Joseph J. Reidy
Hal and Sue Rosenthal *
K. Mabel Schaefer *
Bert Strieb *
Shirley Sue Swaab *
Mrs. Robert D. Torrey
Fred and Margaret Vincent *
Sara and William Vogel *
Joseph Wells, Jr.
Jennie Zehmer *

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