When People’s United Bank agreed to sponsor the American Independence Museum’s evening and afternoon lecture series, Executive Director Emma Bray was thrilled.
“It is more than a fiscal sponsorship,” she said. “It’s a partnership.”
In describing ‘partnership,’ Bray went on to explain that Marc Ouellette, vice president, senior market manager at People’s United Bank, attended nearly every lecture last year when they also presented the lively educational talks.
“It was great to have Marc here and talk with our guests and get to know them as people,” she said. “Their support enables us to put on a first-class event and promote it effectively…the high attendance numbers this year support that.”
For Ouellette, partnering with the museum makes sense in several ways.
“I see the bank and the museum as branches on the same tree,” he said. “The community is this tree, and each of us have our roles. It is a wonderful partnership.”
Bray agreed and extended the metaphor of a tree a bit further. “People’s United Bank enables us to branch out into the community,” she said.
In reflecting on the partnership as a whole, Bray said it is “immensely important.”
“I tremendously value our partnership with Marc and the bank,” she said. “Their support enables us to continue to develop programs and opportunities for experiential learning that are really very important. Understanding history and its relevance to today gives us all a much needed sense of place.”
Tavern Talks are additionally supported by a Humanities-To-Go grant from the NH Humanities Council.
In January, Ozzie Ayscue of Exeter was elected president of its Board of Governors. The appointment follows two years of service on the board during which time Ayscue said he became increasingly motivated by the museum’s mission.
“The mission really resonated with me, especially the part about ‘encouraging and inspiring civic engagement today,’” he said. “It is vitally important to find clever ways to help people to slow down and gain a deeper understanding of the people, places and ideas of American Independence from all sides. With that base of knowledge, people will be more excited to engage in civic life in a constructive manner.”
He also expressed interest in the museum’s assets, which include a Broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence printed on July 4, 1776 and working drafts of the US Constitution with handwritten corrections.
“The potential for storytelling and enabling an intimate experience with these and many other amazing items are a huge opportunity for the museum,” he said.
While not an Exeter native, Ayscue said he is also excited at the prospect to give back to a town that helped lay the foundation for his future.
“I first experienced Exeter and New Hampshire as a 3-year boarding student at Phillips Exeter Academy,” he said. “I never imagined I would return here later in life, but I am glad I did.”
As for his role as president of the Board of Governors, Ayscue said his first goal is to support museum staff and the important work that is already underway. Some of this work includes the Traveling Trunk program, presented by Service Credit Union, and the planning behind the 3rd Beer for History.
“Beer for History is sponsored by Hoefle Phoenix Gormley & Roberts—and we are thrilled at this renewed partnership and the many partners who help advance our mission,” he said. “Our events and programs reflect a steady effort to enliven visitors’ museum experience so they come away with something a little deeper and different each time they visit.”
Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, the museum welcomes more than 5,000 visitors annually and distinguishes itself with educational school programs and events that make history fun and relevant.
To learn more about the museum, which opens for the 2018 season on Saturday, May 5 with free admission for NH residents, visit www.independencemuseum.org.
American Revolutionary history is alive and well at the American Independence Museum, as it recently opened registration for its kids’ summer programs.
The museum’s summer programming includes a brand new Colonial Tales program, which will utilize stories to introduce kids, ages 6 to 8, to various aspects of daily colonial life. In this half-day program, which takes place July 23 to July 27, kids will learn through activities, crafts and games.
In Revolutionary Kids, participants (ages 9 – 11) will have the opportunity to assume the roles of real 18th century Exeter children, complete with colonial clothing. At the end of the program (July 9 to July 13), participants will demonstrate what they learned at the American Independence Festival on July 14.
Designed for kids, ages 12 to 14, History Adventures will help participants build upon their knowledge of 18th century life and Revolutionary War period history. This program (August 6 to August 10) will consist of hands-on activities and crafts, demonstrations, field trips, living history, re-enacting and more.
In commenting on the museum’s summer programming, Education Manager Abby Pietrantonio said they are excited to offer programs that will reach a wider audience. “We received a generous grant from the William W. Treat Foundation, which really enabled us to expand our summer programs for kids,” she said.
Museum Executive Director Emma Bray expressed excitement at the opportunity to provide kids with a chance to “immerse themselves in our shared colonial history.”
“We are thrilled to expand our hands-on learning opportunities for children this summer,” she added.
From December 1 through December 3, the American Independence Museum welcomed nearly 1,000 visitors for its 2017 season-ending Holiday Celebration, presented by The Provident Bank. The weekend kicked off with a holiday party and fundraiser on Friday with more than $5,000 netted to support museum programs and initiatives.
“This more than doubled what we raised last year,” said museum Executive Director Emma Bray, who noted this was her first year at the annual celebration. “It was wonderful to see so many people of all ages take part in this year’s festivities. It capped off a very successful 2017 season.”
The weekend festivities took place at the museum’s Folsom Tavern, which was professionally decorated by The Willow. In addition to their annual holiday celebration on Friday, the museum served refreshments during the holiday parade on Saturday and participated in Womenade’s Holiday Home Tour on Sunday.
In speaking on the success of the 2017 season, Bray credited corporate partners, including major contributors Service Credit Union; GEICO Local Office, Manchester; Hoefle, Phoenix, Gormley & Roberts, P.A.; New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, and Ruffner Real Estate.
“Aside from financial support, these and many other sponsors are involved in what we do—some like People’s United Bank sponsor educational lectures while others, including The Provident Bank, support specific events and visit with us weekly,” she added.
According to Bray, the museum’s value proposition extends far beyond preserving history.
“We are of course a museum, but we are also a resource for community development,” she explained. “One of the central questions we seek to answer is how can we be of value and service to the communities around us? If we can attract more visitors here, we enhance Exeter and the surrounding region. Corporate partnerships help us advance this larger mission.”
With many secondary schools around the state forced to cut back on history classes due to budget shortfalls, the American Independence Museum launched a Traveling Truck pilot program early in 2017. Revealing different aspects of colonial life, the program provides experiential learning opportunities in American History directly in the classroom at no cost to school districts for elementary and middle school age children.
“History has a place in today’s classroom,” said museum Executive Director Emma Bray. “There is so much more to history than rote memorization of facts and dates.”
Abigail Pietrantonio, education manager at the museum, agrees and said the program helps students develop many of the ‘middle skills’ required for success in “today’s fast-pace world.”
“Critical thinking, team-building, communication—these are some of the skills that research shows history can help students develop,” she said. “The study of history is as relevant as ever.”
Educating roughly 100 students this past spring in its pilot program, the Traveling Trunk is now fully implemented and has educated nearly 250 students this fall. Most recently, Pietrantonio traveled to Jacques Memorial Elementary School in Milford.
“It was great to be in the classroom with the kids,” she said. “I look forward to visiting more schools.”
For David Van Rossum, President/CEO of Service Credit Union, which is sponsoring the trunk through April of 2018, the program’s success has been “remarkable.”
“We are delighted the program has been so well received and we hope many other children from the Granite State will come to experience our rich history in such a fun and engaging way,” he said.
In each trunk—students have access to more than 70 high-quality replica items, while teachers are guided by a curriculum designed by the museum.
Expressing appreciation at the partnership with—and support from—Service Credit Union, Bray said the program helps to advance the museum’s mission “beyond [their] four walls.”
“The museum closes for tours in December, but this program makes us a year-round concern,” she said. “We are not just preserving history, we are help to teach it while inspiring today’s young learners to become tomorrow’s leaders…This is a great program that fills a very real educational need.”
To learn more about the Traveling Trunk program, or make an inquiry for your school, library, or similar institution, contact Abigail at [email protected].
