SHAKER MUSEUM AND LIBRARY
88 SHAKER MUSEUM ROAD, OLD CHATHAM, NY 12136 www.shakerml.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF SHAKER MUSEUM|MOUNT LEBANON IS TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL AUDIENCES BY TELLING THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN SHAKERS. THE COMMITMENTS OF SHAKER MUSEUM|MOUNT LEBANON ARE TO: STEWARD THE SHAKER MATERIAL LEGACY - THE MUSEUM'S ARTIFACTS AND ARCHIVES AND MOUNT LEBANON'S HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND LANDSCAPE - THROUGH COLLECTING, CONSERVING, PRESERVING, PROTECTING, DOCUMENTING, INTERPRETING, AND RESTORING; AND SHARE WITH DIVERSE AUDIENCES THE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE STORIES OF THE SHAKERS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY - INCLUDING RELIGION, EQUALITY, COMMUNALISM, PACIFISM, DESIGN, CRAFT, AND TECHNOLOGY - THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS, PUBLIC MEDIA CONTENT, AND EXHIBITIONS.

THE MISSION OF THE SHAKER MUSEUM|MOUNT LEBANON IS TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL AUDIENCES BY TELLING THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN SHAKERS.

HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION - SINCE 2009, THE MUSEUM HAS UNDERTAKEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS AT MOUNT LEBANON. IN 2014, THE MUSEUM COMPLETED A 2-YEAR PROJECT OF APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION TO STABILIZE THE WALLS OF THE GREAT STONE BARN AT MOUNT LEBANON. THE BARN, GUTTED BY FIRE IN 1972, WAS THE LARGEST STONE BARN IN AMERICA WHEN BUILD IN 1859. IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FINANCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SOPHISTICATION OF THE SHAKERS' AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, AND TO THEIR COMMUNAL STEWARDSHIP OF THE LAND AND ANIMALS. FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT WAS ASSEMBLED OVER SEVERAL YEARS, AND INCLUDED FEDERAL GRANTS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE INTERIOR, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND TRANSPORTATION: THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION; THE WORLD MONUMENTS FUND; AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OVER 100 PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. THE PROJECT STABILIZED THE STONE WALLS OF THE BUILDING, WITH THE GOAL OF MAKING THE BUILDING AVAILABLE FOR INTERPRETATION AS PART OF THE MUSEUM'S OPERATION OF THE HISTORIC SITE. IN 2015, THE MUSEUM EXECUTED A GRANT CONTRACT OF $500,000 WITH THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO CONTINUE PRESERVATION OF THIS BUILDING. THE MUSEUM CAPPED THE BARN WALLS TO PREVENT FURTHER EROSION AND TO ENSURE LONG-TERM STABILITY. IN 2016, THE MUSEUM COMPLETED WORK ON A CONTRACT TO RESTORE ELEMENTS OF THE BRICK SHOP, WITH FUNDING FROM THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND A LINE OF CREDIT WITH THE PRESERVATION LEAGUE OF NEW YORK. IN 2014, THE MUSEUM PURCHASED A 61-ACRE PARCEL OF HISTORIC SHAKER LANDS ADJACENT TO THE MOUNT LEBANON SITE. IN 2016, THE MUSEUM COMPLETED THE FUNDING CONTRACT WITH THE OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE AND COMPLETED NEGOTIATIONS FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK. IN 2018, THE MUSEUM CLEARED EIGHT ACRES OF NEW GROWTH WOOD FROM THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PARCEL, RESTORING A SIGNIFICANT VIEW SHED AND RESTORING WOOD AREAS TO THE OPEN FIELD AND CROP LAND THAT WOULD HAVE EXISTED AT THE HEIGHT OF THE SHAKERS' OCCUPANCY OF THE MOUNT LEBANON SITE IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE 1800S. THIS WORK EXPOSED ORIGINAL SHAKER STONE WALLS, WHICH HAD BEEN OBSCURED FOR DECADES, TO PUBLIC VIEW. IN 2019, OVER TWO MILES OF HIKING TRAILS WERE COMPLETED THROUGH THIS CLEARED LAND AND THE REMAINING WOODED AREAS. FOLLOWING AN APPROVAL PROCESS FROM THE NEW YORK STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE, THE MUSEUM INSTALLED SIX NEW INTERPRETATIVE EDUCATIONAL SIGNS AT THE SITE IN 2019. THIS SIGNAGE, MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION AID FUNDS FROM NEW YORK STATE, ALLOWS VISITORS TO MORE FULLY UTILIZE THE NEWLY AVAILABLE SELF-GUIDED TOUR BROCHURES TO VISIT THE SITE AND IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN SHAKER HISTORY YEAR-ROUND AND REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY.

SITE TOURS, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITIONS - IN 2019 THE MUSEUM CONTINUED ITS SEASONAL PROGRAMMING FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER AT MOUNT LEBANON WITH GUIDED TOURS OF THE SITE AS WELL AS TWO ON-SITE EHXIBITIONS AND A HOST OF EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. A GRANT FROM THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR A FIRST-EVER ARTIST RESIDENCY IN THE HISTORIC FORGE BUILDING AT MOUNT LEBANON. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, AMIE CUNAT CURATED QUIET MARCH TO A WARRING SONG, AN EXHIBITION OF WORK BY NINE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS WHOSE WORK CHALLENGES OR REVEALS HEADSTRONG HISTORIES OR EXISTING SOCIO-POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENTS. CUNAT ALSO CREATED A SOLO EXHIBITION ENTITLED GRANARY, WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN THE HISTORIC GRANARY BUILDING AT MOUNT LEBANON THROUGHOUT THE 2019 SUMMER SEASON, REIMAGINING THE GRANARY'S HISTORIC FUNCTION BY RECONSTRUCTING ITS STORAGE STRUCTURES AND ELEVATOR WITH PAPER MATERIALS AND VIBRANT COLOR CHOICES. THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, CUNAT ORGANIZED AND CONDUCTED EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS WITH ARTISTS WHO LED SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES EXPLORING THE SHAKER LEGACY OF CRAFT. THE MUSEUM ALSO HOSTED LOW AND NO-COST PROGRAMMING AND DEMONSTRATIONS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTISTS, CRAFTSPEOPLE, AND LOCAL EXPERTS. THE MUSEUM HOSTED A BAGPIPE CONCERT, JAM-MAKING AND VARIOUS WOODWORKING DEMONSTRATIONS, KNITTING ACTIVITIES, AND BIRDWATCHING DURING THE 2019 SUMMER SEASON. THE MUSEUM OPERATES ON TWO CAMPUSES -THE HISTORIC SITE AT MOUNT LEBANON AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE CAMPUS IN OLD CHATHAM THAT HOUSES COLLECTIONS STORAGE, THE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES, AND STAFF OFFICES. THE COLLECTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH PRIVATE MEMBER TOURS AND IN EXIBITIONS AT THE HISTORIC SITE. IN 2018 THE MUSEUM WORKED WITH THE JEFF BAILEY GALLERY IN HUDSON, NY TO MOUNT AN EXHIBITION TITLED "LINE AND CURVE: THE ELLSWORTH KELLY AND JACK SHEAR SHAKER COLLECTION FROM SHAKER MUSEUM | MOUNT LEBANON WITH PRINTS BY ELLSWORTH KELLY." THE EXHIBITION TRAVELED TO THE NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, WHERE IT WAS ON VIEW THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019. IN 2018 THE MUSEUM ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE COLUMBIA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ON AN EXHIBITION TITLED DURABLE BEAUTY: SHAKER BASKETS FROM SHAKER MUSEUM | MOUNT LEBANON. IN 2017 THE MUSEUM MOUNTED AN EXIBITION FUNDED LARGELY BY THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS "BREAK EVERY YOKE: SHAKERS, GENDER EQUALITY, AND WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE" TO CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE IN NEW YORK STATE, AS WELL AS TWO INSTALLATIONS, ONE OF SHAKER STOVES AND THE OTHER OF SHAKER TOOLS. IN 2016 THE MUSEUM MOUNTED - "WASH: THERE IS NO DIRT IN HEAVEN," WHICH TOLD THE STORY OF THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF SHAKERS AS THEY HANDLED WEEKLY COMMUNAL LAUNDRY. THE EXHIBITION LOOKED AT THE WATERPOWER SYSTEMS THAT RAN THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, AND EXPLORED HOW THE SHAKERS USED THEIR TECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE TO CREATE A COMMERCIAL WASHER, MANGLE, AND LAUNDRY SOAP FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC. THE MUSEUM HAS WORKED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN RECENT YEARS TO PROVIDE OBJECT LOANS TO AN EXIBITION AT THE FARNSWORTH MUSEUM IN ROCKLAND, MAINE: "THE SHAKERS: FROM MOUNT LEBANON TO THE WORLD," THE MUSEUM WAS THE PRIMARY LENDER TO THIS EXHIBITION, PROVIDING OVER 100 ITEMS FROM ITS COLLECTIONS. 60,000 SAW THE EXHIBITION THROUGH ITS RUN THROUGH MARCH 2015, WHICH WAS COVERED BY MAJOR NATIONAL PRESS, INCLUDING THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. THE MUSEUM PARTICIPATED IN THE PLANNING AND PROVIDED CONTENT FOR THE ACCOMPANYING 250 PAGE HARD - COVER BOOK PUBLISHED BY SKIRA RIZZOLI, WHICH INCLUDES ESSAYS BY MUSEUM STAFF AND A MUSEUM TRUSTEE. THE MUSEUM COLLABORATED WITH OTHER AREA SHAKER MUSEUMS ON "THE SHAKERS: AMERICA'S QUIET REVOLUTIONARIES", A MAJOR EXHIBITION PRESENTED AT THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM IN ALBANY IN 2014 THROUGH 2016. A MUSEUM STAFF MEMBER SERVED AS THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE CURATORIAL TEAM. THIS EXHIBITION INCLUDED OVER 70 ITEMS ON LOAN FROM THE SHAKER MUSEUM. STATE MUSEUM ATTENDANCE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE NEARLY 600,000 DURING THE ALBANY EXHIBITION. IN 2016, MUSEUM PROGRAMS EXPLORED THE MANY STORIES THAT THE MOUNT LEBANON BUILDINGS HOLD, AND INTRODUCED A NEW LEARNING SPACE FOR CHILDREN IN THE HISTORIC POULTRY HOUSE. IN 2015, MUSEUM STAFF WORKED ON A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT TO PRESENT THREE SHAKER ROOMS AT THE 2015 EUROPEAN FINE ART FAIR IN MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS, ALONG WITH AN ACCOMPANYING BOOK PUBLISHED BY ASSOULINE PUBLISHING. THIS EXHIBITION WAS DESIGNED TO PRESENT SHAKER HISTORY TO A NEW EUROPEAN AUDIENCE.

COLLECTIONS CARE - IN 2015 THE MUSEUM STARTED A MAJOR EFFORT TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE AS NEEDED THE CARE OF ITS OBJECT COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM CONTINUES TO WORK TO MAKE ITS COLLECTIONS AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEDIA. THE GLADYS KNIEBLE DELMAS FOUNDATION AND THE TIANADERRAH FOUNDATION FUNDED A DIGITIZATION PROJECT OF MOUNT LEBANON MANUSCRIPTS. DIGITIZATION OF HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS CONTINUED, AND THE MUSEUM MADE AVAILABLE ABOUT 2,450 PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE PUBLIC IN EARLY 2015. THE MUSEUM WAS AWARDED A $750,000 GRANT IN 2016 FROM THE HENRY LUCE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT A 2 1/2 YEAR PROJECT TO DOCUMENT THE ENTIRE COLLECTION ONLINE; PHOTOGRAPH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE COLLECTION; AND PRESENT ALL THE INFORMATION AND IMAGES IN AN ONLINE DATABASE THAT IS FREE AND FULLY PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE. THIS PROJECT WAS COMPLETED AT THE END OF 2018 WITH THE LAUNCH OF A NEW WEBSITE SHOWCASING MORE THAN 16,000 OBJECTS FROM THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM'S EXTENSIVE COLLECTION AND ARCHIVE OF SHAKER MANUSCRIPTS, IMPRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, EPHEMERA, AND SECONDARY SHAKER MUSEUM AND LIBRARY RESEARCH MATERIALS CONTINUED TO ATTRACT RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. THE MUSEUM ENCOURAGES AND SUPPORTS STUDY AND RESEARCH IN THE COLLECTION, AS WELL AS ITS INTERPRETATION, THROUGH EXHIBITIONS ORGANIZED BY THE MUSEUM AND IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONS, AN ONLINE BLOG, AND THROUGH LOANS TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS. MUSEUM STAFF ALSO RESPOND TO INQUIRIES FROM RESEARCHERS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT SHAKER HISTORY AND OBJECT PROVENANCE.

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