THE STATESMAN
|
JANUARY – APRIL 2022
NO
“Compact OF
SILENCE”
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E B E N J A M I N H A R R I S O N P R E S I D E N T I A L S I T E
B OA R D O F
Directors HONORARY DIRECTORS
Brian Hewitt, Chair Donna Oklak, Vice Chair Jeremy Davis, Treasurer Morgan Snyder, Secretary Carolyn E. Anker, Past Chair
Robert H. Everitt Thomas P. Ewbank George Geib Stan C. Hurt Jamia Jasper Jacobsen Thomas King James Kirsch James Morris Susanne S. Ridlen
Robert Altice Teresa A. Bennett Lisa Boncosky Lloyd Crowe Rosemary Dorsa Erin Dorsey Eric J. Holcomb Elizabeth Mann Konye Ori Rod Taylor
ADVISORY CABINET
William A. Browne, Jr. Daniel F. Evans J. Scott Keller John L. Krauss Howard “HJ” Lacy IV Andrea Neal David Sease Kameelah Shaheed-Diallo Ed Simcox James Wallis Michael W. Wells
EX-OFFICIO
Ellis Hall, Volunteer Association president PRESIDENT & CEO
Charles A. Hyde
S TA F F
WHITNEY BALL Special Events & Marketing Manager
MOLLY BEAUSIR Russell and Penny Fortune Project POTUS Presidential Fellow
DANIEL BENNETT Experience Manager
JENNIFER CAPPS VP of Curatorship & Exhibition
BETHANY GOSEWEHR VP of Development
ROGER HARDIG VP of Education
JENNIFER HODGE Gracia Johnson Floyd Presidential Fellow
JAYNE HOFFMAN Weekend Supervisor
BECKY HONEYWELL Capital Campaign Officer
CHARLES A. HYDE President & CEO
GARY LARREATEGUI Weekend Supervisor
JAMIE MITTMAN Volunteer & Relationship Coordinator
ALEXIS PRICE Social Media & Content Coordinator
MARGARET SALLEE Director of Operations
JULIO ZEPEDA Facilities Manager
Special thanks to the more than 150 volunteers who make our work possible!
FROM THE
New Year Resolutions
President The new year traditionally marks the passage of time and an opportunity for fresh starts—a chance to reflect and recommit ourselves to priorities. This is as true for organizations as it is for individuals, and the Presidential Site is determined to challenge itself to be the very best version of itself possible.
With this in mind, here are some of the “New Year resolutions” we’ve set ourselves, as informed by our board-approved 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, which sets forth a vision to be “the most innovative, inclusive, and civically engaged presidential site” in the country: INNOVATIVE: With our $6m capital campaign having reached—and exceeded— its goal, we’re reimagining what a successful history museum and presidential organization looks like, and how it can best serve the larger community. You’ll see our many investments taking shape in the coming year. From the Johnson-Floyd Family Presidential Commons, Book of History, Citizenship Plaza, the Stan & Sandy Hurt Presidential Promenade, Neighborway, Harrison Family Presidential Research Library, and more, we’re putting into action powerful uses of place and space to advance civic outreach and history education. INCLUSIVE: Building on the strength and momentum of our Future Presidents of America initiative, we expanded its reach in 2021 with two national outreach partners, and anticipate further growth of the program serving diverse young leaders. We’ve redoubled our efforts to meaningfully engage underserved and underrepresented communities in our programming, planning committees, staffing, and governance. Watch too for our outreach to prospective citizens for education opportunities about the constitution and rights and responsibilities of citizenship. And we’re seeking to recognize the more than 1,500 citizens who have naturalized here since 2003 in partnership with the Federal Court. Add to this our free community events including the Presidential Egg Roll, Independence Day Social, and the new Juneteenth Foodways Festival. CIVICALLY ENGAGED: on January 27th we’ll be opening our new exhibit, No “Compact of Silence”: Black Civil Rights Advocates in the Harrison Era. Further complementing our efforts above, we are excited to continue our partnership with the Marion County Election board serving as a voting center; our partnership with Marion County courts to honor and help appreciate jury service; our new national initiative, Project POTUS; hosting over 30 events per year drawing widely from the community; and providing vital history and civics education to thousands of school children each year. And you might say this is just the tip of the ice burg. We look forward to sharing with you new outreach and engagement efforts, especially as construction on capital projects is completed and we invite you to help us dedicate these vital new spaces for the community. Here’s to 2022, and to all of you. It’s going to be an exciting year, and we’re grateful to have your continued support as Presidential Site members and friends! Very sincerely yours,
Charles A. Hyde, President & CEO Cover Image: Shaunt’e Lewis Art
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PLAN YOUR
Calendar
V isit
JANUARY 2022 EXHIBIT OPENING: NO “COMPACT OF SILENCE”: BLACK CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES IN THE HARRISON ERA* THURSDAY, JANUARY 27 . 5:30PM–7:00PM
FEBRUARY 2022 LIVE! PRESIDENT’S DAY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 . 10:00AM–3:00PM
APRIL 2022 PRESIDENTIAL EGG ROLL SATURDAY, APRIL 9 . 9:00AM–10:30AM
APRIL 2022 CANDLELIGHT THEATRE APRIL 22–23, 29–30, MAY 1, 6–7 Presented by Candlelight Theatre* Performances start at 6pm on Saturdays, 2pm on Sundays * Reservations recommended.
Coffee with the Curator
FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH 8:30AM – 9AM (VIEW ON FACEBOOK LIVE AT 8:45AM) Free for members & guests | $6 general admission
Join us for a stimulating 30 minutes at our monthly First Friday event! While you enjoy coffee and pastries, you will get a chance to explore some of the most interesting, amazing and unexpected Presidential Site collection items. We promise to satisfy your curiosity and have you on your way to the office by 9am sharp! Upcoming themes include: . January 7 No “Compact of Silence”: Black Civil Rights Advocates in the Harrison Era . February 4 . March 4
OFFICIAL COFFEE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SITE
OFFICIAL TEA OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SITE
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. April 1
(onsite event & simulcast on Facebook Live)
Aspiring Men: McCoy, Elbert, Christy, and Hinton
(onsite event & simulcast on Facebook Live)
3rd Floor Sneak Peak
(onsite event & simulcast on Facebook Live)
46 in 45
(onsite event & simulcast on Facebook Live)
Space is limited so reservations are recommended. Find out more by calling 317.631.1888 or visiting PresidentBenjaminHarrison.org.
HARRISON STILL
in the News
INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL
Be part of the ‘Book of History’ at the Harrison site Latoya Botteron
“Being naturalized at the home of a president who was a pioneer advocate for voting rights for African Americans and gaining citizenship in a year when President Barack Obama was in office was so poignant. I am just one example of what’s possible if people have fair access to opportunity and the capacity to step fully into those opportunities. So when I learned about the book-of-names project being planned as part of the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s “Old Glory, New Vision” capital campaign, I had to get involved. The incredibly successful capital campaign has already exceeded its $6 million goal. The impressive plan to renovate the grounds and national historic landmark is well underway and scheduled for completion by early 2023. The campaign includes the goal of having the names and countries of every citizen who has been naturalized at the presidential site since 2003—more than 1,500 people—listed in what is officially being called the “Book of History.” But privacy laws preclude the federal government from providing those names publicly. So, we need your help. This one-of-a-kind Book of History will be situated in the heart of the site’s new Citizenship Plaza, with the goal of documenting and honoring as many of those new citizens who were naturalized at the presidential site as possible—only with their permission.
WFYI
New exhibit will focus on black civil rights advocates Taylor Bennett
“A new exhibit at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential site will focus on Black Civil Rights advocates. IUPUI student curator Kelly Poston said the exhibit, “No Compact of Silence,” highlights national and local Black civil rights activists during President Benjamin Harrison’s term in office. “I really hope people look at these great Indiana advocates, names I haven’t ever heard of before I started researching, and now I am very proud they were here in Indiana and doing such great work,” Poston said. Individuals featured include prominent national advocates like Frederick Douglass and Ida B. Wells along with those with local connections like William D. McCoy, Dolly Johnson and more. An opening reception is Jan. 27. The exhibit, included with general admission, will be open to the public from Jan. 28 through Nov. 1. The exhibit is made possible through the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s New Century Curator collaboration with the IUPUI Museum Studies program.”
If you are one of those naturalized citizens, let us know. If your friend, spouse or colleague is one of those citizens, please share this column with them. It is an honor that future generations will have the opportunity to see. We need your help getting the word out! Email bookofhistory@bhpsite.org for more information.” Read the full article at ibj.com. T H E STAT E S M A N | PAG E 5
NO
“Compact OF
SILENCE”
B L A C K C I V I L R I GH T S A D V O C AT E S I N T H E H A R R I S ON E R A
N
o “Compact of Silence:” Black Civil Rights Advocates in the Harrison Era exhibit will feature local and national Black civil rights activists during and around President Harrison’s term in office (1889-1893). It explores the complex dynamics of race in late 19th century America, including the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 in Chicago, anti-lynching laws and movements, and Black voting suppression. In response to Whitelaw Reid’s inquiry about Black voting suppression in the Southern states, President Harrison replied, “I would not be willing myself to purchase the presidency for a compact of silence upon this question.” During his term, Harrison would appoint three Black delegates: Frederick Douglass, Blanche Kelso Bruce, and William D. McCoy to office, propose the first federal anti-lynching law, and support the Lodge Bill, which if passed would have prevented Black voting suppression in the South. From these major events and movements, Black civil rights advocates began their campaigns. Activists emerged from many different careers and sectors of society. Figures like Ida B. Wells, George Stewart, and Lillian Thomas Fox expressed their activism through their work in journalism. The Reason Why, the most notable pamphlet of the time, was co-written by Ida B. Wells, Frederick Douglass, I. Garland Penn, and Ferdinand Barnett and discussed the exclusion of African Americans at the World’s Columbian Fair. Marshall “Major” Taylor and Laura “Dolly” Johnson led by example, being the first Black athlete from the United States to become a World Champion and the first Black woman to carry the title of head chef in the White House. The majority of the advocates, like Katherine Bailey and Sallie Stewart, took positions in politics, creating, leading, and participating in national organizations such as: the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Association of Colored Women’s Club (NACWC), and the Indiana State Federation of Colored Women (ISFCW). Ida B. Wells was one of the most prominent Black civil rights advocates in the late 19th and the early 20th century. As a journalist, she published pamphlets and newspaper columns to inform the nation on accounts of racism, sexism, and white mob violence. She represented many people, running campaigns for lynching laws, women’s suffrage, violence against Black citizens, and Black women’s rights. She also worked to create inclusive national organizations, co-founding the NAACP and the NACWC. Frederick Douglass was one of the advocates that had a relationship with President Harrison. As a leader and writer, Douglass was a prominent
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“I would not be willing myself to purchase the Presidency for a compact of silence upon this question.” figure through the late 19th century. Along with three publications on his life, he was appointed by President Harrison to serve as the minister and consul-general of Haiti. Following the collaboration of The Reason Why with Ida B. Wells, the two activists worked closely together for the remainder of their lives. Blanche Kelso Bruce also appointed by President Harrison. Prior to his appointment (as Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia in 1890), he was the first Black Senator to serve a full term. While in office, Senator Bruce focused on the protection of freedmen and minorities, gaining support from President Harrison on the dissolvement of the Chinese Exclusion Act. After his work in politics, he spent the remainder of his life supporting his wife Josephine Beall Willson Bruce with her activism and participation in national organizations. Dolly Johnson became what today would be the White House Executive Chef during Harrison’s term. Johnson assumed the duties of White House chef in December 1889, after Harrison fired the French chef Madame Petronard. Dolly Johnson, relocated her from Kentucky to Washington D.C. There, she would run the entire kitchen, planning meals, grocery lists, and overseeing all the operations in the White House. After serving the White House, she would return to Kentucky and create her own food enterprisebecoming the first African-American
– PRESIDENT HARRISON
woman to operate a business on Lexington’s Main Street, a restaurant she named The White House Cafe. Katherine Bailey an important Indiana Black civil rights advocate helped pass Indiana’s legislation in relation to white mob violence and lynching. After the death of two Black youth in Marion County, Bailey campaigned for a stronger and more protective Indiana antilynching law. With the help of executives of the NAACP, Bailey would successfully pass a state law in 1931. She also formed and lead the Marion County NAACP chapter and speak at other chapters around the nation. This special exhibit discusses the lives and success of national and local advocates, celebrating their accomplishments and their legacies that continue to be seen today. by Kelly Poston, New Century Curatorial Fellow
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FROM THE
Collection
N O “ CO M PACT O F S I L E NC E ” PA RTN E RS A N D CO L L A BORATORS
This is a collaborative effort between the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site and the IUPUI Museum Studies Program. Our New Century Curator initiative seeks to afford innovative opportunities for museum studies students. This exhibition was made possible with the assistance of many people and organizations. Curatorial Fellow, Kelly Poston, thanks the following for their assistance.
This special exhibit highlights national and local Black civil rights whose lives and actions intersected with President Benjamin Harrison’s term in office.
Thank you to the Collections & Exhibitions Committee: Ellis Hall Susie Sogard Erin Dorsey Michael McQuillen Scott Keller Jennifer Capps David Yount Whitney Ball Sue Ridlen Roger Hardig Diane Crabtree Thank you to the staff at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site: Jennifer Capps VP of Curatorship & Exhibition Charles Hyde President & CEO Whitney Ball Special Events & Marketing Manager Julio Zepeda Facilities Manager Thank you to the faculty of the Museum Studies Program at IUPUI: Elizabeth Kryder-Reid, Ph.D. Lois Silverman, Ph.D. Holly Cusack-McVeigh, Ph.D. Laura Holzman, Ph.D. Thank you to our lending partners and institutions: The Indiana Historical Society University of Southern Indiana America’s Black Holocaust Museum Frederick Douglass NPS Major Taylor Assocation Rod Taylor Thank you to our illustrator: Shaunt’e Lewis Art
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FROM THE
Collection
THE VISIT OF PRESIDENT HARRISON AND PARTY, TO KODAK PARK MEMORIAL DAY, 1892
President Benjamin Harrison, Frederick Douglass, and Governor of New York Roswell Flower all gave speeches at the dedication of the Soldiers’ Monument commemorating civil war veterans for New York, along with a parade of 10,000 people. The monument includes a central figure of Abraham Lincoln. Kodak Park (or Washington Square Park) is in Rochester, NY.
SOUVENIR BOOKLET Program to Kodak Park, Memorial Day, 1892. Hand painted apple blossom. Containing pictures of those present and of the Kodak Company.
PRESIDENT BENJAMIN HARRISON’S FOURTH ANNUAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS DECEMBER 6, 1892
In this address he made plain his stance on the horrors of lynching: “Lawlessness is not less such, but more, where it usurps the functions of the peace officer and of the courts. The frequent lynching of colored people accused of crime is without the excuse, ... Such acts are a reproach to the community where they occur, and so far as they can be made the subject of Federal jurisdiction the strongest repressive legislation is demanded... The officer who gives his life in the brave discharge of this duty is worthy of special honor. No lesson needs to be so urgently impressed upon our people as this, that no worthy end or cause can be promoted by lawlessness.” T H E STAT E S M A N | PAG E 9
Locally Relevant, Nationally Significant The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site had an eventful 2021, living up to our commitment to carry forward our mission whether onsite, offsite, or online. While we continued to face significant public health constraints on in-person visitation, we were proud to serve over 17,000 visitors, including over 6,000 general admission tours, more than 5,000 students in-person (and another 2,000 virtually), over 4,000 participants in our events through both in person and virtual experiences, and hundreds of thousands more (you read that right!) through a YouTube featured video on the Harrison residence. We continued our proud tradition of outstanding public events last fall (pictured nearby), with: TAPS: A Musical Salute honoring service members on Veterans Day; the blockbuster new event, Off the Record: Hoosiers in the White House; and the 2021 Mary Tucker Jasper Speaker Series featuring “American Presidents: Past & Future” with Future Presidents of America alumna Jade Thomas, Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum Christina Shutt, and President & CEO of Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, Howard Kittell. With $6 million+ in capital campaign construction in progress on our grounds—and getting underway this spring within the historic structure— we are redoubling our commitment to ensure our visitors learn more than history, and that they gain insight into what it means to be an engaged American citizen.
HARRISON IN HIS
Own Words
BENJAMIN HARRISON’S 1ST ANNUAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS DECEMBER 3, 1889
“But notwithstanding all this, in many parts of our country where the colored population is large the people of that race are by various devices deprived of any effective exercise of their political rights and of many of their civil rights. The wrong does not expend itself upon those whose votes are suppressed. Every constituency in the Union is wronged.”
DID YOU
Know?
DOLLY JOHNSON: THE CHEF WHO FED FOUR PRESIDENTS Dolly Johnson was hired as the White House executive chef in 1889. Johnson was recommended to First Lady Caroline Harrison to fill the head cook position. At the White House, Johnson would be in charge of the entire kitchen, including duties like: buying groceries, managing the kitchen staff, and preparing menus and meals for the family and social events. Johnson would serve as the White House cook throughout Harrison’s term and into Cleveland’s first year. What is less known is that Johnson would continue to cater for special events at the White House under the Cleveland, McKinley, and Roosevelt’s presidencies. After making a name for herself, Johnson returned to Kentucky and became the first African American woman to open a business on Main Street Lexington. With her success, she opened a second restaurant and catering business called “White House Café,” where President Theodore Roosevelt would eat during his visits to Kentucky. Her career continued to flourish the position of Chief Chef at the Central Hotel, all while still managing her other businesses.
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A MOMENT
April 12, 1861 Civil War Begins
April 9, 1865 Civil War Ends
December 6, 1865
13th Amendment ratified
April 9, 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, which defined citizenship and affirmed that all citizens are equally protected by the law, passed, although vetoed by President Andrew Johnson and then overturned by the 39th U.S. Congress, would become the first U.S. federal civil rights law that defined citizenship and affirmed that all citizens are equally protected by the law.
July 9, 1868
14th Amendment ratified
February 3, 1870
15th Amendment ratified
February 25, 1870
Republican Hiram Revels of Mississippi becomes the first African American member of the United States Senate.
1877
The Jim Crow Era begins. From 1877 to the mid-1960s, “Jim Crow laws” empowered the segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans, mostly in the southern states.
June 30, 1888
Benjamin Harrison speaks to 300 black citizens in Indianapolis during his campaign for the presidency.
in Time
July 1, 1889
President Benjamin Harrison appoints Frederick Douglass as the U.S. Minister Resident and Consul-General of the Republic of Haiti.
December 1889
Laura “Dolly” Johnson become the first African-American woman to serve as Head Chef at the White House (Executive Chef).
January 11, 1890
President Benjamin Harrison appoints Indiana House Representative William D. McCoy as minister and consul-general of Monrovia, Liberia.
1890
The Lodge Bill of 1890, also known as the Federal Elections Bill, was proposed by Massachusetts Representative Henry Cabot Lodge to ensure the security of elections by appointing federal supervisors for congressional elections. During this time, many southern states used poll taxes or literacy tests to keep African Americans from exercising their right to vote. Even with the support of President Benjamin Harrison, the bill was narrowly defeated.
December 6, 1892
During President Harrison’s annual message for Congress, he calls for the first federal anti-lynching law.
December 1895
Harrison speaks out against lynching in a Ladies’ Home Journal article: “A lynching is a usurpation–a dethronement of our Constitutional king–the law–and the crowning of a cruel and unbridled tyrant. …The feet of justice may well be quickened without any loss of dignity or certainty; but the inquest, the open trial, the judicial sentence and execution are the Constitutional rights of every man accused of crime; and every citizen is under the highest obligation to make the case his own when they are denied to any other citizen. A lynching brutalizes those who take part in it, and demoralizes those who consent to or excuse the act…” T H E STAT E S M A N | PAG E 1 3
PROJECT POTUS
46 in 45
NEW IN 2022:
Project POTUS, a national program for middle school Why 46 in 45? Since the founding of our nation, there have been nearly half a billion American citizens. Of those, over 12,000 of us have served in Congress. Just 115 have become Supreme Court Justices. Only 45 citizens have become President of the United States. There’s something exceptional about each POTUS — good, bad, or otherwise.
DECL
ASSIF
IED
Launching Presidents Day February 21, 2022, Project POTUS challenges middle school students to select an American president, conduct research and create a video, 1-minute or less, representing the chosen POTUS. Students can submit a video to Project POTUS from February 21 to April 15. This program is open to middle school students nationally. Contest results and awards will be finalized before the conclusion of the school year in May 2022. The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site encourages middle school classrooms or individual middle school aged students with history interest to join the mission, and have the chance to win in a presidential category. A total of $5,000 will be awarded to winners of Project POTUS in its inaugural year. HELP US GET THE WORD OUT! Sign up for updates from POTUS HQ at www.ProjectPOTUS.org or share the link with an educator or eligible student you know.
Visit projectpotus.org to join the mission.
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Serve on the Project POTUS Citizen Jury Help us award student achievement in history learning! The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is seeking volunteers to serve on the Project POTUS Citizen Jury in April and May 2022. Jurors will be asked to view and score a caseload of 35 one-minute videos using a remote online format, for an estimated time commitment of 90 minutes. There are no required qualifications to serve on the Citizen Jury – just an interest in presidential history and civics! Interested? Send a message to Molly Beausir, Russell and Penny Fortune Project POTUS Presidential Fellow, at mbeausir@bhpsite.org.
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Our Partners
Special Thanks! We are grateful to the following special events and initiative funders and sponsors for supporting the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in 2021: 4 Birds Bakery Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Arbutus Garden Club Arthur Jordan Foundation Baird Foundation Bicycle Bridge Foundation Books Bourbon & Bacon Bosma Enterprises Brandt Construction, Inc. Carmel OrthoDesign Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Commercial Artisan David and Susan Wantz Efroymson Family Fund Eli Lilly & Company Foundation Emswiller, Williams, Noland & Clarke, LLC Flanner & Buchanan Frost Brown Todd LLC Garfield Park Master Gardeners Association Gracia E. Johnson Foundation Gregory & Appel Insurance Hewitt Law & Mediation Howard J. Lacy IV
Image Builders/Rowland Printing Indiana DAR, Inc. Indiana Humanities Indiana University Indiana Youth Institute Indianapolis Garden Club Indy Arts Council Ingrid and Kimball Harrison Morsman Jamia Jasper Jacobsen Kroger Lacy Foundation Lilly Endowment Inc. Lisa and Bill Boncosky Lumatic Imagery Marion County Master Gardeners Association Meridian Foundation National Endowment for the Humanities Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation Old National Bank Peine Engineering Peter Rusthoven and Erin Roth Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity
R.B. Annis Educational Foundation RATIO Architects REI Real Estate Services, LLC Renew Indianapolis Russell and Penny Fortune Scott Keller Somerset CPAs Stan and Sandy Hurt Summer Youth Program Fund Sun King Brewing Co. LLC The Dorsey Foundation, Inc. The Herschel B. and Ethel L. Whitney Donor Advised Fund, a fund of The Indianapolis Foundation The John & Isabelle Romine Fund for Children, a fund of The Indianapolis Foundation The National Bank of Indianapolis The Penrod Society Tilson HR Tinker Coffee Company Visit Indy Willkie & Selm Families Wing Fund for the Arts & Humanities
Building a Legacy begins with YOU Our ability to meet our mission is dependent on the generosity of friends and supporters. An increased endowment is imperative in providing lasting sustainability. ENDOW BENJAMIN HARRISON PRESIDENTIAL SITE WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN.
Through a charitable bequest in your will or living trust, you can ensure that the Presidential Site will continue to share the life stories, arts and culture of an American President to increase public participation in the American system of self-government. This thoughtful act, may result in the most lasting one-time gift you ever make to the Presidential Site. WE WANT TO THANK YOU NOW. Our 1888 Living Legacy Society provides lifetime
recognition to donors who have included the Presidential Site in their estate plan. All you need do is tell the Presidential Site that your plan is in place and that you are willing to be publicly acknowledged in the 1888 Living Legacy Society honor roll. If you have questions or would like more information on giving options, contact Bethany Gosewehr in the Development Office at (317) 631-1888 or bgosewehr@bhpsite.org. T H E STAT E S M A N | PAG E 1 5
T E AC H E R
I
Feature
n this regular feature, we highlight some of the people, schools, and partners that make our educational outreach to thousands of students each year possible. “My name is Sarah Fritzsche and I am a teacher with 15 years of experience. Most of my experience has been in 4th grade at Maple Glen Elementary in Westfield. Being a fourth grade teacher, we are focused on teaching Indiana history not only in the classroom but outside of the classroom. As I tell my students, our history is all around us and we should go to explore and learn about our state.
SARAH FRITZSCHE MAPLE GLEN ELEMENTARY WESTFIELD INDIANA
Want to learn more about educational programs for the students in your life? Go to bhpsite.org/ learn/education/ to find out more today!
One of the highlights for our students, though, is to visit the Harrison home. We have attended this almost every year since I began teaching. Being able to visit in December is such a special experience, as you see the historic home decorated for the holidays. It is always impressive to walk the same halls as where our former President lived while learning about his life through the items on display; like his hand-carved walking stick, pictures, and even the china in the dining room. My students are at rapt attention as they listen to these amazing stories.
My students also love the Settlers and Surveyors program while we are there. The inquiry-based and interactive nature of this program really allows my students to understand how our state was settled and appreciate the hard work of our original citizens. Through the critical questions asked and deductive reasoning used, my class works together to settle a new township. They have a sense of pride and ownership in what they accomplished. We have even used this program as a part of our Pioneer Day, as we celebrate Indiana Statehood. Utilizing the option to have the programs come to our school has been such a great experience! As we prepare for another visit, my now fourth graders remember going as second graders. They have repeated back to me what they learned from their lesson, A Pledge and a Promise. This program gave my students an appreciation to the pledge we say everyday and the flag as an important symbol of our country. All in all, these opportunities have given my students the chance experience learning outside of the classroom in the real and tangible ways!
Calling All Future Presidents! PAG E 1 6 | T H E STAT E S M A N
Our nationally recognized Future Presidents of America program is now accepting applications for the 2022 class! This innovative and engaging youth leadership program for young adults (ages 12-16) helps develop individual confidence, civic literacy, and good citizenship through the lens of an American Presidency. Find out more at FuturePresidents.us.
VOLUNTEER
Our Volunteers Are #1 (and TripAdvisor agrees!)
Report
We have our volunteers to thank for such an incredible year of hard work and dedication. The 2021 Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site volunteers have gone above and beyond to help us live up to our mission and provide exceptional service while educating the public on one of Indiana’s most notable Hoosiers. Their hard work and partnership with staff— especially when socially distanced!—is paying dividends because for the past year we’ve been ranked by users as one of the top 5 “Things To Do in Indianapolis” by TripAdvisor. Even more remarkable: for the past four months, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site has been ranked at #1! We could not have accomplished this feat without our remarkable volunteers and their dedication to the museum. We take great pride in celebrating our volunteers’ work because they are a vital part of our organization; we would not be the same without them. Masked up and ready to go, our volunteers completed over 4,000 hours of service in 2021. Our volunteers have ample opportunity to make a difference in our community. Docents guide tours every day while our Welcome Center Ambassadors greet guests with smiling faces. Volunteers also lend a helping hand at almost 30 special events each year, including Candlelight Theater, The Wicked World of Croquet Tournament, and Future Presidents of America. Plus, our Master Gardeners bring our scenic historic gardens to life throughout the year—beautifully maintained in a manner fit for a First Lady. As much as the pandemic has had its challenges, it’s been an opportunity to evaluate, improve our outreach, and grow. In 2021, we proudly welcomed 12 new volunteers to our Presidential volunteer corps. As we welcome new volunteers, we also recognize the people who have been here for years and how they’ve poured their hearts and souls into our shared work. As long-time volunteer Mike Back recently said, “The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is like a second home to me.” We thank every volunteer, new and seasoned, who have walked through our doors and hope their passion for this place has positively impacted you as well. Do you have an interest in civic duty, presidential history, and preserving the life of a great American legacy? We are always looking for enthusiastic and passionate volunteers to lead tours, greet guests, or assist with our collection. The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site has excellent opportunities for potential volunteers who enjoy working with nationally-significant history, meeting new people, and flexible scheduling. If you’re interested in helping us continue to grow and engage more students and visitors in 2022, contact Volunteer & Relationship Coordinator Jamie Mittman at jmittman@bhpsite.org. We know our volunteers are #1—and would be thrilled to find a place for you at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site too! T H E STAT E S M A N | PAG E 1 7
COMING
S oon
Special Events THREE COMEDIES OF ERROR APRIL 22–23, 29–30, MAY 1, 6–7, 2022 8:00 –10:00 PM EST TICKETS ARE $23.95 FOR GENERAL PUBLIC AND $19.95 FOR MEMBERS
Join Candlelight Theatre for unique, salon-style evening of theatre! This trilogy of one-act comedies, rotating through the Presidential mansion, complete with candlelight, historical artifacts and the rich ambiance of President Harrison’s original furnishings, is a one-of-a-kind theatre experience. Box and Cox by John Maddison Morton is presented in the master bedroom. Box is a printer. He works all night. Cox is a hatter. He works all day. Box rents a room from Mrs. Bouncer, a lodging-house keeper, telling her he will only use it in the daytime. Cox visits Mrs. Bouncer and asks for a room, telling her he will only use it at night. She rents the same room to both of them, thereby starting a most bizarre series of events. Wooed and Viewed by Georges Feydeau is staged in the back parlor. This farce by the master of mistaken motive tells the tale of a simple lawyer who has no wish other than to enjoy a peaceful, quiet lunch. His plans are abruptly interrupted by a zealous neighbor who has different, and quite unusual plans for the afternoon.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Purchase your tickets today at CandlelightTheatre.org. PAG E 1 8 | T H E STAT E S M A N
Suppressed Desires by Susan Glaspell takes the stage in the dining room. The play offers a highly amusing travesty about misapplied psychology. Henrietta’s obsession with psychoanalysis leads to a completely offthe- wall interpretation of a dream and very nearly to a divorce before the absurdity of the situation is realized. For more information, please visit CandlelightTheatre.org.
COMING
S oon
Special Events PRESIDENTIAL EGG ROLL SATURDAY, APRIL 9 9:00–10:30 AM
Mark your calendar and join us for our annual Presidential Egg Roll–the only egg roll in Indy! Enjoy crafts, music and celebrations! Children will race to roll wooden eggs through the grass as the Easter Bunny cheers them on. This lively event is free for both children and their parents, but space is limited so reserve your spot today! This free event takes place rain, snow or shine on Saturday, April 9 from 9–10:30am. Take a photo with the Easter Bunny and enjoy other kid-friendly activities. Where to go? Free parking is available along the east side of Delaware Street and in the surrounding neighborhood. When you arrive, please check in at the registration desk, located on the front porch. The Easter Bunny will be hopping around in the Welcome Center! What about that Egg Roll? Egg Roll Races will occur by age group every 15 minutes on the lawn during the event. Have your own spoon? There will be a prize for the best decorated wooden spoon! Can’t join in person? We invite you to stage your own Family Egg Roll—from your very own backyard. Just have your phones and social media posts at the ready! Learn more at PresidentBenjaminHarrison.org
Coming Soon
BENJAMIN HARRISON PRESIDENTIAL SITE
FRIDAY, JUNE 17TH, 2022 4PM–8PM FREE TO THE PUBLIC T H E STAT E S M A N | PAG E 1 9
VOLUME 48, ISSUE 1
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