To mark the 50th anniversary of the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) and emphasize the significant work of history organizations and programs across the state, we asked our FY2017 and FY2018 grant recipients to submit a short narrative and photos describing the impact of NJHC funding. Each week until the end of our fiscal year in June, we will post a spotlight featuring the responses of our grant recipients. Whether NJHC support contributed to general operating, a brand new exhibit, an engaging education program or the restoration of a historic object, it’s truly amazing to see what New Jersey history organizations, libraries, and individuals have to offer.
This week we spotlight the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms!
The Log House at Craftsman Farms
The past is not dead, it is living in us, and will be alive in the future which we are now helping to make. – William Morris. The Stickley Musem at Craftsman Farms, a National Historic Landmark in beautiful Parsippany, is open to the public year round, offering 16 tours per week. General Operating Support from the New Jersey Historical Commission makes that possible. Last year we welcomed visitors from all around the US and the world—25 states and 5 countries—and those visitors enjoyed lunch, shopping and lodging nearby, contributing to the local economy. We broke an annual attendance record, mounted a major exhibition and published an accompanying catalog. We hosted programs large and small every week, including many sold out special-interest tours, our 10th annual Fall Family Day, and Girl Scout workshops for girls of all ages, many of whom begin coming here as Brownies and return through their Senior years. We did all of this with an ambitious 9-member staff and with the hard work of an active Board and 50+ dedicated core volunteers. We did all of this with a focus on our 5-year strategic plan and a determination to stay rooted in our proud Stickley history while spotlighting the dynamic relevance of his legacy today. New Jersey has been making history in the US from the country’s beginning. It’s our privilege to represent that history to the world!
A family program at Craftsman Farms
The start of a tour in the Log House
For questions about NJHC Grantee Spotlights, please contact Greer Luce, Communications Officer, at 609-633-0776 or greer.luce@sos.nj.gov.
About the New Jersey Historical Commission
The New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC) is a state agency dedicated to the advancement of public knowledge and preservation of New Jersey history. Established by law in 1967, its work is founded on the fundamental belief that an understanding of our shared heritage is essential to sustaining a cohesive and robust democracy.
###