EHHS: History Matters | Collections Storage Facility | Fall History Festival, 9.30th | Guided Tours…

September 2023

History Matters

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Letter from the Director

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Dear Friend,

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The East Hampton Historical Society is undertaking an exciting new project that’s long overdue, the development of a new, climate-controlled facility to centralize the storage of our collections. The new repository for our community’s cultural heritage will be located on Mulford Farm, replacing a storage barn that was built in the early 1970s. Instead of storing our collections at our various sites as we do currently, we can keep everything that’s not on exhibition in one place.

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When I began reading through our institutional archives, I was surprised to discover that the Historical Society had wanted to centralize and climatize its collections for decades. In 1980, Christopher Belson, the Historical Society’s newly hired Executive Director, commissioned Edward Smits, who was the Nassau County Director of Museum Services, to prepare an assessment of collections care needs. In his report, Smits was very impressed by the breadth and depth of the collection but noted that “the present scope of artifacts…is spread over a variety of unsatisfactory storage locations” and “its reorganization into a centralized storage facility is essential.”

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Even though Christopher Belson left the Historical Society after little more than a year in the position, the desire to build a centralized collections facility remained. After losing collections storage space that it was leasing on Toilsome Lane in 1988, the Historical Society explored replacing the storage barn on Mulford Farm with a fully climatized two-story facility with a basement. Faced with concerns from Village officials about adding a building that wasn’t in keeping with the historical character of Mulford Farm led the Historical Society to investigate installing climate control measures into the existing storage barn. Perhaps because it was regularly strapped for cash, had to prioritize other preservation projects, or because storage buildings just aren’t naturally exciting, the Historical Society was never able to address this critical need.

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When Edward Smits conducted his collections storage assessment in 1980, he estimated the cost of a new facility at $15,000. Now, it will cost approximately a hundred times that much. We can’t afford to wait any longer to ensure our world-class collections are housed in the state-of-the-art facility that they deserve. The Board of Trustees has committed generously to making this project happen.

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If you want to learn more about getting involved to help steward our collections,

please email or call me at 631.324.6850 x3.

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Sincerely,

Steve Long

Executive Director

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Village Preservation Society Awards

Saturday, September 9, 4pm

At the Tennis House, 29 Maidstone Lane, East Hampton

The Village Preservation Society is hosting their annual Award Ceremony, which will feature the new Dominy Shops Museum. The keynote speaker is Frank Sanchis, a renowned preservationist with over 50 years experience in historic preservation and planning, recently retired from the World Monuments Fund, where he had the distinction of serving as Regional Director for North America. He has also served as Vice President for Historic Sites at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Executive Director of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

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Seating is very limited so please RSVP to Kathy Cunningham at the Village Preservation Society via email or by calling 631.324.6524.

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New Exhibition at Clinton Academy

On and Off the Wall: Group Show of East End artists presented by folioeast

Opening Reception, September 9, 5 PM – 7 PM

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Join us as we celebrate

East Hampton’s 375th Anniversary!

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Join us for Historical Guided Tours this week!

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TOUR with EHTPS: Wednesday September 6, 2023, at 11 AM. Eastville Historic District (1+ miles) (Meet at Eastville Heritage House, 139 Hampton St, Sag Harbor, NY 11963)

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Friday, September 8. 11AM Tour the DOMINY SHOPS MUSEUM (73N Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937)

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Saturday, September 9. 10AM Tour of the Thomas and Mary Nimmo Moran Home & Studio (Meet at 229 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937)

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Sunday, September 10. 10AM. Tour of Main Street, East Hampton (Meet at Clinton Academy, 151 Main Street East Hampton, NY 11937)

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Advanced Registration Required.

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Check out our website for the rest of the summer season schedule.

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For more information, please email or call us at 631-324-6850 x3

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FROM THE COLLECTION

This green orb made of glass isn’t in the collections of the East Hampton Historical Society, but according to Chris Kohan, the President of the D’Amico Institute of Art, it has a direct connection to our Moran Home & Studio. Last month, as part of our partnership with the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society, Chris led a tour of the home and studio of Victor and Mabel D’Amico in Lazy Point. Like the Moran Home and Studio, the D’Amico Institute is a member of the Historic Artists Homes & Studios.

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Chris explained the orb is likely an old fishing float, which belonged to Ruth Moran, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Nimmo Moran. In the 1940s, while Mabel and Victor D’Amico were building their home and studio, they were introduced to Ruth via a mutual friend, Elizabeth Fuller. It’s possible Elizabeth even brought Ruth out to Lazy Point to visit. After learning about Mabel’s interest in glass, Ruth gifted her with the fishing float, which had come from the Moran Studio. What a connection – an object used in the fishing industry, which had been repurposed as art, was passed down from one generation of East Hampton artists to the next! Now, it’s prominently on display where visitors enter the D’Amico Institute.

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