Author: DHughes

Rochester Red Wings President Naomi Silver to Kick off Susan B. Anthony Festival

DHughes

Rochester, NY— Come to the annual Susan B. Anthony Festival on Saturday, August 18, 2012 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Susan B. Anthony Square Park between Madison and King streets in Rochester to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women throughout the country the right to vote.

Naomi Silver, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer of Rochester Community Baseball (Rochester Red Wings), will kick off the event at noon with a presentation in the park. Music and entertainment will be provided throughout the afternoon in the park by various groups, including the Rochester Raging Grannies, a group that promotes peace, justice, and social and economic equality through song and dance, the SWAN (South West Area Neighborhood) Band, String Theory and others.

Food vendors and unique crafts vendors will sell their goods in the park.

Authentic nineteenth-century base ball (it was actually two words when it first began in the 19th century!) demonstrations will be provided by Genesee Country Village’s women base ball team, in period costumes, following the rules and etiquette of the game as it was played in the 1800s.

Walking tours of this historic 19th century Historic Preservation District will also be offered. Tours of the Anthony House will be available beginning at 11 a.m. at the special admission price that day only of $5.00 for adults.

The event is presented by the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association and the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House. Deborah L. Hughes, president and CEO of the Anthony House, said, “This annual event is close to our hearts because it recognizes the date—August 26, 1920—when the 19th amendment was officially declared law by the Secretary of State after it was ratified by the required 36 states. It honors the women and men who struggled so long—over 72 years—and so hard—often at personal danger—to achieve equality for women. Many of those who worked so fervently in the cause, including Susan B. Anthony, did not live to see the amendment finally ratified. We thank them each year with this festival.” Dawn Noto, president of the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association, said, “The neighbors invite everyone to come visit this incredible preservation district. See the major renovation and construction work that is taking place on West Main Street.  See one of the last intact 19th-century neighborhoods in the region—see Rochester history come to life.”

For more information, please go to www.susanbanthonyhouse.org

Mission Statement (adopted 4/2010): The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House preserves the National Historic Landmark where the great reformer lived for 40 of her most politically active years, collects and exhibits artifacts related to her life and work, and offers programs through its learning center that challenge individuals to make a positive difference in their lives and communities.

 The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House is supported primarily through the contributions of its members and donors. It is not affiliated with other organizations bearing her name.

Susan B. Anthony Festival to Commemorate 92nd Anniversary of Woman Suffrage

DHughes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, August 01, 2012

CONTACT:
Ellen K. Wheeler
Public Relations & Communications Director
585-279-7490, ext. 15

Rochester, NY— Come to the annual Susan B. Anthony Festival on Saturday, August 18, 2012 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Susan B. Anthony Square Park between Madison and King streets in Rochester to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women throughout the country the right to vote.

Music and entertainment will be provided in the park by the Hochstein School of Music and Dance as well as the Rochester Raging Grannies, a group that promotes peace, justice, and social and economic equality through song and dance.

Food vendors and unique crafts vendors will sell their goods in the park.

Authentic nineteenth-century base ball (it was actually two words when it first began in the 19th century!) demonstrations will be provided by Genesee Country Village’s women base ball team, in period costumes, following the rules and etiquette of the game as it was played in the 1800s.

Walking tours of this historic 19th century Historic Preservation District will also be offered. Tours of the Anthony House will be available beginning at 11 a.m. at the special admission price that day only of $5.00 for all ages.

The event is presented by the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association and the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House. Deborah L. Hughes, president and CEO of the Anthony House, said, “This annual event is close to our hearts because it recognizes the date—August 26, 1920—when the 19th amendment was officially declared law by the Secretary of State after it was ratified by the required 36 states. It honors the women and men who struggled so long—over 72 years—and so hard—often at personal danger—to achieve equality for women. Many of those who worked so fervently in the cause, including Susan B. Anthony, did not live to see the amendment finally ratified. We thank them each year with this festival.” Dawn Noto, president of the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association, said, “The neighbors invite everyone to come visit this incredible preservation district. See the major renovation and construction work that is taking place on West Main Street. See one of the last intact 19th-century neighborhoods in the region. See Rochester history come to life.”

For more information, please go to www.susanbanthonyhouse.org or call 585-279-7490, ext. 10.

Mission Statement (adopted 4/2010): The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House preserves the National Historic Landmark where the great reformer lived for 40 of her most politically active years, collects and exhibits artifacts related to her life and work, and offers programs through its learning center that challenge individuals to make a positive difference in their lives and communities.

The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House is supported primarily through the contributions of its members and donors. It is not affiliated with other organizations bearing her name.

A Fifth-Grade Feminist

DHughes

Keeping Susan B. Anthony’s vision alive and relevant is our passion at the Susan B. Anthony Museum & House. But how do we measure our impact in the world? Here’s what a fifth-grade teacher shared with our program director, Annie Callanan, after his class experienced our “Change It!” program yesterday:

“Thank you again!! My class had a wonderful time and got so much out of the program.

“On our way back one of my students confronted a group of construction workers and told them she didn’t like their ‘Men Working’ sign. She told them it should say ‘People Working’. One gentleman pointed out that there were only men on the crew. My lovely [student] responded with, “ Well I have another issue, why are there no women on your crew? Shoot, I can do this work.” A group of grown men dumbfounded by the brass of my beautiful young student. Thank you for inspiring them!! It was awesome!!”

I imagine Susan B. Anthony would approve!

Thank you, teacher Dale Spafford, for getting your students to the Anthony House for a field trip. Thank you, fifth graders! We are impressed that you applied for a scholarship to cover your admission and that you all walked here!  Thank you, Joanne French and Bonnie Anne Briggs, our two volunteer docents who led the program (we have 110 inspiring volunteer docents!).  Thank you, Lois and Arn Hart, for providing the scholarship funds that covered the admission for this class.

We love that this particular class came from Clara Barton School #2. Mary Anthony, Susan’s sister, was the first female principal at School #2, where she demanded equal pay for equal work more than a century ago and got it!!  Not only was Clara Barton the founder the American Red Cross, but she was a friend of Mary and Susan B. Anthony and a SUFFRAGIST herself!

Finally, we want to say thank you to the courageous young woman from Mr. Spafford’s fifth grade class who is keeping Susan B. Anthony’s vision alive and relevant!!

“People Who Mattered” Day Tour with Friends May 15, 2012

DHughes

  Journey with Friends of Susan B. Anthony House to meet “People Who Mattered in Central New York”

Rochester, NY—The Friends of Susan B. Anthony House invite all interested history buffs and adventurers to join us for our exciting day trip to Syracuse, Fayetteville, and Peterboro on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 to meet “People Who Mattered in Central New York.”

We’ll visit the home of Matilda Joslyn Gage in Fayetteville, an activist in abolition, women’s rights, religious freedom, and native American rights. We’ll enjoy lunch while watching a re-enactment of the lives of three former slaves who settled in the Syracuse region. We’ll visit the National Abolition Hall of Fame and learn the history of Gerrit Smith, cousin of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. We’ll learn more underground- railroad history and meet Jerry of the Jerry Rescue. There will be stairs and walking.

Tickets are on sale now at 585-279-7490, ext. 10 or on the Susan B. Anthony House website at susanbanthonyhouse.org. Tickets are $105 per person, includes deluxe motorcoach, lunch, dinner, admissions, everything! We will depart from the Eastview Mall parking lot at 7 a.m. sharp, returning approximately 9 p.m.

            The Friends of the Susan B. Anthony House is an organization founded in 2006 by Betsy Stanton and Jolene Smith to increase awareness of and raise funds for this National Historic Landmark house, Anthony’s home from 1866 to 1906 and the headquarters for the national campaign for woman suffrage.

Mission Statement of Susan B. Anthony Museum & House (adopted 4/2010): The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House preserves the National Historic Landmark where the great reformer lived for 40 of her most politically active years, collects and exhibits artifacts related to her life and work, and offers programs through its learning center that challenge individuals to make a positive difference in their lives and communities.

  ***The Susan B. Anthony Museum & House is supported primarily through the contributions of its members and donors. The Susan B. Anthony Museum & House is not affiliated with other organizations bearing her name.***

Ellen K. Wheeler, Director of Public Relations and Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  April 24, 2012

 

 

 

 

We’re not THAT Susan B. Anthony!

DHughes

It’s a matter of brand confusion, at the very least.  Although we may be THE Susan B. Anthony House (and the only National Historic Landmark Museum bearing the great reformer’s name), there are dozens of other organizations that have chosen to include our hero’s moniker in their title. Her name is in the public domain, and we cannot control how it is used. From the number of “Susan B. Anthony” listings on Facebook, one might conclude that the never-married Ms. Anthony had progeny as numerous as the stars. But brand confusion about Susan B. Anthony is no laughing matter.

Four years ago, a very angry father left a message on my voice mail.  He called me names I had never been called. For this pastor-turned-museum-director, it was my first experience at being the object of vitriol from a complete stranger. His tone and language were evidence of deep rage, and he was certain that I was the appropriate target. After all, I was the director of the “Susan B. Anthony” House.

This young father’s rancor was triggered by a phone call. It was the height of election season. His six year old daughter answered their home phone and was treated to a robo-call message that apparently described late-term abortion in graphic detail.  The child was confused and frightened by the “murder” she had heard described. Her father was shocked to hear what his daughter had been exposed on their home phone.  Appalled and enraged, he checked the caller ID, and it clearly stated “Susan B Anthony” had called.  He googled the name, and the Susan B. Anthony House popped up on his screen (we are proud to have earned that status).  He dialed the number and ended up in my voice mail box. And he let me have it.

Fortunately, we were able to return his call and explain that we are not that Susan B. Anthony.  This Susan B. Anthony did not sponsor that robo-call.  This Susan B. Anthony did not endorse Rick Santorum for president (but we did have several people call us to cancel their support of our organization when they heard the announcement and one who told us Santorum was not conservative enough for their taste). This Susan B. Anthony has not promised $10 million to the Mitt Romney campaign (but the calls and emails we received  today about that announcement triggered this blog post).

This Susan B. Anthony House is a non-partisan Museum and learning center in Rochester, New York, that strives to be an authentic witness to the life and work of Susan B. Anthony.  Please do not confuse us with any other organization bearing the “Susan B. Anthony” name.  In particular, please don’t confuse us with the political action group, the Susan B. Anthony List, that claims to “support pro-life leadership” and apparently has a lot of money to leverage.

Please do not be confused by political parties, caucuses, or groups that claim they know what Susan B. Anthony would say about a contemporary issue.

While we are delighted that the once-reviled radical feminist has earned such a high place of honor and authority that everyone seems to want her for their champion, we are here to tell the authentic story of Susan B. Anthony, not to use her name for a political agenda.

Deborah L. Hughes, president & CEO

 

Friends invite you to lunch with Rochester’s chief crime-scene investigator

DHughes

The Friends of Susan B. Anthony House invite you to lunch with Rochester’s chief crime-scene investigator, Janet Anderson-Seaquist, on Friday, April 19, 2012, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The event takes place at the Chatterbox Club, 25 North Goodman Street, Rochester. The cost is $35 per person; reservations are required—the deadline is Friday, April 13, 2012. Ms. Anderson-Seaquist is chief administrator of the new $30-million Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory that employs 30 people and serves 8 counties. Make your reservation now.

Susan B. Anthony House to observe anniversary of her death

DHughes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       Monday, March 12, 2012

CONTACT: Ellen K. Wheeler, Public Relations and Communications Dir., 585-279-7490, ext. 15

MEDIA ADVISORY                  

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY                                                                                                

Susan B. Anthony House to commemorate the

106th anniversary of Miss Anthony’s death

Rochester, NY—On March 13, 1906, at forty minutes past midnight, Susan B. Anthony died at the age of 86 in her bed on the second floor of the house at 17 Madison Street, her home of 40 years. At her request, much of the ceremonial mourning of the day was not observed: no shades were drawn, no black crepe hung.  Only a simple wreath of violets was placed on the front door.

The Susan B. Anthony Museum & House will observe the 106th anniversary of Susan B. Anthony’s death on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 with the hanging of a simple wreath of violets on the front door of #17 Madison Street at 11:00 a.m. The wreath-hanging will be followed by a short presentation about Anthony’s life and legacy by Anthony House president and CEO, Deborah L. Hughes.   The public is invited to attend. 

Mission Statement (adopted 1/2007): The Susan B. Anthony House is a learning center through which we share and interpret Miss Anthony’s life as a champion of women’s rights, thereby inspiring and challenging individuals to make a positive difference in their lives and communities. 

The Susan B. Anthony House is supported primarily through the contributions of its members and donors. The Susan B. Anthony House is not affiliated with other organizations bearing her name.

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This job has perks

DHughes

My job has some perks. I get to learn about history, meet great people, go to fun events, work in an historic old home, and on days like today I can walk for about 30 seconds and be in Susan B. Anthony Square Park.

Now as a rule, we don’t like to put words into Susan B.’s mouth–as no one really knows what she would have to say about modern issues–but today I just couldn’t help myself.

Susan B. and Frederick D.

Claire on a benchToday I took a break from data entry and surveyed the world from a recumbent position on a bench in the park. It is sixty-three degrees in early March, how could I not?

I hope you were able to enjoy the day today. If you’re nearby, I highly recommend a walk to the park.  For Geocachers, there’s a geocache hiding in plain sight in the above photo!

Okay–no more basking in the sun! Time to process some data.

 

–View from the bench
Claire Hawley Zarcone
Administrative Assistant
Susan B. Anthony House
17 Madison Street
Rochester, NY 14608
585-279-7490 ext. 10

The Annual Birthday Luncheon: Behind the Scenes

DHughes

Well, starting a blog right before our biggest event of the year was a great way to lapse in updating it for a while! We’re finally starting to catch up after a very successful luncheon celebrating Susan B. Anthony’s 192nd birthday.

From my perspective the luncheon went very smoothly. Our team seemed to run like a well-oiled machine. I hardly even saw any of the other staff during the event because we were all so busy doing our own tasks.

Nametag TablesThe days before the luncheon I worked non-stop to acquire names of attendees from sponsors, table captains, and individual seat purchasers so I could enter them into our database and assign them to tables.  The Monday before the luncheon I output all of this precious information and printed out about 900 name tags which the amazing Friends of the Susan B. Anthony House spent all afternoon assembling for me.  Then two hours before the luncheon began, a bevy of volunteers and I set about the task of laying out all the name tags for attendees to pick up on their wayEmpire Ballroom in.   As guests poured in, there didn’t seem to be too many problems or bottlenecks, so I consider the job a success.

Meanwhile, other House staff and volunteers were setting up all of the tables, placing 90 table cards, laying out 900 programs, 900 donation cards and 900 pens.

At the same time still more staff and volunteers were setting up the museum shop and the Nursing Friends of Susan B. Anthony display.

While all of our set-up was happening we also had Marc Hamilton from Hamilton AV setting up the audio visual equipment.  Again this year, we had closed captioning set up in the Convention Center, and a webcast for out of town donors and members.

This doesn’t even bring into account the wonderful work all of the Rochester Riverside Convention Center staff put in! I am totally impressed every year by how deftly they manage to serve so many people so efficiently.

Did you know that all of this and more happened behind the scenes? I know before I participated in this kind of event planning, I never put much thought into what goes into it.

One thing I feel the need to emphasize, is that we love this! It is hard work, but it is so wonderful to throw a party for our friends. And for me it is a joy to be able to put faces and personalities to all of you whose names I see as I work in our database or whose voices I hear on the telephone!  So if I met you or crossed paths with you at all on Wednesday, it was wonderful to meet you or see you again, and if you didn’t make it to the luncheon, I hope to see you there next year!

I’ll tell you, when I had a small gathering at my house last weekend, after this luncheon for 900 a party for 12 sure felt like a breeze!

–
Claire Hawley Zarcone
Administrative Assistant
Susan B. Anthony House
17 Madison Street
Rochester, NY 14608
585-279-7490 ext. 10

Things are Hopping at the House

DHughes

There’s always so much happening at the Anthony House. This new blog will give all of you a window to it all!

What going on right now? Everything!

Arild RemmereitOur biggest event of the year is happening in just two and a half weeks–the Annual Birthday Luncheon! This year we will be Celebrating Women of Note with keynote speaker, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director, Arild Remmereit. There was a write up in the Democrat and Chronicle yesterday afternoon. If you think it sounds interesting–I do!–we’re still taking reservations.

SBAH After School Program, Director and ChildrenBut we’re not just preparing for the Luncheon here. The daily running of the Museum and organization continues. Today, Annie, our Director of Programs and Visitor Services, will take the children from our after school program to tour the Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory. I wish I could go!  They only do tours one afternoon a month and take reservations far in advance. Those are some lucky kids. However, if you’re interested in our county crime lab, Administrator of the laboratory, Janet Anderson-Seaquist, will be the speaker at the Friends of the Susan B. Anthony House Lunch in April. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s still January, but if you’re a planner, you can actually already reserve your spot here.

I meant to make only a summary update, but there’s always so much fun stuff going on here, it’s hard to keep it short.

Welcome to our new blog! I hope to keep it updated with tidbits from life here on the inside at the Susan B. Anthony House!

—
Claire Hawley Zarcone
Administrative Assistant
Susan B. Anthony House
17 Madison Street
Rochester, NY 14608
585-279-7490 ext. 10