Town Report on Lincoln 1956-1959, Part 23

Author: Lincoln (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Lincoln (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 1026


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DE CORDOVA AND DANA MUSEUM AND PARK


Report to the Town for the Year 1957


Two major concerns gave direction and impetus to the Museum's activity in 1957. We were concerned, first, with the task of administering the flourishing program estab- lished in preceding years. Exhibitions, classes for children and adults, and certain special events had evolved from the experience of our first six years to form the basis of our program in 1957; the resources of our plant and staff were almost wholly absorbed last year in sustaining and developing this provenly successful operation.


At the same time, we were equally concerned with the need for continuing experimentation. The Museum's early achievement, the dynamic quality of its first six years derived almost entirely from its flexible, experimental outlook. While we take pride in the increasing stability of the program, we know that as the Museum grows, there is a tendency for old patterns to congeal into self-perpetua- ting routines. In 1957, with six years experience be- hind us, we were determined to build on the past without losing our readiness to forsake precedent, if need be, for a new idea or a better way. Although we lacked the means and manpower necessary for broad experimentation, we did undertake two important new projects last year, the Crea- tive Arts Day Camp and the High School Scholarship Classes, and explored various methods for extending and improving our program of public education.


In the report that follows, we have reviewed our major activities for 1957, suggested the areas in which further experimentation is important, and outlined some proposals for extensions of the program in 1958.


EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS


The attendance at exhibitions in 1957 increased as it has in each previous year; on many fine Sunday afternoons last spring and fall as many as 400 visitors came through the galleries. Our exhibition policy remained unchanged : to represent the best contemporary work available, to present, without bias, a cross-sectional view of major trends in the contemporary scene, and to introduce promising new talent to the public. Supplementing the exhibitions were lectures, panel discussions and films designed to help the layman understand the problems, the method and, to some


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DeCORDOVA MUSEUM


extent, the vision of the artist. In so far as our facilities allowed, we presented events in other branches of the arts -- music, drama, dance and motion pictures -- which appeared to have unusual merit and which might not otherwise have been seen or heard in this area. The ex- hibitions and events presented in 1957 are listed below in chronological order.


January 6 Exhibition of prints by Stanley Hayter


January 20 Exhibition of paintings by Robert Hamilton and Gordon Peers


January 20


"Cityscapes", exhibition of paintings by Mary Shore


January 31


Percussion Concert, composed and con- ducted by Harold Farberman


February 8


"Painters, Patrons & the Public", a panel discussion with Robert Hamilton, Gordon Peers and Charles Kindleberger Orchestra-Chorus open rehearsal Exhibition of paintings by William Georgenes


February 17


February 17


March 1 Exhibition by the American Watercolor Society


March 3 Exhibition by the New Hampshire League of Arts & Crafts


March 10


"The 20th Century Landscape", group exhibition of paintings arranged by the De Cordova Museum for showing at Symphony Hall and in Lincoln


April 14 "An Evening of Poetry & Dance", with poet William Merwin and the Boston Dance Circle


April 14


April 14 Exhibition of paintings by Jack Wolfe Exhibition of photography, "The Quiet Land", by Jack Breed


April 14 Exhibition of photography by Francis Haar April 14 May 5 Exhibition of sculpture by Leo Amino Films, lecture by Jack Breed and Francis Haar May 10 Concert by the Lexington Music Club


May 17 Concert by the Morning Chorale


May 19


Gloria Vanderbilt Museum Purchase Ex- hibit, circulated by the American Federation of Arts


May 19 Exhibition of prints by Olimpia Aimaretti Ogilvie


May 19 Exhibition of watercolors and oils by Patience Haley


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EDUCATION AND RECREATION


May 24 June 8


"The Surrealist Ball", spring dance "The Festival of Mt. Olympus"


June 23 Exhibition of paintings by the faculty of the Department of Art at the University of Wisconsin


June 30 Exhibition of Japanese & American watercolors circulated by the Ameri- can Watercolor Society


September 15 Exhibition of paintings by George Pappas


September 15 Exhibition of paintings by Marc Moldawer


September 29


Exhibition of modern French prints from the Kamberg Collection


September 29


"Birds of Nature & the Nature of Birds", an exhibition representing 200 years of American bird painting and sculp- ture


October 15 "Forged in Fire", sculpture exhibit circulated by the American Federa- tion of Arts


November 10 "Margaret Brown Memorial Exhibition", _ group exhibition of paintings, draw- ings and sculpture


November 17 Children's concert by the Concord Orchestra


November 24 Exhibition of paintings by Howard Gibbs


December 15 Christmas Concert by the Belmont Chorus December 21 Exhibition of work by children and adults in museum classes


In addition to the above, a fall and spring film series presented by the Museum included these feature films: FANNY, PORT OF SHADOWS, MISS JULIE, THE IMPOSTOR, LE PLAISIR, 2¢ WORTH OF HOPE, THE LADY VANISHES and A NOUS LA LIBERTE.


CLASSES


The Museum's school continued last year to absorb a substantial part of our time and energies. Enrollment in each successive quarter in 1957 broke all records for com- parable periods in previous years. In the last quarter of 1957, five hundred and twenty-four children and adults were enrolled in thirty-one classes, and we had to turn more than two hundred and fifty applicants away.


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DeCORDOVA MUSEUM


THE PERMANENT COLLECTION


The purpose of an art museum is revealed and its sig- nificance is measured in part by the quality and growth of its permanent collection. The De Cordova Museum is gradually assembling a collection of contemporary American art which demonstrates its dedication to the art and artists of our time. In 1957, twenty-seven drawings, paintings, prints and pieces of sculpture were added to the Collection. Ten were acquired by Museum purchase and the rest were the gifts of three donors: Mrs. Culver Orswell, Mr. and Mrs. Constantin Pertzoff and Mr. John Aiken. A portion of the collection is almost always on view; we try to keep a ro- tating selection on display in one of the galleries on the second floor. Regular visitors to the galleries have often spoken of the growing pleasure which they derive from works in the Museum's permanent collection.


PUBLIC EDUCATION


Many of our new, exploratory activities last year were in the area of public education, particularly the education of the juvenile and adolescent members of our public. We tried to find ways and means of broadening our services to young people and of enabling more of them to become actively allied. with the Museum. Thanks to the cooperation of art teachers and art supervisors in a great many schools and colleges, both public and private, we -have been successful in reaching more young people in 1957 than ever before. These contacts have been as varied as the nature of the groups themselves. We have had Brownie troops and groups of graduate students visiting the Museum simultaneously. We have often received impromptu visits from art classes in Lincoln's Smith School which is so close that the children can walk over and back within a single class period. More conspicuous have been the visits by whole grades from some of the larger metropolitan grammar schools, when four or five busloads of more than one hundred seventh or eighth graders have swarmed over the building and grounds for tours and talks given by the Museum staff. We have presented lectures, gallery talks and conducted tours for visiting students; we have lent and exchanged exhibitions with grade schools and high schools; we have shown slides and films for grade school classes and assemblies. The opportunities for reaching our juvenile public appear to be almost unlimited. The task that lies before us now is two-fold: 1) to develop educational activities which will most effectively supple -


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EDUCATION AND RECREATION


ment children's schoolwork, and 2) to develop activities which children will find lively and interesting and which will lead them to a greater appreciation of art.


CREATIVE ARTS DAY CAMP


The Summer Day Camp was perhaps the most ambitious of our 1957 projects for educating our younger public. It was the purpose of the camp to integrate a first-rate pro- gram of instruction in the fine arts with a comprehensive recreational program. During the six weeks the Camp was in session, 57 children received instruction in painting, sculpture, dramatics, dance, music, sports, swimming,


games and nature study. Wherever possible, all these activities were focussed on and inspired by a series of weekly themes, e. g. "Indian Life & Legends", "The Sea & Seafarers". The themes were introduced by means of stories, pictures, films, records and appropriate field trips to places like the Peabody Museum at Harvard and


the U. S. S. Constitution. A main tent pitched on the Museum lawn served as headquarters, and from here groups of campers fanned out through the Park, into the building and to nearby woodlands, farms and meadows to take advan- tage of the abundant natural resources of this area. The Day Camp was a manifest success. Unfortunately, it


critically overtaxed the Museum facilities and rather than undertake at this time the construction necessary to in- stall the Camp on a permanent basis, the Board of Directors voted to suspend operation indefinitely. However, an expanded program of classes in arts and crafts will be offered this summer, incorporating many of the most success- ful features of the Day Camp.


SCHOLARSHIP CLASSES


The scholarship class started for teenagers last fall met with such immediately favorable response that it will be continued in 1958 and another added to the curriculum. Fifteen students enrolled in the first class which was open to youngsters from Sudbury-Lincoln Regional High School and 'Wayland High School. They were chosen by their


Art Supervisors on the basis of artistic aptitude and serious interest in art study. Working in a studio-like atmosphere, under expert guidance, these students have ex- plored the creative possibilities of a great variety of media. The paintings and drawings which they exhibited at the Museum over the holidays represent some of the best work by this age group that we have ever shown. Their work has been exhibited recently at the Lincoln-Sudbury


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DeCORDOVA MUSEUM


Regional High, the Wayland Iligh School, and the Smith School in Lincoln.


MUSEUM CONFERENCE


As host to the New England Museum Conference this fall, the De Cordova Museum was responsible for the pro- gram, speakers, publicity, registration, and the housing and feeding of 107 delegates. Scientists, economists, historians museum directors, teachers and trustees converged on Lincoln the weekend of October 4 and 5 for this regional conference of the American Association of


Museums. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Harvard historian, and E. Cary Brown, M. I. T. economist, came as guest ex- perts to lead discussions on the relationship of museum operation to changing economic and social conditions. Frederick Walkey, the De Cordova's Executive Director, was chairman of the Conference, and co-hosts were the Drumlin' Farm Wildlife Sanctuary of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Concord Antiquarian Society. It was a provocative, productive meeting, bringing some of the keenest and best informed minds in the business to bear on the critical issues which confront Museums in every field today. A detailed summary of the Conference proceedings has been published and copies are available at the Museum on request.


VOLUNTEER SERVICES


An annual review of the Museum program always reveals our debt to volunteers. In 1957 the scope and magnitude of the contributions made by volunteers was greater than ever before, due, in part, to the activities of our Associate Council. The Council is one year old and has more than proved its value assisting the Director, co- ordinating the work of all volunteer committees and pro- viding liaison between the Museum and Associates in neigh- boring communities. The achievements of various sub- committees of the Associate Council are summarized below.


Festival


As in previous years, volunteer activity in 1957 focussed most conspicuously on the Spring Festival. Mrs.


Frederick Greene, general chairman, mobilized a force of staggering numbers and versatility to produce "The Festival of Mt. Olympus". Diligent researchers into the mythology and history of Ancient Greece brought forth the inspira-


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EDUCATION AND RECREATION


tion for a spectacularly successful celebration which drew thousands of visitors to the Museum and netted $3000 for the Building Fund.


Dance


Mrs. Eliot Hubbard III and Mrs. Leonard Moss master- minded the production last May of the Surrealist Ball, the biggest party in the Museum's history. The dance floor, tables and chairs were set up on the lower terrace of the Museum Park under a giant tent. The weatherman was beneficent and more than 500 guests came. Gay, gregarious, elegantly groomed, they danced under a billow- ing expanse of canvas, strolled among flaming giraffes, savored the beauty of the spring night and marvelled at the astonishing spectacle of which they were themselves a part.


Hospitality


For year-round, untiring and largely unsung service to the Museum, we extend our gratitude to hospitality co- chairmen, Mrs. Henry Hoover and Mrs. Richard Thorpe. Graciously and competently, month in and month out, they assume responsibility for entertaining visiting celebrities and for providing refreshments and/or hospitality as re- quired at openings, lectures and concerts.


Landscape Development


Mrs. Stanley Heck, representing the Lincoln Garden Club, and Mrs. Gordon Osborne, chairman of the Museum's Landscape Development Committee, last year sparked a much- needed, long-range program for the development of the Museum Park. With the advice of a landscape architect, a plan has been worked out which calls for an arboretum planting to extend eventually through the entire park. It will be carried out in stages by the successive develop- ment of five major areas. The Lincoln Garden Club has further contributed to the development of the first area through the donation of forty dogwood trees and twenty flowering crabs, and has announced plans for a wild flower planting to be started in 1958. The continuing interest and generosity of the Garden Club are deeply appreciated. We depend on this kind of community support for the ulti- mate development of the Fark.


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DeCORDOVA MUSEUM


SALES DESK


The Museum's new sales desk and its art library are both managed on a volunteer basis by Mrs. John Lincoln. The sales desk is operated as a supplement to the Museum's program of art education, carrying authoritative and in- formative books on contemporary art and art history. In the past months, Mrs. Lincoln has added substantially to the number and variety of books which are available at the sales desk and reports a corresponding increase in the volume of sales. On Sunday afternoons, Mrs. Norman Hap- good occasionally substitutes for Mrs. Lincoln in manning the desk and answering the many questions visitors have about exhibitions and about the Museum's program.


ASSOCIATES


The number of individuals and families who support the Museum as Associates increases every year. In 1957 we gained 139 new Associates to bring the total to 874 on December 31 .. The steady growth in our Associate member- ship is gratifying to us not only as an important source of financial support, but equally as a reflection of con- fidence in our program.


PLANS FOR 1958


The DeCordova Museum begins the new year with a basic program that is successful in terms of the standard criteria: it attracts the public in greater numbers every year to classes, exhibitions and special events; it fully utilizes the resources of the staff and plant; it enjoys a credita- ble reputation in art and museum circles; it fulfills the requirements of prudent management.


We could, of course, repeat this program in 1958 with confidence that next year's annual report would be essen- tially the same as this. We are not inclined, however, to rest content with the status quo; there are too many oppor- tunities for improvement, too many important jobs still to be done.


We know, for example, that we have explored only a few of the many ways of relating art to our daily lives. We know we can do much to make our exhibitions more meaning- ful and enjoyable to the public. Specifically, we want to be able to provide gallery talks, slide lectures, and de- tailed, informative catalogues and labels in conjunction with all important exhibits. We want to improve the quality


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EDUCATION AND RECREATION


of our exhibitions and we want to broaden their scope, to include more sculpture, especially, and to represent a wider geographical area.


We know there is a need for further study and experi- mentation in the field of art education for children, espec- ially on the secondary school level. This is one reason that two scholarship classes for teen-agers have been in- cluded in the 1958 curriculum. We want to work more close- ly with local schools in coordinating special exhibitions and programs at the Museum with children's work at school. We want to encourage more teachers to bring groups of students to the Museum and we want to make these visits worthwhile by presenting instructive, entertaining programs appropriate to the age levels of the visiting children. We want to offer all-day clinics on art education for art teachers and supervisors from schools in this area; bring- ing guest experts and educators together to exchange views on theory and practice; such clinics would inevitably pro- mote the study and dissemination of improved methods of teaching art to young people.


These are our immediate goals; we hope to find means of translating them into action in 1958.


Respectfully submitted : Frederick P. Walkey, Executive Director


110


DeCORDOVA MUSEUM DE CORDOVA AND DANA MUSEUM AND PARK OPERATING STATEMENT 1957


INCOME


Trust Income


A Trust


$8,400.00


B Trust 49,144.23


$57,544.23


Dues from Associates


7,961.00


Contributions


361.28


School tuition


Adult classes $15,336.91


Children's


classes 9,792.25


25,129.16


Sale of school supplies, books 4,201.47


Admissions


11,159.89


Interest on savings


552.79


Miscellaneous


1,445.46


( firewood, services)


TOTAL INCOME


$108,355.28


EXPENSE


Equipment


$ 3,741.33


Administrative salaries


34,162.67 *


Administrative expense


1,054.96


School expense ( supplies, salaries)


Adult classes


11,134.70


Children's classes


8,223.77


Utilities & Fuel


4,425.82


Insurance & Taxes


( social security)


3,027.13


Repayment of loan, interest


4,517.84


Supplies, maintenance


3,145.50


Cottage


828.88


Publicity, mailings


4,220.14


Exhibitions


2,805.74


Subscriptions, memberships


251.91


Events (concerts, dance, festival)


7,502.81


Park maintenance


1,070.34


Books, supplies purchased for resale


3,806.50


Purchase of works of art


1,185.87


Appropriations to reserve funds


11,850.00


Miscellaneous


373.47


TOTAL EXPENSE


$107,329.38


EXCESS OF INCOME OVER EXPENSE $ 1,025.90


No attempt has been made to allocate to the operation of the school any part of administrative salaries and expenses or other overhead items.


111


DE CORDOVA AND DANA MUSEUM AND PARK Balance Sheet, December 31, 1957


ASSETS


SAVINGS ACCOUNTS:


Cambridge Savings Bank $16,527.45


Cambridgeport Savings Bank 5.537.61


MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK:


General Checking Account . . $ 9,076.91


Allocated to reserves 5,300.00


PAYROLL ACCOUNT :


112


Newton Waltham Bank $ 2,633.51 less taxes withheld and


due the government 433.51


IMPREST ACCOUNTS :


Lincoln Post Office ·


$ 100.00


Petty Cash 75.00


Cash drawer 10.00


TOTAL ASSETS


LIABILITIES


RESERVE FUNDS :


Corporate reserve


$10,000.00


Accessions unrestricted


355.50


$22,065.06 Accessions restricted


. .


2,877.24


Building fund


5,200.00


Exterior equipment


depreciation


2,000.00


Interior equipment


depreciation


750.00


14,376.91 Building maintenance . . Cottage, garage building 5,100.00


1,000.00


(plus unallocated accumu- lated interest in savings account ) 82.32


TOTAL RESERVES


$27,365.06


IMPREST FUNDS :


Payroll Account


2,200.00


Other


185.00


2,385.00


185.00


TOTAL LIABILITIES.


$29,750.06


WORKING CAPITAL


9.076.91


$38,826.97


EDUCATION AND RECREATION


2,200.00


$38,826.97


SCHOLARSHIP FUND


LINCOLN SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND


Since the March, 1956, Town Meeting voted to establish the Lincoln Scholarship Trust Fund, assets have grown to almost triple the amount of the initial gift of $1,000 made by Fanny S. Campbell to the Lincoln School Association. In addition, awards totaling $750 have been made to deserv- ing Lincoln students. By February, 1958, $400 more will be paid to the colleges and universities the 1957 winners attend. Payments are made in equal instalments at the beginning of each semester.


Lincoln high school seniors, or graduates, desiring further education or specialized training, are eligible. Awards are made on the basis of good citizenship, scholar- ship and financial need. 1957 winners were Phyllis Campo- basso, Valerie Chodsky and Stephen Murphy.


The creation of a permanent fund has provided the oppor- tunity for public spirited donors to aid deserving students to achieve their educational goals. The fund administra- tors are very grateful to the community for its enthusias- tic response. Under the able chairmanship of Christopher Hurd, the scholarship fund raising committee of the Lincoln School Association sponsored a highly successful general appeal letter to the town which raised $984.85. In addi- tion, the Lincoln School Association contributed $100 from its treasury. The Smith School students voted to contri-


bute $225 from their operetta proceeds. One graduating home room, 8C, gave $26.40, and the 4-H Horse Club, the first organization not connected with the school to do so, contributed $125.


At present, the term of office for administrative com- mittee members is 1 year. The three members are appointed, one by the town moderator, one by the Chairman of the School Committee, and one by the senior Lincoln member of the Regional High School Committee. Terms expire at town meet- ing. This is at the time when the committee should be in full operation. Thus, there is not continuity between committees, which could result in jeopardy to the interests of students wishing to apply for awards.


Therefore, the administrative committee recommends that the terms of office for members be extended to 3 years, and


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EDUCATION AND RECREATION


that these terms be staggered so as to provide necessary continuity. An article will be entered in the warrant to amend the trust to this effect.


Respectfully submitted :


Barbara G. Davis, Chairman Malcolm D. Donaldson Alice E. Garrison James F. Gray, member ex officio


114


School Committee


Report


to the


Town of Lincoln


FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1956-1957


ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS


SCHOOL CALENDAR 1958-1959


September


1


Monday


Labor Day Staff Organization


and Workshop


8


Monday


School opens


October


13


Monday


Columbus Day Recess


November


11


Tuesday


Veterans Day Recess


December


23


Thursday-Friday Tuesday


Christmas Vacation


Closing


January


5


Monday


School Resumes


February


23-27


Monday-Friday


Winter Vacation


March


2


Monday


School Resumes


April


20-24


Monday-Friday


Spring Vacation


27


Monday


School Resumes


June


19


Friday


Commencement


19


Friday


School Ends


22-26


Monday-Friday


Staff Workshop


29


Monday


Summer Session Starts


August


7


Friday


Summer Session Ends


Additional Calendar Data


183 School Days.


It is planned to dismiss school at 1:00 o'clock every Wednesday to permit faculty meetings, private pupil lessons, dentist and physicians appointments, club meetings, etc.


Kindergarten morning and afternoon sessions will re- verse on February 2, 1959.


5


115


2-5


Tuesday-Friday


Thanksgiving Recess


27-28


EDUCATION AND RECREATION


ORGANIZATION


Term Expires


John W. Carman, Chairman


1959


(Mrs. ) Elizabeth Donaldson


1960


Ernest P. Neumann


1958


Meetings : Regular : First Tuesday of each month: 7:30 P.M. at the Superintendent's Office. Cl. 9-8172.


Called : Third Tuesday of each month usually and other meetings as stated; time and place designated.


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


James F. Gray, Lincoln Road, Cl. 9-9558


Office at Smith School, Cl. 9-8172


SECRETARY TO SUPERINTENDENT


Solvay G. Valentine


PRINCIPAL


Harry T. Burke Office at Smith School, Cl. 9-8333


SECRETARY TO PRINCIPAL


(Mrs. ) Clara E. Powers, Smith School


RECEPTIONIST


(Mrs. ) Elizabeth J. Kane, Center School


CUSTODIANS


Harold Cuttell, Center School Jerome Griffin, Smith School Edward Moffett, Smith School


OFFICE HOURS


School Days 8:30 A. M. to 4 P. M. School Vacation . 9 A. M. to 4 P. M.




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