Beverly, Mass. — July 27, 2005 — The Trustees of Reservations announced today that they are one of four U.S. cultural institutions and the only preservation organization to receive a special grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The $450,000 challenge grant is part of NEH's We the People initiative, which supports projects that strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture. The grant will be distributed over three years and must be matched by $1.35 million in private funds.

The Trustees will use the NEH funds to create an endowment to hire a full-time archivist and part-time historic resources manager, and purchase equipment necessary to create an archives and research center. 

The Trustees of Reservations own 95 conservation properties on nearly 24,000 acres across Massachusetts, including four National Historic Landmarks, one National Natural Landmark, and seven properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to operating nine historic house museums, The Trustees have tens of thousands of individual objects and archival materials from each of their properties. These archives and objects represent a significant piece of American history and include maps, architectural plans, garden and landscape plans, photographs, ledgers, receipts, diaries, paintings, correspondence, decorative arts, and other irreplaceable historic items.

”The creation of the Archives and Research Center is the capstone to years of planning and effort that have been invested in The Trustees' humanities holdings,” said Susan Edwards, The Trustees' director of historic resources. “The Trustees are committed to the long-term stewardship and sharing of their rich humanities holdings with a wide and increasing audience.”

An NEH challenge grant will provide the stimulus needed to enable The Trustees to move to new levels of excellence as stewards of humanities holdings which tell the story of indigenous peoples through early settlers and patriots in the revolution, to the designers and captains of industry who shape our world today.

According to NEH Chairman Bruce Cole, “Housing these collections appropriately and enhancing intellectual access to them are essential for excellent scholarship and public programming.”

NEH grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Throughout the year, humanities experts outside of the NEH and members of the National Council on the Humanities consider all applications and advise NEH on the quality and significance of each proposed project. The three other cultural institutions to receive the special We the People grant are Arkansas State University (Jonesboro, Ark.), the Liberty Memorial Association (Kansas City, Mo.), and the Old Independence Regional Museum (Batesville, Ark.).

The $450,000 NEH grant is part of The Trustees of Reservations' $50 million Landscapes & Landmarks capital campaign, which will end in June 2006. To date, more than $47 million has been raised as part of this campaign.

About The Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees of Reservations are more than 40,000 people like you who want to protect the places we love, secure our landscapes and landmarks for future generations, or who simply like getting outdoors. Together with our neighbors we protect the distinct character of our communities and inspire a commitment to special places. We offer access to new experiences and endless opportunities to connect with the people and activities that make life rich, rewarding and fun. Our passion is to share with everyone the irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures that we care for – because of their value to our everyday lives. With nearly one hundred special places across the state, we invite you to find your place. Visit us at www.thetrustees.org.