annual report fye 15
TRANSCRIPT
The Mark Twain House & Museum351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105!
!Annual Report FYE 2015 - February 1, 2014 through January 31, 2015!
Report from Joel Freedman, President of the Board of TrusteesTo: Members, Friends, and Supporters of The Mark Twain House & Museum!
January 31 marked the end of our fiscal year, as well as my first year as President of the Board of Trustees. It was a pivotal year with significant developments. !
We again raised over $2.5 million from our many individual, corporate, foundation, and government supporters. Due to our aggressive programming, which continues to expand our brand, we spent a bit more than raised, leaving us with a small deficit for the fiscal year. Our programming ranged from free community events, such as our annual Ice Cream Social, Tom Sawyer Day, and our popular “Trouble Begins” lectures, to celebrities such as Garrison Keillor and Ralph Nader. We also hosted Noam Chomsky and Ann Rice in larger area venues when demand outstripped our auditorium capacity. Lastly, we continued our marquee events at The Bushnell with best-selling author Dan Brown and our 4th annual “Mark My Words” event with Wicked author Gregory Maguire and Steven Schwartz, who created the Broadway musical. We increased revenue from admissions by 15% and are on track to meet our goal of 50% in three years. Our talented staff also added a popular Servants Tour to the other theme tours enabling guests to turn every visit into a new experience. The year also included many financial milestones. We made progress with our excellent corporate partner, Webster Bank, in renegotiating our debt from the construction of the Museum Center many years ago. We actually celebrated the closing in May 2015 by naming the building the Webster Bank Museum Center. We also secured $2.2 million from the Connecticut Bond Commission for vital infrastructure repairs to all our buildings. Cindy Lovell and our Building & Grounds Committee, chaired by John De Laney, chose a contractor who initiated planning and began to secure the necessary permits. We hope to be able to begin work this summer and complete it by Spring 2016. Also, we sold the property at 66 Forest Street, which was acquired many years ago and has been on the market for several years. Although we had rented a portion of the building, its annual costs were a drain on our operating budget. Lastly, our Board of Trustees has expanded to 45 members, and we continue to diversify experientially and geographically. Over 1/3 of the trustees now come from beyond the Greater Hartford area, expanding the museum’s outreach to New Haven, Fairfield County, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, and California. My continued thanks to our trustees, as well as to Cindy and her energetic and dedicated staff, for a successful 2014 and for the same during our current year. Joel Freedman
Report from Cindy Lovell,!Executive DirectorDear Friends and Supporters of The Mark Twain House & Museum,!
I am happy to share with you this Annual Report for the Fiscal Year ended January 31, 2015, which was another very busy and successful year for the organization.!
I am also pleased to update you on some exciting projects currently underway. With support from a $2.2 million grant from the Connecticut Bond Commission, we are in the process of planning and designing several important capital projects. Among these is the completion of the restoration of the Mahogany Suite in The Mark Twain House, which has been closed to the public for about ten years. Opening additional areas of the House to the public is critical to achieving our goal of increasing tourism, and is imperative to fulfilling our mission.!
Our literary endeavors are also expanding in exciting new ways. In May, we announced the creation of the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award. Trustee and best-selling author David Baldacci is funding the $25,000 prize, which will be awarded in 2016 to an author whose book embodies an “American voice,” as did Twain’s work. Trustee Roger Michel hosted the announcement event at The Grolier Club in New York City, where we also introduced Noah Altshuler, our first Playwright-in-Residence. Noah is working on a play about Tom Sawyer, and we are facilitating his research, which will take him to all the major Mark Twain-related sites across the country.!
Our writing classes and workshops, Annual Writers’ Weekend, and national Royal Nonesuch Humor Writing Contest continue to serve and nurture writers from both near and far. In addition, the author appearances we present continue to attract a wide variety of writers, including the #1 best-selling author James Patterson.!
Other highlights of recent months have included TIME dubbing The Mark Twain House “Downton Abbey’s American cousin;” and new staff appointments. We have welcomed Tracy Brindle as Beatrice Fox Auerbach Chief Curator and Dr. James Golden as Director of Education. Both have hit the ground running with exhibitions, research and outreach to various constituencies.!
Our staff and Trustees continue to work diligently to ensure another stellar year and a bright future for the museum. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts, and please visit soon.!
With gratitude,!
Cindy Lovell !
Board of TrusteesDavid Baldacci!Timothy F. Bannon!Bethany Berger!John Bermel!Douglas Boains !Annette Bolt!Stephen Carter!Lesa Cavallero-Laraia!Ranjana Chawla!Garry Michael Cooper!John E. Curran!John De Laney!Anne Elvgren!Joel Freedman! (President)!John N. Giamalis!
Ann Glover!Michael Grunberg!J. David Haddox, D.D.S., M.D.!Hugh HowardDavid Jimenez!Dan Kain!Alan J. Kreczko!Maribel La Luz!Andrew Lattimer!Frank Lord!Matthew D. Maclean!James Mallozzi!Duby McDowell!R. Paul Mehlman!John Moran!
Mark Nielsen!Jeffrey M. Oller!Mark Ostrowski!Debra Palermino Allan Polak!George Scurlock!Pedro Segarra!Gregory Servodidio! (Vice President & Treasurer)Jeanmarie Shea! (Secretary)!Kathryn Sherer!Jennifer Tombaugh!Edward Whittemore!Brett Williams!
Trustees as of Jan. 31, 2015
Volunteers & InternsVOLUNTEERS: Jennifer Alger Nancy Antle Lois Anderson Pat BarnesJoyce Barnes Kristan Bertschmann Roy Blount, Jr. Erin Bolduc Annette Bolt Deb Bradshay Meredith BriggsPierre CalmelsSusan Campbell Bob Carbone Mary Cardin Sally Carrier John Casey Patricia Chaffie Amy CoatesJackie Colon Dottie Conklin Leslie Connor Diane Coogan
Neil CooganSteve Courtney Lorraine Canty Gloria De Alison Devers Matthew DicksKelly Donovan Scott DorrisDebi Ellsworth Wayne English Yanvi Faing Melanie Faranello Tim Federle Lucy Ferriss Vanessa Flenke John Freeman Fannie Gabriel Amity Gage Sandy GineoAmy GirardJane Glasgow Sue Gleason Carole Goldberg Emily Gutermann
Hank Herman Tom HinesJohn Holder Pamela HowardJune Hyjek Gloria Intravia Leslie Johnson Katherine Johnston Brian Jud Karen Kelleher Susan Kennedy Candice Kramer Debbie Lahelipe Kelley Landry Jessica Lappen Kelly LappenJessica Lawson Karen Licht Margah LipsDayna Lorents Lynne Lumsden Rachel MarksDonna Martin George Merrow
Libby Merrow Sarah Moon Rick MorelandMike Morin Laura Osborn Dan O'Shea Timothy Parish Chuck Paydos Dee Peters Caroline Picerne Terri Pollack Dan Pope Ashley Ravesloot Bessy Reyna Hugh Ryan Susan Schoenberger Mary Sharnick Pegi Deitz Shea David Sherman Vivian Shipley Gladstone SignsMary-Ann Tirone Smith Nancy StairJohn Stanizzi
Caitlin Thayer Peter Tingus Marilee Turner Caroline Vallieres Safari Wallace !Carol Wolcott Josh Young Mark Zampano Barbara Zyla!!!INTERNS:!Madeline Cicitto Christine Clement Chelsey DiNoia Cyrus Duff Tavvia Jefferson Connor Sheriden Jen Shook Erin Sniffen Devon Sponheimer Bailey Zimmitti
With sincere gratitude we thank our volunteers and interns who donate thousands of hours to The Mark Twain House & Museum.Volunteers and Interns as of Jan. 31, 2015
Ms. Jessie Adams Lois Anderson Janet Arnheiter Ms. Louise M. Bailey Beverly B. Baker Mr. and Mrs. Craig Bolt Ms. Ernestine Bouchard Harriet BoykoDr. Sybille Brewer Jean Bronson Jay Brown Mrs. Cynthia Brown Ms. Lorraine Canty Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carrier Dr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Chagnon Mrs. Dorothy M. Conklin Kristen Cool Donna CouzensMrs. Ann T. Darling Robert DeMelloMs. Pamela Dowling and Mr. James Healey Elizabeth S. Ewing Martha D. FlandersMarion Fontanella Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. FritzerMrs. Fannie Gabriel Ms. Ida Gall
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron L. Gersten Mary Ann Gilbert Mr. Edward D. Gladstone Mrs. Susan Gleason Mrs. Regina C. GrahamMrs. Anne M. Healey Diana Heymann Mr. and Mrs. Edward Higgison Mrs. Pam HowardMrs. Joan Hurwit Ann Hutton Ms. Gloria Intravia Mrs. Dianne J. Jones Mrs. Mildred C. Kay Ms. Karen A. Kelleher Ms. Barbara Kiefer Claire & Francis King Laurel Kirschen Jo Dee KrejmasMrs. Betty-Joan LaChapelle Joan LarkinsMs. Karen Licht Mr. Henry J. Link Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lips Sally LordMs. Lynne A. Lumsden and Mr. Jon B. Harden Governor & Mrs. Dannel Malloy Chris McGrath
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Merrow Mr. and Mrs. Robert Metcalf Rebecca MikusMr. and Mrs. Clifford G. Moon, Jr. Karen OllestadMs. Jill M. PackardMs. and Mrs. William Paley Mr. and Mrs. Charles PaydosJean Pearson Ms. Elizabeth A. Perrin Ms. Dolores PetersMrs. Lorraine Petricone Brenda Pfeiffer Ms. Terri Pollack Virginia and John Regan Ann Reilly Mr. and Mrs. James Rodriguez Helen Roth Patricia Sack Dr. Marilyn Schaffer Dr. and Mrs. J. David Schnatz Pedro Segarra Mrs. Faye W. SmithMr. and Mrs. Timothy Sullivan Jean Taylor
Ms. Carolyn D. VallieresMeara Weaver Mrs. Carol W. Wolcott Mrs. Joan WoodJosh & Stacy Young Ms. Barbara J. Zyla & Michael Dednarz Ms. Julie Zyla!
!
The Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum continue to play a vital role in the organization’s success.
Friends of the Mark Twain House
Executive Committee:President
Annette Bolt
Vice PresidentKaren Licht
Corresponding SecretaryBarbara Zyla
TreasurerCarolyn D. Vallieres
Immediate Past President Lois Anderson
Program Chair Lynne Lumsden
Membership Co-Chairpersons Dee Peters and Chuck Paydos
The Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum is an organization that was launched on September 25, 1967. Founder Fran Gordon sent a letter to several women friends inviting them to join her in activities to preserve the museum’s collections and house. Thirty-two dedicated women comprised the first year’s membership, and they soon added fundraising activities to their efforts. To date, more than $1,000,000 has been raised for The Mark Twain House & Museum thanks to the generosity of time and hard work by the Friends. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for their vision and their commitment to preserving Mark Twain’s legacy.!
“When we think of friends, and call their faces out of the shadows, and their voices out of the echoes that faint along the corridors of memory, and do it without knowing why save that we love to do it, we content ourselves that that friendship is a Reality, and not a Fancy--that it is builded upon a rock, and not upon the sands that dissolve away with the ebbing tides and carry their monuments with them.” - Mark Twain
Donors
Mark My Words SponsorsLimited Edition Sponsor!The Hartford!!First Edition Sponsor!Wish You Well Foundation!!Final Draft Sponsor!Progress: A Digital Agency!!First Draft Sponsor!Hoffman Auto Group!!Mark My Words Contributors!Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company!Reid and Riege, P.C.!Pullman & Comley, LLC!!Additional Support Provided By!Bauman Rare Books!Candlewick Press!Nelson DeMille!
Gala SponsorsTom Sawyer Sponsor!
The Hartford!
!Gilded Age Sponsors!
Landmark Partners!
MassMutual Financial Group!
Voya Financial™, inspired by ING!
!Connecticut Yankee Sponsors!
Aetna!
Burns & McDonnell!
Deloitte!
Ernst & Young LLP!
Fairview Capital Partners, Inc.!
Grunberg Management!
Purdue Pharma L.P.!
Robinson & Cole LLP!
Stanley Black & Decker!
The Travelers Companies, Inc.!
!Steamboat Sponsors!
Bank of America!
BlumShapiro!
Dornenburg / Kallenbach Advertising!
Link Mechanical Services, Inc.!
Pullman & Comley, LLC!
TD Bank!
!Underwriter Sponsors!
Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company!
Mahoney Sabol & Company, LLP!
Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center!
Shipman & Goodwin LLP!
!Entertainment Sponsor!
dfx Entertainment, llc!
Fund the Legacy
We are grateful to those who made a special gift to Fund the Legacy during our 2014 Gala. These gifts are integral to fulfilling our mission.
Iver & Eileen Foley Allgrove!
Lois & Bruce Anderson!
Elizabeth Bannon!
Timothy F. Bannon & Lorraine M. Aronson!
John & Jean Beaupre!
John & Lisa Bermel!
Douglas & Theresa Boains!
David & Anne Boers!
Gregory & Harriet Boyko!
Brian & Karen Buckley!
Ted & Sally Carrier!
Surendra & Ranjana Chawla!
Howard Chilcoat & Ginny Thompson!
Ernest & Pam Conrad!
Frank F. Coulom!
Tom & Cindy Cowhey!
Marco De Filippo & Kelly Zerfass!
John B. De Laney!
Allen & Eleni DeGraw!
Daniel Dilzer!
Jeff Dornenburg!
Michael & Corrina Elloian!
Jerry & Kim Fan!
Crystal Floyd!
Joel & Susan Freedman!
Henry A. & Helen K. Frye!
Michael & Karen Gingold!
Ann & Philip Glover!
Richard & Andrea Goldstein!
J. David Haddox & Marsha McAllister!
Wan Kyun Ham & Kyoungjoo Min!
Alisyn Hendel!
Gerald & Barbara Hess!
Timothy & Beverly Holt!
Dennis House & Kara Sundlun!
Herb Hutchison!
David R. & Beth Jimenez!
Andrew & Genevieve Lattimer!
Christopher & Joanna Link!
Frank Lord & Suzanne Hopgood!
Jim & Maureen Mallozzi!
Richard & Christine Marcks!
Shirley S. Martin & G. William Allen!
Mark McCoy & Alison Rogers-McCoy!
McDowell Jewett Communications!
Greg & Ann McGowan!
R. Paul & Cecily Mehlman!
Julie & Kevin Mullen!
Alan & Jo Anne Nadritch!
John Nealon & Pam Lucas!
Dana Neves!
Kurt & Anne Nyman!
Dan & Lori O'Connell!
Jeffrey & Donna Oller!
Steven & Timi Paccioretti!
Russ & Molly Paine!
Debra A. Palermino!
Keith Peck!
David & Jane Robinson!
Vito Rubino!
Peter Ruchwa!
Jeanmarie B. Shea!
Kathryn Sherer!
Richard Silbert!
Robert H. & Sharon W. Smith!
Dave & Lisa Stevenson!
Jennifer & Philip Tombaugh!
Adam & Becky Tonkinson!
Tom & Rebecca Trutter!
Lankford & Jamie Wade!
Jay & Colleen Wamester!
Brooke & Ted Whittemore!
Michael & Ann Zucker!
Artists, Authors, & EntertainersTom Acitelli!Maria Acosta Cruz!Fred Addis!L. Marie Adeline!Sarah Addison Allen!Tessa Afshar!Qais Akbar Omar!Vladimir Alexandrov!Amistad Center for Art & Culture!John Manuel Andriotti!Darlene Arden!Alison Arngrim!Reza Aslan!Jo Baker!Brunonia Barry!Carol Barnier!Alex Beam!Artie Bennett!Donald Bliss!Roy Blount, Jr.!DJ Whitney Bobby!Dan Brown!Lisa Brown!Laurence Buell!Susan Campbell!Paul Caranci!Vince Cardinal!W. Bernard Carlson!Andrew Carroll!Christopher Castellani!Capital Classics!Cashetta!Natalie Charles!Xiangming Chen!Noam Chomsky!Jeff Chu!Amy Chua!
Ben Clark Trevor Cole Suzan Colon Susan Conley Jerome Corsi Kambri CrewsBill Curry John Dankosky Cathy Day Jacopo della Quercia Leonard DeGraaf DFX Entertainment Karen Dietrich Joey L. DiFrancesco Robert M. Dowling Dr. Robert DoyleSusan Eaton Carlos Eire Bob Englehart Anne Farrow Marc Favreau Tim Federle Peter Filichia J.E. Fishman Patrice FitzgeraldSteven Raider-Ginsburg Amy Goodman Goodspeed Musicals Deven Green Jane Green Daniel GreenWolf Dr. Benjamin Griffin Wick GriswoldEllen Gruber Garvey Nick Hahn Josh Hanagarne Pete Hamill David Handler
Rosemary HarrisDr. Susan K. HarrisHartford Stage Artis Henderson Herstory Theatre Kristan HigginsKatherine Howe Diana Hunter Eloisa JamesMarlon JamesPeter Janney Mellini KantayyaLaura Kaye Garrison Keillor Joe KertesDean King Elaine KuzmeskusNicholas Lampert Christine Lavin Jessica Lawson Justin Lee Tom Lee Eric Lehman Stephanie Lehmann Garrison LeykamLiterary Death Match Norman Lock Kevin Mac Donnell Lucinda Secrest MacDowell Debbie Macomber Charles MacPherson Myra MacPherson Gregory MaguireWilliam Mann Laura Maxwell Faith McCann Chris McDaniel Marta McDowell
Colin McEnroe Jennifer McMahon Giulia Melucci Joseph Monninger Sarah Moon David E. Morine John Mueller Joe MutoPZ MyersRalph Nader Martin Napersteck Dan NeedlesIngrid Newkirk Tara Nina Allia Zobel Nolan Patrick Nolan Pete & Chris Amusements Elisabeth Petry Stewart O’Nan P.J. O’Rourke Suzanne Palmieri Nan Parson Rossiter Kitty PilgrimKatha Pollitt Peter S. Prichard Jennifer Pustz Morwenna Rae Dr. R. Kent Rasmussen Jason “Jay” Redman Marybeth Reilly McGreen Real Art WaysAnne Rice Christopher Rice Riverwood Poetry SeriesFrank RizzoMatthew RodriguezCharlotte RoganKristine Rolofson
Jed RubenfeldDonna Russo Morin Mark Russell Hank Phillippi Ryan Susan Schoenberger Susan Schulman Jacqueline Schwab Stephen Schwartz Adam Reid Sexton Vivien Shotwell Dr. Joseph ShrandSea Tea ImprovClea Simon Singing Men of Ohio Mike SkidgellDavid E.E. Sloane Julia Spencer Fleming Diane Smith Maggie Smith DaltonBonneyclaire Smith-Stewart Nina Sovich Shannon Stacey Chris Stedman Margaret Steele Daniel Sterner Karen Stivali Dr. Sylvester “Skip” Sviokla, IIIKyle SwannRachel Swarn Kara Sundlun!Ben Tarnoff!Ashley Tepper!Caitlin Thayer!Ted Thompson!Mary-Ann Tirone Smith!Scott Teems!Colm Toibin!
Jonathan Tolin!Calvin Von Crush!Norb Vonnegut!Heather Webb!Karen Weingarten!Dr. Ruth Westheimer!Shannon Wheeler!Karen White!Virginia Wolf!Meg Wolitzer!Chion Wolf!Lauren Yarger!Jean Zimmerman!Jeff Zinn!
Above: Debbie Macomber & Dr. Ruth chatting at the Big Book Getaway.
Right: Amy Goodman & Ralph Nader
both delivered author talks.
Most of our presenters appear at no charge or at deeply discounted rates to support The Mark Twain House & Museum.
Holiday House Tour SponsorsThe Prince & The Pauper Sponsor!
Viking Fuel Oil Company
Connecticut Yankee Sponsor!
Hooker & Holcombe, Inc.
Tom Sawyer Sponsor!
Aaron & Sandra Gersten
Huckleberry Finn Sponsors!
In Memory of Fran Gordon, First President of The Friends!
Pamela Dowling & James Healey, Jr.!
In Memory of Brent Wells!
With thanks to the Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum for their continued efforts to plan and execute the Holiday House Tour.
Thanks to these owners and hosts who welcomed us into their homes!!
!The Church Home ! 734 Prospect Avenue, Hartford!!The Drusedum/Knorr Home ! 1144 Prospect Avenue, Hartford!!The Ware Home ! 30 Sycamore Road, West Hartford!!The Bronin Home! 93 Elm Street, Hartford!!The Hartford Club! 46 Prospect Street, Hartford
To Honor & Remember
In Honor of Doug Boains!
Elizabeth Cope!
!
!
In Honor of Susan Freedman!
Ramani & Louise Ayer!
!
!
!
In Memory of Fran Gordon!
Roberta J. Berner!
Ted & Sally Carrier!
Dianne J. Jones!
Dr. Cindy Lovell!
Katie & Bob Metcalf!
Ronald H. & Carla J. Pariser!
Barbara J. Zyla!
For more information on tribute gifts, please contact the Development Office at 860-280-3112.
Halley’s Comet SocietyIf you have included The Mark Twain House & Museum in your future plans but have not yet notified us, or for more information on legacy giving, please contact the Development Office at 860-280-3113.
Legacy GivingJack Barnette!
Estate of Olivet Beckwith*!
Estate of Robert Boenig*!
Estate of Ellen R. Bowman*!
Gregory & Harriet Boyko!
David Cash!
Estate of Catherine Davidson*!
Estate of Beverly Beach Eaton & Edward C. Eaton, III*!
Estate of Mary W. Edwards*!
Joel and Susan Freedman!
Estate of Concordia A. Gregorieff*!
Steven J. Hoffman!
Estate of Shepherd M. Holcombe*!
Estate of Elizabeth W. Huntting*!
Dr. Cindy Lovell!
Estate of Henry McLane*!
Estate of Frances H. O’Dell*!
Estate of Walter K. Schwinn*!
Estate of Mary D. Shipman*!
Barbara J. Zyla!
!
!
*Deceased!
Aetna!American International Group, Inc.!
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.!Bank of America!
CIGNA Foundation!Coach, Inc.!
IBM Corporation!Illinois Tool Works Foundation!MassMutual Financial Group!
Prudential Foundation!United Technologies Corporation!Voya Financial™, inspired by ING!
!
These companies have matched gifts made by their employees to The Mark Twain House & Museum. To increase the impact of your donation, ask your Human Resources Department if your company will match your gift.
Corporate Matching
Goods & Services Contributors
Our thanks to the many businesses and individuals who provide goods and services for our programs throughout the year. These donations reduce our operating costs and help to ensure the high quality of our programs.
Vladimir Alexandrov!
Apricots!
Back East Brewing Co.!
Christopher Bain!
David Baldacci!
Barcelona!
Bear's Smokehouse!
Bin 228!
Black Bear Saloon!
Black Hog Brewing Co.!
Boston Beer Co.!
Boston Red Sox!
Gregory & Harriet Boyko!
Broad Brook Brewing!
Lawrence Buell!
Ken Burns!
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts!
The Capital Grille!
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company!
Carbone's Ristorante!
Jason Castonguay!
Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation!
Charter Oak Brewing Company!
Sujit Chawla!
City Steam Brewery!
Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc.!
Connecticut Science Center!
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo!
Steve Courtney!
CT1 Media!
Anne Cubberly!
CWPM, LLC!
Chris Dadlez!
Emily's Catering!
Tracy Wu Fastenberg!
FRHI Hotels & Resorts!
The Friends of The Mark Twain House & Museum!
The Goodspeed Opera House!
David & Cynthia Gordon!
J. David Haddox & Marsha McAllister!
Half Full Brewery!
Irma Ruby Handel!
Harpoon Brewery!
The Hartford Better Beer Co.!
The Hartford Club!
Hartford Distributors!
Hartford Downtown Marriott!
The Hartford!
Hartford Stage!
Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern!
Independent Outdoor!
Kevin Edward Jewelers!
The Kitchen at Billings Forge!
KPM Arts & Antiques!
Karl J. Krapek!
Jacques Lamarre & Arthur Galinat!
The Langham London!
Late Show with David Letterman!
Thomas D. & Margah Lips!
Long Trail Brewing Company!
Metro Bis Restaurant!
Mill Restaurant Group!
Mohegan Sun!
Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery & Pastry Shop!
MSNBC, Morning Joe!
The Museum of Modern Art!
Narragansett Brewing Company!
New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Club!
Mark & Jane Nielsen!
Nixs Hartford!
NORA Cupcake Company!
Olde Burnside Brewing Company!
Otter Creek Brewing!
Brad Paisley!
Park Weggis!
Personal Euphoria Pilates!
Patti Philippon!
Esther Pollack!
Pond House Cafe!
ROGO Distributors!
Salute Restaurant!
Heather Schlott!
Shebeen Brewing Co.!
Spiritus Wines!
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.!
Stony Creek Brewing!
Strongworks!
TheaterWorks!
Thomas Hooker Brewing Co.!
Tiny Confessions / Christopher Rozzi!
Tracy & Company Salon!
UCONN Dining Services!
Wadsworth Atheneum!
Waterford Hotel Group!
WFSB TV-3!
Whole Foods Market - Glastonbury!
The Willard Intercontinental!
Willimantic Brewing Company!
Wood-N-Tap!
Lauren Yarger & The Write Pros!
Zok's Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies!
Annual Fund
Individual donors who contribute $1,000 or more annually are members of the Samuel Clemens Society.
$25,000+!
Department of Economic and Community Development!
Greater Hartford Arts Council!
The Hartford!
The Mark Twain Foundation!
Travelers !
United Technologies Corporation!
!!!!!!!!!
$10,000 - $24,999!
The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation!
The Ensworth Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee!
J. Walton Bissell Foundation, Inc.!
The Katharine K. McLane and Henry R. McLane Charitable Trust!
Lincoln Financial Foundation!
The Saunders Foundation!
!!!!!!!
$5,000 - $9,999!
Timothy F. Bannon & Lorraine M. Aronson!
Craig & Annette Bolt!
Ted & Sally Carrier!
Joel & Susan Freedman!
Harry M. Day Charitable Foundation!
Alan & Becky Kreczko!
Jim & Maureen Mallozzi!
Shaun P. & Kathleen Mathews!
Mark & Jane Nielsen!
Nora Roberts Foundation!
The Owenoke Foundation!
Kathryn Sherer!
Mark Steyn!
!!!
$2,500 - $4,999!
Bethany Berger!
Douglas & Theresa Boains!
G. Michael Cooper & Michele Bush!
The Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust!
Anne L. Elvgren!
George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation, Bank of America, N.A. and Alan S. Parker, Trustees!
J. David Haddox & Marsha McAllister!
The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company!
David R. & Beth Jimenez!
Andrew & Genevieve Lattimer!
Link Mechanical Services, Inc.!
Frank Lord & Suzanne Hopgood!
Dr. Cindy Lovell!
The Malkin Fund, Inc.!
R. Paul & Cecily Mehlman!
John & Ellen Moran!
Jeffrey & Donna Oller!
Debra A. Palermino!
Gregory & Camille Servodidio!
Jeanmarie B. Shea!
Sorenson-Pearson Family Foundation!
Jennifer & Philip Tombaugh!
Tsunami Tsolutions!
Connecticut Natural Gas, a subsidiary company of UIL Holdings Corporation!
Gifts to the Annual Fund help support daily operating expensesand are critical to our mission.
Annual Fund$1,000 - $2,499!
Ahearn Family Foundation!
Richard F. Ahles!
Ramani & Louise Ayer!
Thomas Barnes!
Berkshire Bank!
John & Lisa Bermel!
Dr. Sybille Brewer!
Howard & Sue Carver!
Coleman H. & Jo Champlin Casey!
The Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation, Inc.!
Surendra & Ranjana Chawla!
David W. Clark!
Michael D. Coe!
The Colonial Lords of Manors in America!
Dorothy M. Conklin!
Connecticut Humanities!
Mary Jane Converse!
John & Barbara Curran!
John B. De Laney!
The Duclos Family!
Dr. Robert L. & Mrs. Susan Fisher!
Ted & Mary Gawlicki!
John & Kelly Giamalis!
Ann & Philip Glover!
Bob & Frankie Goldfarb!
Peter C. Grzybala & Diane W. Korntheuer!
Dr. Robert P. Hockmuth!
Steven J. Hoffman!
Robert Ignagni & Jen Dolan!
The Imagineers Foundation Inc.!
Karen A. Kelleher!
Pat & Ann Kenny!
Christopher & Janet Larsen!
Frederick & Janet Leonberger!
Coleman & Judie Levy!
Thomas D. & Margah Lips!
Roger & Jane Loeb!
Duby McDowell!
H. Richard McLane!
Mark & Jane Ostrowski!
Jill M. Packard!
Paul F. & Linda Pendergast!
Allan Polak & Deborah Zipkin!
Claire M. Pryor!
Renee B. Fisher Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation!
River Oaks Foundation, Inc.!
Elizabeth S. Russell!
Frederick & Philomena Sawyer!
David Sherman & Diana Creamer!
Ted & Marge Storrs!
Timothy & Geraldine Sullivan!
Watkinson School!
Jacqueline R. Werner!
Brooke & Ted Whittemore!
Brett & Brenda Williams!
F. Scott & Holly Wilson!
The Zachs Family Foundation, Inc.!
Individual donors who contribute $1,000 or more annually are members of the Samuel Clemens Society.
Annual Fund$500 - $999!
Leonard & Victoria Albert!
Jay S. & Eugenia P. Benet!
Eunice J. Burnett!
Carol L. Canino!
Lesa & Robert Laraia!
Brad Cerenzia!
Mrs. J. Noyes Crary!
Lynn H. Ferrari!
*Fran Gordon!
Griebel Family Fund!
Welles & Lillian Guilmartin!
Margo Lynn Hablutzel!
Robert & Darlene Hermann!
Peter & June Hyjek!
Dan & Lila Kain!
Lee G. Kuckro!
Wally & Christine Lamb!
Mr. & Mrs. William H. Loos!
Matthew & Ingrid Maclean!
Dr. Leta W. Marks!
Kathleen Coville Marr!
Richard E. Musgrave!
Robert & Margaret Patricelli!
Brewster & Judith Perkins!
River North / Moody Publishers!
Loren M. Rogers!
Ruth and Jack Glantz Family Foundation!
Andrew M. & Karen Sullivan!
Carolyn D. Vallieres!
Robert J. & Elizabeth A. von Dohlen!
Willis North America, Inc.!
Josh & Stacey Young!
!
$250 - $499!
Aaron Hollander Fund!
Judith E. Askey!
Karen Bartholomew!
Dr. Marshall E. & Mrs. Dawn Bein!
Nancy R. Bestor!
Gregory & Nancy Butler!
Blair Childs!
Adam & Cindy Cohen!
William J. & Susan K. Harris!
Anne M. Healey!
The Knox Foundation!
Robert C. & Carol L. Lindberg!
Steve Nightingale & Vaughan Finn!
Dr. K. Patrick & Mrs. Cathy I. Ober!
George T. Richards!
John H. & Sali G. Riege!
Simon Hollander Fund!
Henry Steiner!
Jane C. Waters!
*Deceased
Annual Fund$100 - $249!
John S. & Kim L. Abbs!
Stephen Altschuler!
Bill & Barb Arnold!
Elizabeth M. Barnes!
Linda Biancalani!
Dr. John C. Bird & Seung Lee!
Phillip & Ellen Blumberg!
Louis Blumenfeld & Jacqueline Isaacson!
David R. Bradley!
Inga Buhrmann!
Bruce & Sue Burchsted!
Thomas Burkholder!
James P. & Anne D. Carroll!
Frank S. & Mary Anne Chew!
Stephan & Francine Christiansen!
Brian W. & Ellen Nelson Clarke!
Mark Cocalis & Lisa Ann Erburu!
Audrey Conrad!
Kathleen S. Conran!
Alison Coolbrith!
Sam H. Creswell!
Walter B. Denny!
James & Isabelle English!
Howard Fielding!
Carl Floyd!
Meghan Freed & Kristen Marcroft!
Michael Friedman!
Richard M. & Donna Z. Fritzer!
Alfred & Kathleen Garofolo!
Edward D. Gladstone!
Kevin Gough & Paula Jones!
Helen B. Gray!
Kenneth & Gail Hamblett!
John & Marcia Hincks!
Historical Haunts!
Christopher & Nancy Houlihan!
Mr. & Mrs. Russell Hunter!
Mat & Val Jasinski!
James H. & Nancy S. Johnson!
John W. Kennedy, Jr.!
Kathy Kerkes!
Katie Kervick!
Judith Lee Kline!
Alice K. Kugelman!
Jacques Lamarre & Arthur Galinat!
Prof. Emerita Sarah B. Landau!
Jane Marie Loomis!
Adam & Jessica Lovell!
Richard A. Lowenstein!
Dr. Robert W. Lyons!
Alfred Maher!
Louise E. Mann!
Bernice Manning!
Alfred Masciocchi & Catherine Gobes!
Dr. Bruce F. & Theresa H. Michelson!
Michael K. Miller!
Richard E. & Joan P. Mount!
Frederick J. & Eleanor May Mullen!
Scott & Karen Myrick!
Bichop & Linda Nawrot!
Sally E. Newell!
Sara C. Norris!
Arthur A. Palmunen!
Vivian M. Partridge!
Chuck & Carol Paydos!
David A. Peck & Susan E. Leslie!
Robert Perki!
Dr. Arthur O. Phinney, Jr.!
Bill Pimentel!
R.F. & Diane McMahon Pratt!
Carter A. Prescott!
Dr. Wayne S. Rawlins & Ms. Janet E. Flagg!
Annual Fund$100 - $249 (cont.)!
Michael J. Riley!
Catherine Riordan & Kurt Raschi!
Mary T. Sargent!
Glenn & Audrey Scanlan!
G. William & Anne Seawright!
Jonathan & Beverly Seymour!
James C. Shadford!
The Shulansky Foundation, Inc.!
Carol Sicbaldi!
Barbara Sicherman!
Leslie Smith & Philip Wellman!
Tyler Smith & Lyn Walker!
Duncan S. Somerville, Jr.!
Theodore M. Space!
Joanne Starace!
Judith A. W. Wawro!
Janice Wood Williams!
Raymond J. & Sarah W. Winter!
Susan L. Winter!
Ann Vibert Wuelfin!
!Up to $99!
Jessie Adams!
Stacey Argent!
Merribel S. Ayres!
Nancy Banulski!
Barbara Barrett!
Robert D. & Donna S. Batch!
Clara Baur!
Grace Belanger!
Michael E.W. Bohan!
Philip E. Brencher, Jr.!
Patti & Richard Broad!
Ronald & Mary Ellen Brown!
Margaret F. Buck!
John & Arlene Buckey!
Steven M. & Rebekah S. Cafrelli!
Joan D. Cahill!
Marion Carling!
David Cash!
Mary Cashman!
Dr. William H. Cohn!
Raymond & Kimberly Conforti!
Thomas B. & Diane Copeland!
Steve Courtney!
Linda R. Cromwell!
Martha Czaczkes!
Richard C. & Martha G. Dale!
Francis J. DeRosa!
Kay Lynne Dimmick!
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Dix, Jr.!
Thomas Donahue!
Richard & Susan Drayton!
John Dube!
Emily Embler!
Melissa English!
Louis Esler!
Steven V. & Tracy Wu Fastenberg!
Paul & Gayle Fiser!
Patrice Fitzgerald!
Arthur W. Frank, Jr.!
Ida Gall!
Mark & Carol Gantner!
Seymour & Annette Gavens!
Douglas & Christina Gerbino!
Millicent Gill!
Jennifer Glick!
Nathan Goldberg!
Dianne Goodrich!
Patricia S. Green!
Walter & Roberta Greenberg!
Lynn Gregor!
Dr. Alan D. Gribben!
Donna L. Healy!
Cami Hepler!
Gavin Hilgemeier!
Barbara Hitchcock!
(cont.)!
Annual FundUp to $99 (cont.)!
Donald & Jeanne Hochstetler!
Terry & Margaret Hoover!
Carole V. Hope!
Derek Houliston!
Hugh G. Howard!
An-Ping & Sarah Hsieh!
Jay F. & Diana Huntington!
Alice Jena!
Peter Johansson!
Kenneth D. Johnson!
Anthony Katin!
John G. & Violetta P. Kava!
Karen E. Kearns!
Robert J. & Elizabeth D. Kiely!
Roger & Laurel Kirschen!
David & Janice Klein!
Herbert Klepper!
John J. & Sara D. Koziol!
Joyce D. Kunkle!
Jodi Kurtz!
Ana M. Lachelier!
Carolyn Lally!
Norman & Cindy Landry!
Mayor Louis R. Cheney!
Judith Yaross Lee!
Billie M. Levy!
Edwin O. Lomerson, Jr.!
Michael Lussier & Linda McDowell!
Bruce & Susan Machol!
Jane Macy-Painter!
Brian & Betsy Maguire!
Kathleen Maher!
James Masso!
John McDevitt!
Michael B. McDonough!
Donald McGilvray!
Katie & Bob Metcalf!
Rev. William R. Metzler!
Miriam Miller!
James S. Milloy!
Robert M. & Andrea Milstein!
Barbara A. Moore!
Michael Morgan!
Kay Bell Mudd!
Ebony Murphy-Root!
Cheryl Murray!
Mark Neikrie & Nancy Thomas!
Janice L. Niehaus!
Andrew Obelnicki & Kathleen Kelliher!
Carol Olsen!
Lewis P. & Judith C. Parker!
Phyllis G. Pasternak!
David & Laura Pels!
Dee Peters!
Christopher & Lorraine Petricone!
Brian & Dina Phelps!
Gabriel & Shannon Philippon!
James L. Pomeranz!
Marcus J. Radley!
Helen Roth!
Jeanne Rovaldi-Manning!
Scott Schooley & Giuliana Musilli!
Samuel L. Schrager & Terry Gellin!
Joan W. Schroder!
Constanza Segovia!
Miriam Seltzer!
Frank Sentner & Annette Blackwood!
Gretchen S. Skelley!
Frank & Linda Sousa!
Deborah D. Sprague!
Sandra T. Stein!
Marjorie Moretz Stinespring!
John & Dorothea Talcott!
Deborah & Jennifer Tarlow!
Charleen Taylor!
Raquel Thomison!
Sherill Ann Tippins!
Justin Tito!
Virginia A. Trenholm!
Amanda Tully!
Dr. Sandra Uetz!
Hope W. Vath & George Kirkutis!
Philip S. Walker!
Jean & Stanley Wedding!
Michael G. & Margaret C. Wheeler!
Diane White!
Mary Ellen White!
Guy W. Wolf, III & Pamela Morrison-Wolf!
Virginia Wolf!
Dale P. Woodiel!
Rose Worobel!
Mark Zampano!
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Impact
Schools Served
Thank you to all who supported our Education Programs. We welcomed 7,457 students this year.
A.I. Prince Technical High School!American Boy Choir!Anna Reynolds Elementary School!Avon Old Farms School!Batchelder Elementary School!Big Apple Academy!Bolton High School!Boston Latin School!Boston Trinity Academy!Bristol Central High School!Bucks Hill School!Bulkeley High School!Bullard-Havens Technical High School!Burns Latino Studies Academy!Capital Community College!Capital Preparatory Magnet School!Captain Nathan Hale Middle School!Cary Academy!Catholic Central High School!Center for International Training!Central School!Chase Collegiate School!Cheshire Academy!
Chester Elementary School!Choate-Rosemary Hall School!Classical Magnet School!Columbus Magnet School!Community Child Guidance Clinic!COMPASS Youth Collaborative!Connecticut Junior Republic!Connecticut River Academy!Covenant Preparatory School!International Magnet School for Global Citizenship!Crosby High School!Culinary Arts Academy at Weaver High School!Cutler Middle School!Discovery Center/ Diversity Academy!Enfield Montessori School!Environmental Sciences Magnet School at Mary Hooker!EO Smith High School!Faith Living Home Educators!
Gainfield Elementary School!GAMS Tech Elementary School!Gildersleeve Elementary School!Glastonbury High School!Grace Christian Academy!Greenwich High School!Hall Memorial School!Hamden High School!Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy!Hartford Public High School!Hebron Avenue School!Hopewell School!Horace W. Porter School!J.F. Kennedy High School!Kaynor Technical High School!Kelley School!Kelly Middle School!Kennelly School!Killingly Central School!King School!Kingswood Oxford School!Kuss Middle School!LaSalle Academy!Laurel Summer Program!Lisbon Central School!
Litchfield High School!MacDuffie School!Manchester Community College!Manchester High School!Mansfield Middle School!Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School!Mary T. Murphy School!Meeting House Hill School!Metacomet School!Michael's Place!Middlebridge School!Monument Valley Regional Middle School!Museum Academy!New Canaan Country School!New Haven Adult Education!North End Elementary School!North Mianus School!Northwest Village School!Our Lady Of Fatima School!Ox Ridge School!Oxford Academy!Oxford High School!Pathways!Pine Tree Academy!Pioneer Academy!
Poly Prep Country Day School!Pomfret Community School!Renbrook School!Rensselaer County Historical Society!RHAM High School!Ridgefield Academy!RMT Johnson School!Rockville High School!Rotella Magnet School!Royle Elementary School!Russell Sage College!Russian Mission School !SS. Cyril and Methodius School!Salisbury Central School!Science And Technology Magnet High School!Sedgwick Middle School!Shelter Rock Elementary School!South Windsor High School!Southington High School!Sprague Elementary School!Springfield Central High School!St. Bridget School, Cheshire!St. Bridget School, Manchester!St. John School!
St. Michael School!St. Rose of Lima School!St. Thomas School!Stafford Elementary School!STEM Magnet School at Annie Fisher!Tantasqua Regional High School!The ARC, New London County!The Burlington School!The Loomis Chaffee School!The Masters School!Three Rivers Community College!Tolland High School!Trinity College!Two Rivers Magnet High School!University High School of Science & Engineering!Vance Village School!Village for Children and Families!Walpole Middle School!Westbrook Middle School!Windham High School!Women's League Child Development Center!
Collections & ArchivesCuratorial staff responded to wide-ranging research requests: on critiques of “Was It Heaven? Or Hell?” and “The £1 Million Bank-Note”; on the American Publishing Company; on the provenance of wine glasses in the dining room; on student assignments for National History Day; on references for works on Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and childhood; on Twain and Nicola Tesla; on Clemens connections to Bayonne, New Jersey, Santa Barbara, California, and Wallingford, Connecticut; on items donated by a forebear of the caller relating to Henry Lawrence, who recommended Tiffany for the 1881 redecoration of the house; on the paintings pictured in interior photographs of the Langdon home in Elmira; and about 75 others. Staff also responded to numerous questions about genealogy, the value of books, Mark Twain’s purported signature in books, and homework assignments.!!Curatorial staff provided images for institutions that included TIME, for its major magazine-format book on Mark Twain, with a full chapter on the house; the Mark Twain Papers & Project in Berkeley, for Mark Twain’s Autobiography, Volume 3; and numerous photos for the Twain-related stories in the Hartford Courant’s 250th Anniversary coverage. There were also about 30 other requests from authors, publishers, producers and others that included a book on animals in New Zealand literature; a book about missionaries and Mark Twain; a biographical essay in a German art journal; the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (a Jumping Frog image); the Mark Twain Journal, for an article on George Griffin; the History Channel’s Ten Things You Don’t Know About; a book on Evanston, Illinois (with a Paige typesetter connection); and even an artist who needed a photograph of Mark Twain for a guide in painting a portrait.!!Subjects of scholarly research in the Curatorial Library or aided by Curatorial staff included Bram Stoker and Mark Twain, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Twain, George Griffin, Joseph Hawley, the Grant busts designed by Karl Gerhardt, the “Tramp Abroad” journey of Twain and Joseph Twichell, the fountain in the conservatory, Nina Gabrilowitsch, drainage issues as a cause for the remodeling of the house in 1881, and many others.!!The Curatorial Department, on the recommendation of the Collections Committee and approval of the Board of Trustees, acquired numerous items by donation, including an original letter from Mark Twain. The books acquired included an important new work on the Paige typesetter and an 1880s songbook illustrated by Walter Crane that includes “The Frog He Would a-Wooing Go,” the folksong Crane used as the theme for the nursery wallpaper design. Others included Mark Twain and LBJ by the indefatigable Cyril Clemens and a copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in Mongolian. Also donated were 19th century household items such as a pie rack and pie plate; a mourning bonnet and veil of the period; and Twain popular culture items such as posters from film versions of Twain works and even Cabbage Patch dolls representing Twain characters.!!The department also carried out significant restorations, including the long-awaited completion of work on the Clemens-owned Persian lamp for the front hall, focus of an energetic fund-raising effort spearheaded by Trustee Marty Flanders. !!Special exhibitions included “At Your Service” and “Spiritualism, Seances, and Sam.”!
Special Events & ProgramsA stunning 11,677 people participated in our unique
offering of 135 programs and events, including: !
Graveyard Shift Ghost ToursClue Tours
Beck & Call ToursBig Book Getaway Ice Cream Social Tom Sawyer Day
Exhibitions & Openings The Trouble Begins at 5:30
Book / Mark Tapping Into Twain
4th Annual Writers’ Weekend Tom Sawyer’s Tricks & Treats
Mark Twain Presents Author Series
Museum staff members are invited to speak about Mark Twain at various institutions and events. Last year these lectures were attended by 1,634 participants and took place in 23 locations, including the University of New Haven, Niantic Lions Club, Cheney Hall in Manchester, the Colebrook Historical Society, and Seabury Retirement Community. Additionally, Curatorial, Education, and Public Relations staff fielded hundreds of inquiries from press, researchers, and the public. Executive Director Cindy Lovell spoke at the Kensal Rise Library in London - a library that Mark Twain helped establish in 1900. In March, the London Times published an article about her discovery of an unsigned Mark Twain manuscript (she recognized his handwriting) that she came across while lecturing in Bermuda. The piece had been published in 1929 in The Strand, but scholars did not know the whereabouts of the original manuscript. Lovell also spoke at a meeting of the Old Guard in West Hartford and presented strategies for teaching Twain at Confratute, the Gifted Conference at UConn in Storrs.
Outreach
Please consider inviting our staff members to speak at your organization or function.
“For me, the thrill of my life was finding the unsigned Etiquetical Requirements…”!
-Cindy Lovell, quoted in the London TIMES!
Hosted Events
Facility Rentals brought many new visitors to our site. We hosted 94 events at The Mark Twain House & Museum, welcoming 6,509 guests, many who were visiting our beautiful facility for the first time.
Please consider hosting your next special event at The Mark Twain House & Museum by calling 860-280-3154.
Financial Report
!
2015 FINANCIAL SUMMARY!
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FISCAL YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 2015!
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ASSETS: $14,486,485Cash & Cash Equivalents $312,496 (2%)Receivables $652,431 (5%)Other $147,566 (1%)Investments $1,570,947 (11%)Property, Power Plant, & Equipment $11,803,045 (81%)
Current Liabilities $248,894 (2%)Mortgage $3,887,865 (27%)Permanently Restricted $1,332,269 (9%)Temporarily Restricted $327,177 (2%)Unrestricted, Fixed Assets $8,516,430 (59%)Unrestricted, Undesignated $173,850 (1%)
LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS: !$15,454,176
Annual Support & Membership $734,646 (29%)Admissions $773,341 (31%)Store/Cafe $418,446 (17%)Special Events $188,601 (7%)Programs $186,865 (7%)Rental & Other $139,610 (6%)Contributed Goods/Services $63,546 (3%)
OPERATING REVENUES: !$2,505,055
Education Programs $951,873 (35%)Museum Programs $1,128,585 (42%)Management/General $292,668 (11%)Fundraising $336,011 (12%)
OPERATING EXPENSES !BY FUNCTION: $2,709,137
OPERATING EXPENSES !BY TYPE: $2,709,137
Salaries & Payroll Taxes $1,311,466 (48%)Public Relations $262,350 (10%)Store & Cafe $234,271 (9%)Utilities $188,405 (7%)Emplyee Benefits $143,688 (5%)Professional Fees $112,076 (4%)Insurance $111,030 (4%)Development & Membership $107,011 (4%)Office Expenses $78,764 (3%)Supplies & Maintenance $75,408 (3%)Program Activities $63,061 (2%)Technology $21,617 (1%)
Highlights
The Mark Twain House & Museum was awarded $2.2 million in Connecticut Bond Commission funding to improve infrastructure. Here, Governor Malloy welcomes our Neighborhood Studios apprentices who attended the Bond Commission hearing where we received the good news. Neighborhood Studios is a six-week writing internship sponsored by the Greater Hartford Arts Council, directed by Julia Pistell, Director of Writing.
Dozens of authors visited The Mark Twain House & Museum this year, from Anne Rice and her son, Christopher Rice, both of whom are best-selling authors (left, with Cindy Lovell and Julia Pistell), to Garrison Keillor, who enjoyed a quick read of The Loveliest Home That Ever Was (by Steve Courtney) before speaking to a sold-out “members only” event.
Dr. Benjamin Griffin, editor of A Family Sketch and Other Private Writings, launched this new work at the museum. This is its first time in print and includes warm recollections of the family’s Hartford years.!!
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Director Scott Teems brought his feature-length documentary, Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey to Hartford for a special screening before its public release.
Community Events
Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code, Inferno, and other best-sellers, was named the #1 New York Times best-selling author last year, yet he took time from his busy schedule for “An Evening with Dan Brown” where he was interviewed by WNPR’s John Dankosky at The Bushnell. When asked why he was willing to speak on behalf of The Mark Twain House & Museum, he professed his love of Mark Twain’s writing and legacy.
GALA 2014
Mark My Words 2014
A WICKED Cool Evening!
Innovations
Thanks to photographer Chris Bain’s generosity, the Mark Twain House is now “open for Virtual Tours!” Chris shot 18 rooms and settings within the house to encourage new visitors. The tours are available on the Museum’s website at: http://www.marktwainhouse.org/house/floor_plans.php. It’s working! Attendance increased to 62,810 annual house tours, and we continue to be ranked Hartford’s #1 tourist attraction on TripAdvisor.com!
Virtual Tours
Beck and Call Tours introduced visitors to the Mark Twain House through the eyes of his household servants. Our talented guides and local actors prepared this new tour that showed off the house and gave guests a special behind-the-scenes look at life in the Clemens household. Based on the success of this effort, guides are busy developing new character tours to launch this year.
The Year at a Glance!
(February 1, 2014 - January 31, 2015)
62, 810 House Tours!11,677 Attendees at 135 Programs & Events!
1,634 Attendees at 23 Outreach Lectures!*6,509 Attendees at 94 Facility Rentals (*4,163 of Facility Rental visitors also toured the House)!
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78,467 People Served!“A first visit!—ah, the romance of it! I wish I could feel it again.”
Mark Twain in A Tramp Abroad
And that is our fiscal year in review! !!
This report includes many lists of names – names of generous and thoughtful supporters who share our vision. Every single name listed here is critical to preserving Mark Twain’s legacy for future generations. If your name, your business, or your organization is listed here – thank you for believing in the future of The Mark Twain House & Museum!!
Please Contact Us
To support Operations!
To support the Endowment!
To support Capital Projects!
To support Collections & Archives!
Tracy Wu Fastenberg, Director of Development P. 860.280.3113 [email protected]!
Sarah Hawkes, Development Associate P. 860-280-3112 [email protected]!
Visit us online: marktwainhouse.org