The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum SPRING 2007THE CARPENTER'S SON COMING HOME TO RJD

The return of The Carpenter,s Son to the RJD is one step closer. Painted byEdward Emerson Simmons in 1889, it was purchased by Amelia Jones in 1892and, on her death, bequeathed to the First Unitarian Church.

Eleven years ago, while in the church,s possession, the 66" x 50" oil paintingfell victim to a vandal, who slashed it into three separate pieces (see photographon page 4). The most significant portion of the painting was lost until last spring,when it was discovered rolled up behind a refrigerator in the church basement.Fortunately for the RJD, the pastor, Reverend Dan Harper, and the congregationwere determined to keep the painting in New Bedford. The Church agreed totransfer ownership to the Museum for $20,000, the amount of the settlement thatthe Church paid to the insurance company to retain ownership.

Edward Emerson Simmons, the artist who painted The Carpenter,s Son, was amember of the Ten American Painters, a splinter group of the Society ofAmerican Artists. As a member of the Emerson family, he was also a distantrelative of Amelia Jones. According to RJD Curatorial Consultant Janice Hodson,it is likely that she purchased the painting to add to her collection of works byartists with genealogical ties to her family. Existing photographs show TheCarpenter ’s Son hanging prominently in Amelia Jones' parlor.

Bringing the painting back to the RJD makes sense for several reasons, not theleast of which is the historic connection. In addition, more visitors will have theopportunity to see the painting displayed in the Museum. Reverend Harper feltthat the RJD would also be better able to acquire the resources needed to restore,display, and care for the painting.

"The Carpenter,s Son is an important part of our history --- not just theMuseum's, but New Bedford's and the country's as well," said Kate Corkum, RJDExecutive Director. "The Joneses were a preeminent New Bedford family withties to the Emerson family, who made significant contributions to American artsand literature. By association, The Carpenter,s Son is representative of New

Bedford's connection to major American artist and literature of the day. We are proud to bring this important piece of art back to its originalhome for visitors to enjoy."

Anthony Moore Painting Conservation of York, Maine, a foremostexpert in restoring large oil paintings, has been contracted to do therestoration work. According to Helena Terlezki, one of a team of fiveconservators who will work on the painting, the process involvesseveral intricate steps, estimated to take approximately 18 months.

Close examination of the painting by Anthony Moore showed that TheCarpenter,s Son can be returned to good condition, and that the valueof the painting and its historical significance make it well worth theeffort. But why undergo the expense now? As Ms. Terlezski pointedout, if it is not done now, the painting will continue to deteriorate."Aside from the damage caused by the vandalism, the painting isactually quite sound now," she said. Remarkably, everything that the conservators will do to the painting is

completely reversible. "That way," explains Mrs. Terlezski, "thepainting can be brought back to its original or current state so that new,improved restoration techniques can be applied if and when theybecome available in the future."

First, the conservators will put the three pieces back together byconsolidating their fraying edges. Inserts will be used to fill in the

Continued on page 4

The Carpenter,s Son by Edward Emerson Simmons

GATSBY

The Annual RJD Dinner Dance will be held on June 16th - See page 3 for details.

THE ROTCH-JONES-DUFFHOUSE & GARDEN MUSEUM

396 County Street • New Bedford508-997-1401 • Fax 508-997-6846

www.rjdmuseum.orgOfficers & Trustees

PRESIDENTElise U. Mock

VICE PRESIDENTKathleen K. Wattles

TREASURERNathanael R. Brayton

CLERKRobert L. Piper, Ph.D.

TRUSTEESMary Jean BlasdaleRobert O. BoardmanMichael A. Esposito

Stewart ForbesJames L. Henry

Katherine H. HowardKinnaird Howland

Edith R. LauderdaleBarbara H. Mulville

Mina E. OtisCeleste S. Penney

James J. PerryMargot Stone

William O. TaylorJoan UnderwoodWilliam F. Wyatt

EX-OFFICIOEllen T. Christie

Staff EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kate CorkumDEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS

Julie GlaserMUSEUM PROGRAMS

Cindy BarberFACILITIES MANAGER

Steve Davis

FROM THE DIRECTOR ...Milestones, such as the RJD,s 25th anniversary, provide a good opportunity to reflect on

the journey that has brought us to where we are, as an organization, today. Reflecting on thatjourney, the overwhelming emotion I experience is gratitude --- heartfelt appreciation for allin the community who contributed to the development of this Museum and who havenurtured its growth. I extend my warmest thanks to all of our friends, the organizations, andthe community at large, who have helped us along the way. It has been a journey.

The story of the "Rotch Jones DuffHouse & Garden Museum" actuallybegins before the organization was everincorporated. It starts in 1981, when,after 147 years as a private residence,the property at 396 County Street wasoffered for sale. It was Mrs. Duff ,s wishthat her home would become a housemuseum, but there was little interest orsupport for the concept in the spring of1981. Jean Reitmeyer of New Jerseywas a potential buyer who planned touse the property commercially as arooming house and restaurant. Anxious

to sell the house, Mrs. Duff's attorneys filed an application for the necessary zoning change.The proposed use of the property sparked strong opposition from neighbors and

preservation groups. Recognizing the potential loss to the community, a grass roots effort byneighbors gained support to preserve the house and grounds. Opponents of the zoningvariance secured over 500 signatures against the change. Just prior to the variance vote, theWaterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE) announced that it had forwarded an offer of$100,000 to Mrs. Duff to purchase the property, $70,000 less than that of Mrs. Reitmeyer.

WHALE was successful in negotiating a price of $150,000 and papers were signed totransfer the property on December 1, 1981. Sarah Delano, President of WHALE, played apivotal role, chairing a committee to oversee the operations and planning of the property.

In 1983, WHALE and the Rotch House Committee hired a part-time Assistant Curatorand Volunteer Coordinator. On March 26, 1985, the RJD became a separate entity,independent from WHALE. It took on a mortgage of approximately $110,000, which waspaid off by September 1986.

In its first year as an independent museum, the RJD found a true friend in the GardenClub of Buzzards Bay. The Club directed its energies and resources to restoring thegreenhouse and gardens at the Museum. The Garden Club of America awarded a FoundersFund Grant to the Garden Club of Buzzards Bay to create a Wildflower Walk at the Museum.The partnership with the Garden Club has been an integral and ongoing component of theMuseum,s success.

The New Bedford Preservation Society also took an interest in the RJD right from thestart. In 1985, it offered a tour of historic homes including the Rotch House, with 700 peoplein attendance. The proceeds were generously donated to the Rotch House. The RJD and thePreservation Society continue to work together to this day to bring history to life in NewBedford.

With continued community support, achievements and milestones have continued at theRJD. I have included a timeline (below) as a reminder of how much can be achieved whena community comes together. I hope you enjoy it…

~ Kate Corkum

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Dan Perry presented a commemorative plaque recognizingthe Museum’s 25-year milestone on behalf of WHALE, toRJD Executive Director Kate Corkum at the CelebratePreview Party. A quartet of carolers from Tabor Academylooked on.

1981

•The RJD is purchasedby WHALE, saving itfrom commercialdevelopment.

1983

•Two part-time staff members are hired. •With a grant from the MassachusettsHistorical Commission, the Museumbegins restoring the south, north andeast porches, the balustrades and gardensettees, the resetting of the blue stoneterrace and exterior painting.

1985

•On March 26, the RJD becomes a separate entity, independent from WHALE.

•The Garden Club of Buzzards Bay and the New Bedford PreservationSociety lend their support to the new organization.

•Interior wallpaper analysis and photographic documentation begin and theHistoric Structures Report of the RJD is completed.

•The New Bedford Heritage Summer Concert Series is introduced.

The upcoming Rotch Exhibit has moved into the design phase, with reviewof preliminary graphics and text anticipated in June. Focusing on the role of theRotch family in establishing the whaling trade in New Bedford, the exhibit willintroduce visitors to William Rotch, Jr., his beliefs, and the young communityhe impacted. Supplementing its own collections, the RJD was fortunate tosecure several long-term loans of Rotch-related objects from familydescendants, the New Bedford Free Public Library, and the New BedfordWhaling Museum.

Meanwhile, day-to-day collections management policies and practices at theRJD have been updated. Beginning in August 2006, under the direction ofcuratorial consultant Janice Hodson, new forms, manuals, and filing systemswere created to standardize procedures at the Museum. With the purchase ofRe:discovery collections management software (the same software used by theNational Park and the New Bedford Whaling Museum), Janice initiated theprocess of computerizing the collections. Staff and a team of volunteers whohave been trained to input collection data have created close to 800 digitalrecords. Concurrently, Janice has inventoried more than 1,490 objects instorage, cataloged 900 objects obtained since 2000, and begun the long processof reorganizing storage areas.

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Recently, the RJD received grant funds tocreate a plan that will direct futureinterpretation of Museum collections.Funded through the National Park Service,sChallenge Cost Share program, this plan willact as a companion piece to the RJD'sHistoric Furnishings Report, which providesan analysis of how the interiors of the housewere used by the Rotches, Joneses, andDuffs. Not only will it help the Museum tofocus its long-range collecting goals, but itwill also enhance the visitor experience byproviding more accurate interiors in which tolearn about the occupants, lives.

"The National Park Service is pleased tosupport the creation of an implementationplan that will help us convey the stories ofthe Rotch, Jones, and Duff families throughthe house,s furnishings," said Park Super-intendent Celeste Bernardo.

COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITS AT THE RJD

JAZZ AGESLANG

PRIMER(A Guide for Gatsby

Dinner-Dance Guests)

Jazz Age Term Meaning

Bee's knees Terrific; coolBreezer Convertible carCat's pajamas GreatCoffin varnish Bootleg liquorFire extinguisher ChaperoneFlat tire BoreGams LegsHip to the jive CoolInsured EngagedManacle Wedding ringRubes Money, dollars

(which we hope to raise a lot of at the dance)

1986

•The RJD begins a CapitalCampaign that raises just under$500,000.

•The restoration of the RotchLodging Room is completed withfunding from the New BedfordInstitution for Savings, the bankthat William Rotch, Jr. founded.

1987

•The Garden Club of BuzzardsBay introduces the WildflowerWalk Program, serving 800fourth-grade students annually.

•Restoration of Mrs. Duff'sBedroom is completed throughthe generosity of an anonymousprivate donor.

1993

•The double parlorsare painted andwallpapered usingreplicated wallpaperfrom the JonesFamily found behindthe mirrors locatedabove the mantles.

1996

•The RJD is named aPartner in the NewBedford WhalingNational Historical Park.

•The first Annual JamesArnold GardenSymposium is offered.

1998

•A new roof, deckrestoration, painting ofthree sides of the houseand installation of ahandicap access lift arecompleted with amatching grant fromMHC.

The RJD recently acquireda pair of bas-reliefcarvings depicting WilliamRotch, Jr. and WilliamRotch, Sr. for the upcomingRotch Family Exhibit.

Brush up on your 1920s jazz lingo ("darb" means great, by the way), dig out your favorite flapperdress, tails, tweeds, or Oxford bags, and get ready to swing at the RJD's Gatsby Dinner Dance, tobe held on Saturday, June 16th at the Silver Gull, 18 Ned's Point Road, Mattapoisett. This expansive1916 house on the Mattapoisett Harbor will provide the perfect setting, and hosts Michael Espositoand Cynthia Redel have promised to park a few vintage cars on the lawn to set the mood.

The RJD Annual Dinner Dance is always the highlight of the year, according to ExecutiveDirector Kate Corkum. The evening,s festivities begin at 7 PM and include an open bar provided bySpirits of Marion, hors d,oeuvres prepared by Jadine Dixon of Wok Magic, a full sit-down dinnerprovided by Harriet,s Catering Services of Marion, plus dancing and a Silent Auction. Live musicwill be provided by the Portsmouth, Rhode Island-based Mac Chrupcala Orchestra (Mac was

actually in The Great Gatsby movie filmed in Newport in 1974). "Although 1920s dress is optional, we hope our guests will take

advantage of the opportunity to have a little extra fun by donning a periodcostume, or some ‘glad rags’, as they used to say," added Director KateCorkum.

As always, the Silent Auction will give guests a chance to bid on someunique and original pieces. A selection of auction items will be listed on theMuseum website prior to the event.

The price for the evening is $150 per person, with patron ($750) andsponsorship ($500) levels encouraged. Funding from the Dinner Danceunderwrites the cost of free student educational programming at theMuseum. To reserve seats or a table, please call the RJD at (508) 997-1401or register online at www.rjdmuseum.org. In the meantime, save the JazzAge Slang Primer on this page and practice a few phrases to toss around atthe Dinner Dance.

Dinner Dance Promises To Be “Darb”

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Cont. from page 1missing areas that exist within theseparate pieces; for this, blankpieces of fabric that closely matchthe original in terms of weave andthickness will be used.

Next, the re-united pieces andinserts will be placed on one largepiece of canvas called an interleaf.That, in turn, will go onto a rigidsupport. Then another piece ofcanvas will go on. This is known aslining. "It,s like a sandwich," saidMs. Terlezki. The whole thing willthen be assembled with ethol vinylacetate, an adhesive activated withheat. Then the painting will be re-stretched onto its original stretchers.

Once assembled, the paintingcan be cleaned. A layer of varnishwill be applied to the painting to actas a barrier, making the wholeprocess reversible. Next, "a sort ofspackle" is applied to fill in missingareas; creases are also filled. "It hasto be a perfect, flat surface," Ms.Terlezki explained.

The final step is the inpainting --- the artistic process of"painting in" the missing parts of the picture, using colors, paints,and strokes that closely match the original. Herein lies one of thegreatest challenges of the whole process, according to Ms.Terlezki, because one cannot always tell exactly what is missing."There could be a small object --- a book, or a bird, oranything --- missing, and you don’t always know what it is," she

said. Luckily, in the case of The Carpenter,s Son, existingphotographs of the painting will provide needed clues.

The Museum has begun raising funds for the restora-tion of the painting and its frame. Because it is such an important and costly undertaking, we have high hopes for a good

response from sup-porters and friends, aswell as area art patrons.If you would like tolearn more about pro-viding financial supportfor the restoration of The Carpenter ,s Son,please call the Museumat (508) 997-1401.

A vandal slashed thepainting into three separatepieces. This piece, thelargest, is missing a sectionthat will need to be carefullyfilled in by conservators,using a multi-step procedure.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE RJD:VOLUNTEER BRENDA DIAS

Working for a small organization such as the RJD meanswearing many hats. The board and staff take their hats off toBrenda Dias, however, for the many things she does for theMuseum as a volunteer.

Brenda has been an RJD member since 1999 and hasvolunteered her time for almost as long. In addition to providingtours as a docent, helping out at the Museum Store, and handlingthe reception desk, she volunteers for our History and ApiaryEducational Programs. In this role, Brenda helps local schoolchildren learn about history and nature at the RJD. "I think it is

wonderful that thechildren can come hereand learn about the history of NewBedford and their heri-tage," she says.

She recently added yetanother important roleto her repertoire --- onethat is particularly use-ful to us now. She hastrained to assist in di-gitalizing the records ofthe Museum,s collec-tions. By inputting pre-cise descriptive infor-

mation about our holdings, she is helping the RJD to reach ahigher level of professionalism in the way we manage thecollections.

Brenda dedicates a few hours each week to her jobs (note theplural form) at the RJD. Why does she do so much? "I've alwaysbeen interested in the history of the city," she says. "WhereverI,ve lived in my life, I,ve looked at the historic homes andwondered about their history." Now that her children are grown,Brenda has time to make use of her interest in historic homes(when she,s not "attempting" to play golf). "Something happenshere that’s just magical," she adds. It’s that kind of spirit thatmakes Brenda such a treasure to the Museum.

Brenda Dias serves as Docent, Receptionist,Collections Assistant, and Educational ProgramVolunteer. Here she is shown with students in theRJD History Program.

JOIN US FOR JAZZ IN THE GARDENThe RJD is proud to host our annual "Jazz in the Gardens,"

featuring three of the area,s premier high school jazz ensembles, onTuesday, May 22 beginning at 7PM.

Dartmouth, New Bedford, and Old Rochester Regional HighSchool jazz ensembles and choir will showcase their award-winningmusic under the garden tent. Join us and enjoy an evening of live jazzmusic and pay tribute to the talent of these young musicians. Seatingprovided; no fee.

2005

•Restoration of the south façade continueswith clapboard replacement and painting.UV-treated storm windows are installedfollowing window restoration. The roof ofthe Coachman's House is replaced and thebuilding and greenhouse are painted.

2000

•The Museum introducesthe fifth-grade ApiaryProgram, GrowingIdeas: CultivatingConnections, whichserves more than 1,000children annually.

2003

•The Museumdevelops acurriculum with NewBedford elementaryschool teachers andintroduces LearningHistory at HistoricPlaces.

2004

•A major preservation initiative torestore the south façade of the housecommences, addressing the deterioratedcondition of the clapboards andexterior window shutters.

•The Garden Club of Buzzards Bayredesigns the Cutting Garden andSpecimen Boxwood Garden.

The massive frame of thepainting is yet to berestored.

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RJD HOLIDAYPROGRAM: A GREATCELEBRATION

We rang in theholiday season in styleat the RJD this pastDecember, with morereason than ever toCelebrate the Season,as we marked 25 Yearsof preservation. Thisyear's program opened on December 1, marking the anniversary(exactly 25 years to the day) of the purchase of the house by theWaterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE), saving the propertyfrom commercial development.

Celebrate the Season festivities brought more than 375 gueststo the Museum, including 175 attendees to our Annual HolidayCookie Contest and AHA! Evening (Art, History, andArchitecture). Visitors had the opportunity to see the magnificenthandiwork of the Celebrate committee and design volunteers, whodecorated each room in elegant silver and greens to reflect theanniversary theme. Also on d isplay were collections of silver starscreated by New Bedford school students who participated in acontest to guess how many stars adorned the Museum.

The festivities began with our annual Preview Party andSilent Wreath Auction. Volunteers prepared and passed a plethoraof savory hors d'oeuvres to 145 guests, while the Tabor Academy acappella quartet lent their time and talent to serenading guestswith holiday carols. Mayor Lang joined the festivities andapplauded appreciatively when Dan Perry, on behalf of WHALE,presented Director Kate Corkum with an award "celebrating therescue, creation and cultivation of a National Historic Landmarkand 25 years of preservation."

With the artistic direction of Tina Read and Happy Webb, theAnnual Greens Market opened for business in the Coachman'sHouse bright and early the following morning and was quickly soldout. The House was filled again on December 10 with over 60Holiday Brunch guests, who were treated to a hearty buffet ofhomemade dishes prepared and served by RJD and studentvolunteers.

Celebrate the Season raised important funds for educationalprogramming at the Museum for local school children --- to the tuneof nearly $7,500. Of course, we never could have achieved thatlevel of success if not for the generosity of our volunteers. Morethan 70 dedicated volunteers, including New Bedford High Schoolstudents, made it all happen. Our heartfelt thanks go out toeveryone who helped to make the seasonal event such as success!

The Gala Preview Party set the tone for a month ofsuccessful Celebrate! holiday programming inDecember. Pictured from left to right are DickYoung, Executive Director Kate Corkum, NewBedford Mayor Scott W. Lang, and RJD PresidentElise Mock.

SYMPOSIUM LECTURES A SUCCESSTwo distinguished horticulturalists shared inspiring gardening tips

and techniques at this year’s James Arnold Garden SymposiumLecture Program on March 10. Over 40 gardening enthusiasts turnedout to learn from masters Warren Leach, co-owner of Tranquil LakeNursery in Rehoboth (the largest grower of daylilies and Siberian andJapanese Iris in the Northeast), and Holly Shimizu, Executive Directorof the US Botanic Gardens in Washington, DC and a former host ofPBS's Victory Garden.

Mr. Warren started off by demonstrating how to use fundamentaldesign principles to create practical and engaging garden spaces. Hewalked the audience through the process with the aid of a slidepresentation featuring before-and-after design solutions for residentiallandscapes, as well as images of classic gardens designed by BeatrixFarrand, Fletcher Steel, and others.

Ms. Shimizu followed with "Gardening for the Senses," arevealing look at plants that add sensory qualities to the garden.Symposium guests learned how to incorporate plants, flowers, andtrees that delight the senses through texture and fragrance into theirdesign schemes.

It was an honor to host such accomplished experts in the field ofgardening. As always, proceeds from the event supported funding freeeducational programming at the Museum.

JOIN RJD FOR TWO-DAY TOUR OF

LONG ISLAND GARDENS & NURSERYClimb aboard our motorcoach and join us for an extraordinary

journey of discovery, as we tour gardens and nurseries on eastern LongIsland June 10 and 11.

Our touring bus will leave from RJD on Sunday, June 10th at 6:00AM and take us to New London, where the ferry will transport themotorcoach to Long Island. Once there, we will spend a full afternoontouring gardens and nurseries on the South Fork. We overnight inRiverhead before exploring horticultural highlights on the North Forkon Monday. The motorcoach returns to New Bedford at approximately7:00PM Monday evening.

Trip highlights include visits to Madoo Conservancy, MardersNursery in Bridgehampton, Peconic River Herb Farm, DennisSchrader’s garden, Environmentals Nursery, Sang Lee Farms and aspecial selection of private gardens.

The cost of the trip is $350 for members and $375 for non-members, which includes all transportation costs, meals and snacks(except dinner), double occupancy lodging (add $75 for single room).Funds raised from the trip will be used to support educationalprogramming at the RJD. There are just a few seats left on the motorcoach, so call us at (508) 997-1401 to reserve your spot as soon aspossible, or register online at www.rjdmuseum.org.

James Arnold Garden Symposium

2006

•Exterior painting is completed on three sides ofthe house, the deck and porches, the iron fenceand Museum signage. Restoration of theperimeter fence is initiated.

•The Museum begins creating an exhibit that willtell the important story of William Rotch, Jr. andhis family in establishing the whaling trade in New Bedford.

2005 Continued

•The Museum successfully completes its CapitalCampaign, raising over $1,300,000. Funds are used fortargeted restoration projects and to establish anendowment fund.

•The property is awarded National Landmark status, oneof only 24 to receive that status in 2005. A 400-pageInterior Furnishings Plan is completed, directing futureinterpretation at the Museum.

2007

•The Carpenter’s Son, an oilpainting purchased by AmeliaJones in 1892, is purchasedfrom the First UnitarianChurch, to be restored andreturned to its home at the RJD.