Conserving the Dunsmore Collection

John Ward Dunsmore (1856-1945) was a late nineteenth early twentieth century American painter.  He is best known for his realistic and historically accurate paintings of events during the American Revolution War and Early Republic.  These iconic paintings are widely sought for reproduction in grade school textbooks, government websites and have been used on a special coin produced by the US Mint. 

Since 1936, Fraunces Tavern® Museum has owned the world's largest collection of John Ward Dunsmore paintings.  Over the past seventy five years, all forty-two paintings have been exhibited at 54 Pearl Street and other locations, such as the Museum of the City of New York.  Some have aged more gracefully than others.  In the early 2000s Museum staff noticed that many of the paintings were in need of conservation, due to scratches, holes, yellowing and the like.  Conservation would prevent the irreversible deterioration of time and allow the paintings to continue to educate the public as narratives of our nation’s history.  The John Ward Dunsmore Painting Conservation Project began. 

Over the past eight years the SRNY and the Museum staff have been able to raise funds to conserve all but two of the thirty seven Dunsmore paintings selected for conservation.  Once a painting is conserved it is put on exhibit in the John Ward Dunsmore Gallery, which opened in 2008, featuring conserved paintings in a permanent, rotating exhibit entitled, “Keeping the Revolution Alive.” 

Sponsorship Update:

The Museum staff and the Board would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to two of the most recent Dunsmore Painting Conservation Project supporters, Robert Newton McKay, Esq., Past President, SRNY, Inc & Michael Wolf, Museum Docent.

Mr. McKay has dedicated many years of leadership and administrative support to the Museum’s programming as a Board Member, Past President and participant in many committees. In 2006 he fully funded the conservation of Dunsmore painting, “The Surrender at Yorktown.” His most recent contribution to the Museum is the complete support for the conservation of “Washington Leaving Mount Vernon for his Inauguration.”

Michael Wolf is a Museum docent and George Washington fellow, who recently fully funded the conservation of the large painting, “John Adams Proposing Washington for Commander-in-Chief.”

This monumental project started almost ten years ago and is near completion! With one painting left to be conserved the end is in sight. The SRNY and staff at Fraunces Tavern® Museum are grateful to all those who have helped forward this ambitious conservation project! The John Ward Dunsmore collection will continue to serve the education missions of the SRNY and Museum for generations to come. Thank you!

We would like to thank those who have graciously donated in the past. The following donors have provided 100% sponsorship of a painting: The Bay and Paul Foundations  - Washington & Staff at Ft. Lee Washington & Staff at Ft. Lee Color Guard of the PA Society of Sons of the Revolution:  - Captured Flags from Yorktown  - Lafayette and Washington at Valley Forge  - Valley Forge - Lafayette at Washington's    Headquarters - Washington and Members of Congress Leaving   Christ Church, Philadelphia. Robert N. McKay, Esq.:  - The Surrender at Yorktown, (call to Parley)     Elizabeth and Stanley Deforest Scott - Washington at Morristown (Camp at Night),   1779-1780   Sons of the Revolution in the State of New Jersey, the 225th Anniversary of the Battle of Springfield Committee, and the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York:  - Battle of Springfield, N.J. (Give 'em Watts Boys) Battle of Springfield, N.J. (Give 'em Watts Boys)   Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting, Robert N. Ferrer, and John M. Hilliard:  - Fox Hunt at Mt. Vernon - The Meet  - Return from the Fox Hunt  - The First Gentlemen of Virginia Fox Hunt at Mt. Vernon - before Fox Hunt at Mt. Vernon - after We also received individual donations from: Sondra Blewer, Barry S. Cohen, Lawrence K. Casey, Jr., Muriel Talbot French, A. Neil Hefti, Richard Hershner, John Hilliard, Alexander Katlan Conservator, Inc., Ambassador John L. Loeb, Jr., Lisa Beth MacKinlay, Eugenia & Dennis McCrary, Edward O'Hara, M.D., Frederick W. Pattison, Joseph B. Rosenblatt, Elizabeth & Stanley D. Scott, Alice & Roger Soderberg, Roland S. Summers, M.D., P.C., The Veteran Corps of Artillery, Earl D. Weiner, and Lucy Pullen Werner. Finally, we want to recognize 100% staff participation from the Museum and SRNY and Susan Hefti for her assistance with this endeavor. Fraunces Tavern Museum and Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York sincerely appreciates your support.