Conserving the Dunsmore Collection

Conservation Update (March 2008)
A total of 33 of our 45 John Ward Dunsmore paintings have been identified as needing conservation treatment.  To date, 22 of those 33 have been sponsored and conserved.  However, there are still 11 paintings that need treatment. The Museum needs to raise approximately $40,000 to complete the needed conservation treatment of all of its John Ward Dunsmore paintings.  Therefore, we look to you for assistance; the average cost of conservation of a painting and its frame is $3,500 (larger paintings with ornate frames cost more). 

Complete sponsorship of a painting and frame will be recognized with a notation on the painting’s title card whenever it is displayed as well as in texts that mention or discuss the painting in detail.

Sponsorship Update:

Our heartfelt thanks to Lawrence K. Casey, Jr., SR Texas, for his generous support of the conservation of three paintings:  “Bunker Hill:  Fight at the Rail Fence,” “Arousing the Minutemen,” and “Paul Revere, 1775.”  Conservation of these works is supported by matching grants from ExxonMobil.  Mr. Casey grew up along the Battle Road in Massachusetts, so these paintings are especially important to him.

Warm thanks also to the Bay & Paul Foundations for their support of the conservation of “Washington & Family at Mount Vernon,” “The Defense of Fort Washington,” and several frames for the Dunsmore paintings.  Funds from their generous grant of $8,000.00 are designated for this important work.

Our deepest gratitude for conservation of The Portrait of Lafayette goes to by Mr. & Mrs. Chips Page, The Order of Lafayette, Mr. Harlow Unger, and Mr. William Bryk.

Finally, we are delighted to announce that the Artist Preservation Group has just committed the necessary funds, in full, to the conservation of "News from Yorktown."

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       - Currently at the Conservator Robert N. McKay, Esq.:  - The Surrender at Yorktown, (call to Parley) Forner Development Officer Elizabeth A. Slocum thanks Robert N. McKay, Esq., Past President SRNY, for his generous contribution to restore "The Surrender at Yorktown (Call to Parley)" 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 individuals 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.