design phase of renovations to the east wing entrance as well as interior spaces. One of the main
reasons for the desired entrance renovation is to
improve accessibility for our visitors.
The Council also approved the Museum’s first
goodwill rental event agreement, providing renters with clear and consistent policies, expectations, and pricing. This year saw an increase in
the number of Academy and community-related
rental events at Glencairn (e.g., Swedenborg Foundation annual meeting and program), which has
resulted in a modest increase in rental income.
It is worth noting that non-endowment income
including contributions; concert, tour and event
fees; and rental income topped $100,000 for the
first time in Glencairn’s history.
The Council’s spring meeting was the last for
Jill Brickman, vice-chair of the ANC Board and
Museum Advisory Council member since 2009.
As a founding member of the Council, she has
been an astute and level-headed participant for the
last four years and an invaluable liaison between
the Museum and the ANC Board. The founding of
the Council, with Board representatives, marked
the first time in its 135 year history that trustees
have played an active part in the management of
the Museum. Thank you, Jill!
The ANC Board added several more meetings
to its calendar including one in March that had
a particular focus on Cairnwood and Glencairn,
two of the four buildings in Bryn Athyn’s Historic
District. Each building gave financial reports, reports on current capital projects and presentations
to illustrate how current programs support the
missions of the Academy Secondary Schools and
Bryn Athyn College.
heavenly light around his head.” It also states that
the picture is labeled, “This is our God, at once
Creator, Redeemer and Regenerator, and so Savior.” Although in need of repair, Cranch’s painting
is a moving portrait of the Lord as described by
Swedenborg. He has a soft golden glow around his
head and on the frame is a label with the quotation above written in Latin. Other gifts, received
from Doris Odhner Delaney, included several intriguing examples of Zulu bead work. These pieces
were acquired by Doris’ father, the Rev. Hugo Lj.
Odhner, when he was a pastor and missionary in
southern Africa in the 1920s.
Historic District Archives In Use
Cairnwood’s popular Cairnwood by Candlelight
program featured several items drawn from the
Archive collections including Christmas cards
sent by John and Gertrude Pitcairn and pages
scanned from Cairnwood’s household ledgers. For
Cairnwood’s Gala, letters between Gertrude Pitcairn and landscaper Charles Eliot were scanned
and shown. Also, a Bryn Athyn College student
visited several times, researching the life of Gertrude Pitcairn for her senior research paper.
Bryn Athyn Cathedral’s decision to install
a new pipe organ brought master woodworker,
Steve Hendricks, to study relevant blueprints and
drawings. He will be creating new housing for this
major installation. In addition, the students from
Bryn Athyn College’s fine arts course Bryn Athyn’s
National Historic Landmarks made frequent visits,
undertaking research projects about the Cathedral based on the collections.
When Glencairn’s first Christmas tour was
launched this year, the Archives proved to be an
important source for photographs, Christmas
cards and even a gift list from the years when
Glencairn was a home. 6