I took my Power in my Hand,
And went against the World –
‘Twas not so much as David – had –
But I – was twice as bold –
Greetings from Amherst, Massachusetts.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from friends of the Museum expressing concerns about recent executive orders and the threats to federal funding. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on charitable gifts from individuals, like you, as well as from private foundations and government institutions, including the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), two federal agencies that provide critical funding to museums, libraries, and cultural organizations.
The Emily Dickinson Museum has been proud to receive substantial funding from both the NEH and IMLS over its twenty-plus years. Most recently, these grants allowed us to catalog 10,000 Dickinson family artifacts and make them publicly accessible, and to create a comprehensive interpretive plan to guide development of our public and education programs. Right now, we await news of NEH funding for research support to tell the stories of immigrants and Black Americans who worked for the Dickinson family as well as support for an intensive week-long professional development workshop for K-12 educators. Over the next two to three years, we plan to apply for up to $750,000 in NEH and IMLS grants to continue professional development programs for K-12 educators, to implement interpretive enhancements designed to enrich the final phase of our Homestead restoration, and to improve physical conditions for our large collection of Dickinson family objects.
While the final outcome of executive actions is not yet known, it certainly appears that the federal funding sources on which we’ve relied in the past for starting up new initiatives are in jeopardy. I’m writing today to assure you that the Museum’s staff, Board of Governors, and volunteers are as dedicated as ever to serving all visitors and cultural explorers, students and teachers, poetry lovers, artists, writers, and scholars – indeed, everyone who finds inspiration and empowerment in the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson. Our work, like the work of many museums, libraries, and cultural organizations, nurtures learning and resilience in our communities by offering a window into history, an appreciation for the power of creative expression, and an awareness that we are linked across generations through our shared humanity. We will hold fast to this mission.
To be sure, the Emily Dickinson Museum is more important now than ever because we steward Dickinson’s legacy and the bold originality of her “revolutionary poetic voice” – a voice that challenged conventions and upended literary norms in ways that remain resonant and deeply relevant today.
I will keep you apprised of our progress as we move forward. Please reach out if you have questions. As ever, thank you for including the Museum in your philanthropic plans. We are sustained and inspired by your support.
Jane H. Wald
Jane and Robert Keiter Family Executive Director
P.S. Your advocacy with your congressional representatives can help draw attention to the importance of continued IMLS and NEH funding. The American Alliance for Museums provides a template and tools for contacting members of Congress, congressweb.com/AAM. Please take a moment to add your voice to ours. Thank you!