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Grantmaking

The Society of Colonial Wars in Massachusetts works to protect our cultural resources by funding innovative projects that preserve our history in Massachusetts. Historic sites, buildings, districts, objects, and archaeological resources all are eligible for funding. Contact our Charitable Donations Committee for more information.

Grants in 2020

Marblehead has preserved its sense of time and place with picturesque streetscapes of densely-clustered Georgian houses.

  • Marblehead Architecture Heritage — for an educational and research initiative on the 1740 renovation of Fort Sewell, located on an earthworks fort originally built in 1644, upon the occasion of it’s 375 anniversary.
  • Massachusetts Society of Colonial Dames — to help to restore the ceiling in the 18th century NSCDMA Martin House Farm in Swansea MA.
  • Plimoth Plantation — to aid in the restoration of the Mayflower II to USCG operational status in preparation for her participation in the 400th Anniversary Commemorations in 2020.
  • Shirley-Eustis House — Support for repairs to woodwork detail, clapboarding, shutters and painting the exterior of the house, originally built in 1747 as the seasonal country estate of the Royal Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, William Shirley.
Grants in 2019

Mayflower II underwent a three-year restoration project for preservation and educational programing for years to come.

  • Marblehead Museum and Historical Society — to preserve the exterior of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion during its anniversary year by continuing the work of keeping its windows secure and waterproof.
  • Massachusetts Society of Colonial Dames — to further the continued conservation of the 1704-06 meeting/dining room and pantry in the Quincy Homestead that connects to the 1685 kitchen.
  • Plimoth Plantation — to support for the restoration of the Mayflower II to USCG operational status in preparation for her participation in the 400th Anniversary Commemorations in 2020.
  • Historic Deerfield — to conserve prints devoted to the Colonial Wars, which are located in Ashley House, one of the historic homes owned by Historic Deerfield.
Grants in 2018
  • Wenham Museum — for an exhibition on the life of Col. Timothy Pickering, his service during the Revolutionary War, and his work in agriculture in Wenham and Essex County.
  • Plimoth Plantation — to restore the Mayflower II to USCG operational status in preparation for her participation in the 400th Anniversary Commemorations in 2020.
Grants in 2017

Historic Deerfield is a museum dedicated to the heritage and preservation of Deerfield, Massachusetts, and history of the Connecticut River Valley. Its historic houses, museums, and programs provide visitors with an understanding of New England’s historic countryside.

  • National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — to repair and repaint the ceilings of the museum house at Martin House Farm (1728) in Swansea, Massachusetts.
  • Shirley-Eustis House — to contribute to the cost of replacing the wood-shingled roof on the Shirley-Eustis House.
  • Loring-Greenough House — to expand the electrical service, to include more lighting and outlets inside the “L” as well as spotlights on the outside, and paint the walls of the parlor with an historic off-white color.
  • White-Ellery House (1710 Gloucester) — to stabilize the “L” on the north side.
  • Old North Church — to help with the cost of reconfiguring the Washington Garden and Courtyard so it can serve as an outdoor classroom in which students can learn about the meaning and history of Paul Revere’s Ride.
  • Historic Deerfield — to replace the storm panels in the Wells-Thorn House (1747), adding UV-protection that will protect the historic windows and collections within.
  • Plimoth Plantation — for the restoration of Mayflower II to USCG operational status in preparation for participation in the 400th Anniversary Commemorations.
  • The Bostonian Society — to enable 28 young people from under-served communities to experience, at no cost, the production of “Blood on the Snow”, a powerful interpretation of our country’s complex and enduring history, reenacted in the Council Chamber.
Grants in 2016

Fort Ticonderoga, formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century star fort built by the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain, in northern New York.

  • National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — to help refurbish the 1686 kitchen and at Quincy Homestead by repairing and refinishing the floor and white washing on the walls.
  • Fort Ticonderoga — to conserve two very important guns, a French eight- pounder and a 13-inch mortar, for inclusion in the new exhibit, The Last Argument of Kings: The Art and Science of Artillery in the 18th Century.
  • Historic Deerfield — to contribute to the restoration by replacing the roof on the home of Dr. Thomas Williams, who served as surgeon to the troops in both King George’s War and the French and Indian War.
  • Marblehead Museum and Historical Society — to help with the conservation of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion by restoring and painting the Family Parlor with its original 18th century color.
  • Paul Revere House — to underwrite the cost of painting the entry doors and front shutters of the Paul Revere House in preparation for the opening of the new education and visitor center.
  • Pilgrim Hall Museum — to purchase oversized archival boxes and materials for the housing of seven military commissions dating from 1732 to 1757, five of which are associated with General John Winslow and feature signatures for colonials governors like William Shirley, Thomas Pownall, and Charles Hardy (NY).
  • Shirley-Eustis House — to contribute to the cost of a new roof that is now, after 30 years, in a critical state and in need of replacement by September, 2016.
  • Bostonian Society — to underwrite the addition of several new interpretive opportunities in the newly re-created, interactive Council Chamber in the Old State House, such as exhibition ‘prompts’, leaflets, try-on costume elements, props, sounds, and aromas.
Grants in 2015

The Map Center at the Boston Public Library is a nonprofit public-private partnership to use the collection of 200,000 maps and 5,000 atlases for the enjoyment and education of all through exhibitions, educational programs, and a website withmore than 7,700 digitized map.

  • National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — to enable the procurement of a life size MFA Archival Replica on canvas of the distinguished artist John Smibert’s 1737 portrait of Judge Edmund Quincy in the MFA for the Quincy Homestead.
  • Fort Ticonderoga — to provide the necessary supplies and labor to build additional replicas of the huts built by soldiers garrisoned at the fort in 1756.
  • Historic Deerfield — to provide materials to replace exterior clapboards on the home of Reverend John Ashley (built 1733), a Tory and vehement supporter of the Crown.
  • Marblehead Museum and Historical Society — to purchase a document, that includes the signatures of both Martha and Jeremiah Lee in 1755, which would be a great addition to the limited collection of Lee’s personal and business papers.
  • Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library — to support an exhibition focusing on events dating from the beginning of the French and Indian War in 1756 through to the Revolutionary War.
  • Paul Revere House — to underwrite the cost of replacing the carved wooden sign and decorative metal frame for the Paul Revere House which was stolen in December.
  • Pilgrim Hall Museum — to help with the restoration of several artifacts belonging to General John Winslow, including his sword, its scabbard, and his commission from the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
  • Shirley-Eustis House — to contribute to the cost of repairing the wood shingled roof and repair/paint the entire exterior of the main mansion.
Grants in 2014

The William Hickling Prescott House, at 55 Beacon Street, and the adjoining home at 54 Beacon Street, were built in 1808 for the Boston merchant, James Smith Colburn. These Federal period twin houses overlook Boston Common. The land was once owned by John Singleton Copley, America’s most accomplished colonial portrait painter.

  • American Independence Museum (Exeter) — to help fund the Annual American Independence Festival, which engages people in everyday Colonial life through an authentic artisan village, encampment, a battle reenactment, lively debates on the Loyalist point of view, and a chance to meet historical characters like George Washington.
  • The Bostonian Society — to assist with the restoration of the celebrated unicorn and lion that grace Boston’s historic Old State House, built in 1713 and the seat of British power, where the British Authorities made their plans during the Seven Years War.
  • Marblehead Museum and Historical Society — to help with the continued conservation of the 18th century wallpaper, hand painted in London in 1767 and chosen by Jeremiah Lee himself, that covers the Lee Mansion hallway and two additional rooms on the second floor.
  • National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — to help fund a paint analysis of the exterior trim of William Hickling Prescott House and the interior of Prescott’s study at 55 Beacon Street.
  • Paul Revere House — to underwrite the cost of redesigning and printing new interpretive text panels with large type and improved graphics coordinated with the opening of the new Education and Visitor Center.
  • Pilgrim Hall Museum — to help with the conservation and stabilization of the portrait of General John Winslow (1703-1774) who played a significant role in the French and Indian War.
  • Royall House and Slave Quarters (Medford) — to support a project to permanently display artifacts and information on the events following the departure of Isaac Royall Jr. in 1775, which included the encampment of soldiers, activities of General Starks and Washington, and the effects on the Royall’s slaves.
  • Shirley-Eustis House (Roxbury) — to help with the re-pointing of the exterior double staircase that leads down into the rear parterre garden as well as the repair of the rock walls which line the length of the property along Shirley Street.
  • Wenham Museum — to support the program called “Colonial Life with the Claflins”, which is designed to fulfill curriculum requirements for third grade students in Massachusetts.
  • White-Ellery House (Gloucester) — to help with the restoration of the main front entrance of the House by fabricating a new door, mirroring the rear door which was recently restored, reusing the existing hardware, and replacing the leaded glass transom window that was once there.
  • Old North Church — to redesign the Washington Garden, on the northern edge of the church courtyard, into an outdoor classroom that will improve this gathering space for educational purposes and enhance the colonial gardens.
  • Fort Ticonderoga — to support the development of a fantastic new exhibition entitled “Founding Fashion” which highlights their remarkable 18th century clothing collection and the stories of those that gave military service during this time.
  • Loring-Greenough House (Jamaica Plain) — for a restoration project on the historic, wooden gutters and metal downspouts of the 1760 Loring-Greenough House that will help preserve them and flow water away from the original exterior.
  • Historic Deerfield — to help with the restoration of Frary House (1760) and the Barnard Tavern by replacing the shingle roof on the entire structure as well as painting (with a sealant, not a color) the entire structure.
  • Worcester Revolution of 1774 — to support the re-enactment on September 7th, 2014 of the uprising on Worcester Common in 1774 that eliminated British rule from Central and Western Massachusetts forever, nine months before Lexington and Concord.
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