Who We Are

The Bowne House Historical Society


OUR MISSION:

The dual mission of the Bowne House Historical Society is:

  1. To educate the public about Queens, New York State, and American history through the 300-year legacy of the Bowne and Parsons families.

  2. To further the preservation and interpretation of the circa 1661 Bowne House, its collections, and its material and documentary heritage.

We focus our interpretive and research efforts on the activities of multiple generations of Bowne House residents known for their association with liberty of conscience and religious freedom in early America, and for their later involvement with Abolition and the Underground Railroad.

Bowne House is a New York City landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places, as well a member of the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program.

WHAT WE DO:

The Bowne House Historical Society offers tours and special events throughout the year for the general public as well as customized tours for students of all ages. Most of the approximately 5,000 objects in the Museum’s collection are original to the House; a rarity found in few cultural institutions open to the public. On view are fine examples of English and American furniture and decorative art. The Bowne House Archives, an extensive collection available to readers by appointment, document the history and civic activities of the Bowne and Parsons’ families – occupants of the house from the 17th through the 20th centuries.


Our Team

Elise Helmers

Executive Director, bownehouseeducation@gmail.com

Charlotte Jackson

Archivist, bownehousearchives@gmail.com

Emily Vieyra-Haley

Museum Educator

Ellen M. Spindler

Collection Volunteer

Brandon Loo

Archival Assistant

Kate Lynch

Research Volunteer

Michael Alan Haley

Technology Consultant


Board of Trustees

Rosemary S. Vietor

Wellington Z. Chen

Annette L. Geddes

James A. Trent

Roland G. Wade

Kathleen A. Sciortino

Margaret Polino

Charlotte Jackson

Janet Caraisco-Alloggiamento

Jeremy Woodoff


Museum Advisory Committee

Donald R. Friary

Chairman, Director Emeritus, Historic Deerfield

Lauren Brincat

Curator, Preservation Long Island

Peter M. Kenny

President emeritus, Classical American Homes Preservation Trust

Anthony C. Wood

Executive Director, Ittleson Foundation

Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel

Chair, NYC Landmarks50 Alliance; Chair, Historic Landmarks Preservation Center

Alex Herrera

NY Landmarks Conservancy

Morris (Marty) Hylton III

University of Florida, Gainesville

James Dixon

James Dixon Architects P.C.

Steve Whitesell

NYC Department of Parks and Recreation