Our Partners

Partnerships are vital to Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site. The site embraces partnership as a key strategy to advance stewardship, scholarship, and programming. Below are brief descriptions of organizations that currently partner with Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, along with links to their respective web sites where you can learn more.

 

Friends of the Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters

Since 1996, the Friends of the Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters, a not-for-profit voluntary group, has worked with the National Park Service to support Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site by promoting scholarly access to collections, publications about site history, educational visitor programs, and advocacy for the highest quality preservation.

 

Scholarship

American Writers Museum

The American Writers Museum, which opened in 2017 in Chicago, strives to engage the public in celebrating American writers and exploring their influence on our history, our identity, our culture, and our daily lives. Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site is an Author Home Affiliate.

 

The Dante Society of America

Henry W. Longfellow formed the Dante Club in the 1860s with friends James Russell Lowell and Charles Eliot Norton as an informal group to aid him in his project to translate Dante's Divine Comedy. The members met at Longfellow's house on Brattle Street to discuss his translations, and to dine and socialize. Upon publication of Longfellow's translation in 1867, the club moved to Norton's house where they discussed Norton's work on translating Dante's La Vita Nuova.

In 1881 the club became the Dante Society of America, with Henry W. Longfellow serving as its first president. The Dante Society of America continues to advance the study of Dante Alighieri's works today. The Society officially resides at Harvard University, and its reference library is held at Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters NHS.

 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Society

The Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Society is a nonprofit educational organization founded in 2009 to promote scholarly interest in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, his family, and related writers; to offer Longfellow scholars and other interested persons an opportunity to share ideas, information, and pedagogical approaches, with the goal of creating a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal devoted to the interests of the Society; and to raise awareness of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his family among those interested in American culture and history.

 

Houghton Library, Harvard University

As the major repository for the papers of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Houghton Library is an important resource for Longfellow scholars, complementing the collections and family papers held by the park.

The library’s website hosts a web version of the 2007 exhibit “Public Poet, Private Man: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow at 200,” curated by Christoph Irmscher and drawing on the collections of both Houghton Library and the Longfellow House.

 

Maine Historical Society

Dedicated to the preservation, understanding, and enjoyment of Maine history, the Maine Historical Society maintains the Wadsworth-Longfellow house in Portland, ME, the boyhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The Maine Historical Society features a website devoted to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, including a searchable database of his poems.

 

Mount Vernon

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association cares for George Washington’s Virginia estate and promotes education about the life and legacies of George Washington. Alice Longfellow served as Vice Regent for Massachusetts of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association for 49 years.

 

The Society of the Cincinnati

Founded by officers of the Continental Army in 1783, the Society of the Cincinnati is a hereditary organization that today supports understanding and appreciation of the American Revolution. The Society has supported programming and projects focusing on the history of Washington’s home and headquarters in Cambridge.

 

Programming

 

Berklee College of Music

Berklee is the preeminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs at its campus in Boston, Massachusetts. Berklee students perform in the Summer in the City Concert Series with over 400 free performances throughout Greater Boston, including at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Sites annual Summer Festival (June-August).

 

Harvard Square Business Association

The Harvard Square Business Association works to advance the commercial, industrial and public interests of Harvard Square. The site is a member of the Association and partners on events focusing on history and culture.

 

The History Project

The History Project documents, preserves, and shares the history of New England's LGBTQ communities. Through partnership programs, rangers from Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters NHS share the histories of several LGBTQ family members and LGBTQ connections in nineteenth century literature.

 

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide.

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is the site’s neighbor and their offices are located in the historic homes of Longfellow’s daughters, Anne Thorp and Edith Dana. They generously partner with the site to host events.

 

Mass Poetry

Mass Poetry support poets and poetry in Massachusetts, helping to broaden the audience of poetry readers, bringing poetry to readers of all ages, and transforming people’s lives through inspiring verse. They host the annual Massachusetts Poetry Festival, in which Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site participates.

 

Mount Auburn Cemetery

Mount Auburn Cemetery is the first rural cemetery in the United States and was dedicated in 1831. The cemetery is the final resting place of Henry Longfellow, his family, and many friends and colleagues. Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters NHS proudly partners with Mount Auburn Cemetery to host the annual celebration of Longfellow’s birthday in February.

 

New England Poetry Club

New England Poetry Club is an association of poets founded in 1915 by Amy Lowell, Robert Frost and Conrad Aiken to foster the art of poetic expression. NEPC runs the oldest poetry reading series in the country. Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters NHS proudly hosts NEPC’s annual Golden Rose Poetry Award ceremony onsite, as well as a series of poetry readings as part of the site’s annual Longfellow Summer Festival.

 

Revolution 250

As the country nears the 250th anniversary of its founding, Revolution 250 seeks to explore the history of the American Revolution in ways that resonate with society today. Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters NHS shares Rev250’s goals of celebrating the founding of the country, developing imaginative programming, and fostering partnerships with sites preserving and interpreting the American Revolution.

 

Warrior Writers

Warrior Writers is a national non-profit with a mission to create a culture that articulates veterans’ experiences, build a collaborative community for artistic expression, and bear witness to war and the full range of military experiences. To foster poetry as an expression of veterans’ experiences, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters NHS hosts one of Warrior Writers annual workshops and poetry readings.

 

Stewardship

America's National Parks

America's National Parks, the park's cooperating association, operates the Visitor Center bookstore. Proceeds from your purchase support education and preservation programs at this and other national park sites.

 

Cambridge Historical Commission

The Cambridge Historical Commission is the city's historic preservation agency. Established in 1963, the Commission seeks to preserve the integrity and diversity of Cambridge's built environment and to share information about its history. With strong mission alignment, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters partners with the Cambridge Historical Commission on Cambridge Open Archives.

 

Massachusetts Master Gardeners

Massachusetts Master Gardeners are experienced and trained volunteers who provide horticultural information and educational resources to the gardening public, offer technical support for horticulture projects, and contribute outreach programs for community events. At Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters, the Massachusetts Master Gardeners contribute their passion and skills to Formal Garden maintenance weekly during the growing season.

 

Student Conservation Association

Student Conservation Association (SCA) builds the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land. At Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters, SCA interns have completed projects in interpretation, education, and grounds and building maintenance.