76. A Founding-Focused Foundation

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Say that three times fast!

No, but seriously, I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the work of the Swan Historical Foundation, Inc. (SHF), so let me suggest that this is as good a time as any—what with the impending semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) of American independence in 2026—to recognize its efforts at promoting awareness and understanding of our Revolutionary heritage.

This nonprofit is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring continuing knowledge and appreciation of the Revolution for the benefit of present and future generations. It’s named for an early member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Samuel Swan, of Somerville, NJ, who sponsored legislation that provided a pension for the widows and orphans of the first American soldiers and led to the creation of the federal Veterans Administration. His great, great grandson, H. Kels Swan—a lifelong resident of South Bound Brook, NJ, a Rutgers University alumnus, and an author who served as historian and curator at Washington Crossing State Park, Titusville, NJ (Hopewell Township)—founded SHF in 1989 and became its president.
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​A proud partner and sponsor of RevolutionNJ, SHF is working closely with the State of New Jersey to build a new visitor center that is rising on the banks of the Delaware River at Washington Crossing State Park. Most of the artifacts in the SHF collection of 1,200 original items from the Revolutionary era (1750-1810), which are currently displayed in the old visitor center, have been on loan to the park for a number of years. The old center is slated for demolition, but a new iteration of the imposing SHF exhibit will greet visitors to the state-of-the-art facility that opens next year. (Additional items in the collection are currently on loan to other institutions or in storage.)

Besides the care, interpretation, and expansion of its breathtaking collection​, what else has SHF been up to?

Well, in 2002, it commissioned artwork by a noted local artist, Loyd Garrison, which conveys what is believed to be an accurate image of Washington’s legendary Christmas night 1776 crossing by ferry boat. More recently, SHF participated in  a 13-minute video, Crossing To Victory: Washington Recaptures New Jersey, which was made possible by a joint effort of the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission, NJ Historical Commission, Mercer County Board of County Commissioners, NJM Insurance Group, and several generous individuals. The film examines some of the lesser-known events and sites at Washington Crossing State Park so critical to the success of that momentous event and the subsequent march to Trenton and victory over the Hessian garrison there.

But there’s a lot more to the story. The vital educational role embraced by SHF is illustrated by the wide range of activities in which it has engaged over the past generation:

  • Supporting organizations with a common interest in the Revolution;
  • ​Participating in historical fairs, meetings, and conferences;
  • Giving talks and lectures to community, historical, and patriotic groups;
  • Providing financial support for historical programs in partnership with Washington Crossing State Park;
  • Loaning artifacts from its collection to other museums;
  • Offering periodic exhibits at various locations in PA and NJ;
  • Providing access for third parties to photograph artifacts in its collection for books, articles, and various publications;
  • Funding an annual short-term residential research fellowship with the David Center for the American Revolution at the library and museum of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia for scholars in all fields to work in the artifact collections of SHF, the American Philosophical Society, and other repositories in the greater Philadelphia area;
  • Organizing living history talks and demonstrations;
  • Distributing a newsletter that features articles about the Revolution and profiles of items in the SHF collection;
  • Sponsoring the Washington Crossing American Revolution Round Table; and
  • Conducting tabletop demonstrations of Revolutionary War battles.

Rev War aficionados need to appreciate the work SHF is doing to establish a firm (ahem) foundation for the celebration of our founding. Obviously, it has many partners in this enterprise, but SHF is one of those truly unsung heroes in the upcoming national project that is dedicated to commemorating our historical legacy and reminding us once again that America is more than just a place, but an idea as well.

As John Adams famously observed, “The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people.” May it always be so.

Attention Rev War Buffs:

Mark your calendar!

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a new six-part, 12-hour documentary series from acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns—focusing on the country’s founding and the War for Independence—will launch on Sunday, November 16 and run for six consecutive nights through Friday, November 21. It will air from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on PBS.

I Ken hardly wait.