Watkins Museum in the News
What is a tax credit?
A tax credit is different from a tax deduction. A deduction lowers the amount of income subject to taxation. A tax credit lowers the amount of taxes paid to the state. For example, if you figure your taxes and find you own $3,000, but have a tax credit for $2,000, you pay only $1,000 to the state. Partnership Historic Site tax credits are refundable. If a donor does not owe taxes, or has more credits than their tax liability, the unused portion will be refunded to the donor. The tax credits may not be transferred to another tax payer and must be used for the tax year in which the donation is given.
DCHS Donors to Receive Tax Credit
The Douglas County Historical Society was allocated $20,000 in state tax credits for fiscal year July 1, 2011–June 30, 2012 through the Partnership Historic Sites Program.
This is the fifth year the DCHS has participated in the program. The current allocation provides an incentive (and a challenge) to raise $40,000. Funds raised will support capital projects and the installation of a new permanent exhibit at the Watkins Museum.
Donors to the DCHS will receive a tax credit equal to 50% of their donation. The minimum donation is $1,000 ($500 tax credit). The maximum tax credit that can be received in a year is $2,500. An individual may give more than $5000, but they are limited to a $2,500 credit per tax year. The 50% of the donation not reimbursed with a credit can be counted as a charitable donation. Donations made between now and December 31, 2011 can be claimed on 2011 taxes. Donations made between January 1 and June 30, 2012 can be claimed on 2012 taxes
For more information or to make a donation contact:
Steve Nowak, 785-841-4109 or snowak@watkinsmuseum.org.
Douglas County Historical Society hires Executive Director
Steve Nowak of Toledo, Ohio, has been hired as the new executive director of the Douglas County Historical Society.
Nowak has worked at the Toledo Museum of Art for 22 years, serving in a variety of roles, most recently as director of education and community outreach and a curatorial consultant in decorative arts. In that role, he managed the museum’s educational and community outreach branch. He was a member of the museum’s senior management team and oversaw school tours, teacher resources, art classes, public programs and outreach programs.
“We are delighted to hire such an experienced and talented executive director,” said Dale Slusser, president of the DCHS board of directors. “We are committed to dramatically transforming the DCHS and Watkins Museum to increase its impact in our community, and we are confident that Steve has the skills needed to lead us through these changes.
A search committee made up of DCHS board members and community representatives spent several months conducting a national search to fill the executive director’s job. Nowak was selected from a large pool of qualified candidates after interviews that concluded a visit to Lawrence and a meeting with historical society members last month.
Over the last year, the DCHS has been involved in private fundraising to facilitate the transition to a new director and new exhibits and programming at Watkins Museum. The society hopes to put renewed focus on the important “struggles for freedom” that have been an ongoing part of local history.
“We have a story that not only is important to area residents, but has national significance.” said Slusser. “We also want to strengthen our relationship with the newly formed Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.”
Nowak plans to begin his duties in Lawrence on February 28.
Contacts:
Dale Slusser: 785-813-1223
Steve Nowak: 419-868-2975
Open House Scheduled
On March 6th there will be an open house to meet Steven Nowak, the new Director of the Watkins Community Museum of History. It will be at the Museum, 1047 Massachusetts Street, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Please come help welcome Steve to our community and Museum.
Armitage book explores lives of survivors of Quantrill Raid
Lawrence Survivors of Quantrill's Raid, a new book by Lawrence historian Katie Armitage, explores through images and stories from archival collection how survivors of the horrific Quantrill Raid of 1863 rebuilt their lives, their town, and memorialized their experiences.
William C. Quantrill's Missouri guerillas raided Lawrence on August 21, 1863, and killed 180 men and boys in the middle of the Civil War. Women lost husbands, children lost fathers, and fathers lost sons. Every one of the 2,500 residents lost either a loved one, a neighbor, or acquaintance. A few left town but most survivors were determined to remain and remember; not to "wink out." Newcomers brought industry and innovation. The University of Kansas, 1866, and Haskell Institute, 1884 (now Haskell Indian Nations University), grew into major institutions.
Commemoration of Quantrill's raid peaked on the 50th anniversary of the attack in August 1913, when 200 survivors gathered in Lawrence. In 1925, fewer survivors met to remember. Almost 150 years later, the "raid" echoes still.
The book is can be purchased at the Watkins Museum Gift Shop, the Raven, and other local bookstores.
August 24, 2010
Museum to commemorate anniversary of raid
Originally published by The Daily Kansan August 20, 2010.
Interns at Watkins Community Museum dusting off bits of Lawrence’s past
See the story about interns at Watkins Community Museum
» See Lawrence-Journal World : July 23, 2009