About the Alice Paul Institute

Mission & Strategic Plan API Staff Presentations Programs Events
Board of Trustees Donor Rights Policy Newsletter About Alice Paul About Paulsdale
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Honoring her legacy, Preserving her home 
Developing future leaders 

The Alice Paul Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. It was founded in 1984 by a group of dedicated volunteers to commemorate the centennial of Alice Paul's 1885 birth and to further her legacy. The organization was operated by volunteers for more than a decade. Today, four staff members, as well as volunteers, oversee the daily business and special events at Paulsdale.

Since its inception, API not only has preserved the legacy of Alice Paul and her fellow suffragists, but also has taken a leadership role in bringing recognition to other organizations and historic sites that honor women.

API's accomplishments include:

  • Receiving a $20,000 Historic Sites Management grant from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund, administered by the New Jersey Historic Trust, for Destination Paulsdale: Revealing the Hidden Gem, a wayfinding planning project.  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie held a press conference at Paulsdale in August 2011 to sign the historic preservation appropriations bill.
     

  • Recipient of the BPW/NJ Women of Achievement award in May 2011.

  • Receiving 1st place- History Education category for the Meeting Alice program by the Burlington County Freeholders in honor of National Historic Preservation Month in May 2011.

  • Recipient of the Evangelina Menendez Trailblazer award in March 2011. 

  • Receiving the Women in Municipal Government Day award in March 2011.

  • Honoring individuals who demonstrate a long-standing commitment to advancing women's equality in New Jersey at the third  Alice Paul Equality Awards in April 2011. Recipients of the awards included Senator Diane Allen, Lynn Elsenhans, Mindy Holman, Lisa Kaado, Barbara Lee, Esq., Angela Snyder and Myra Terry.  

  • Celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2010.  Also in that year, Alice Paul was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame and API held year-long celebration of the 90th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment.

  • Receiving 1st place in the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey's Kevin M. Hale Annual Publications Awards (Media) for the DVD, The Life of Alice Stokes Paul, 1885-1977 in 2010.

  • Honoring individuals who demonstrate a long-standing commitment to advancing women's equality in New Jersey at the second Alice Paul Equality Awards in April 2008. Recipients of the awards included Kirsten S. Branigan, Esq., Jeanne Fox, Esq., Roberta Francis, Lendel Jones and Ferris Olin, Ph.D.

  • Researching and launching the report, Girls Share Their Voice, a comprehensive study that summarized the evaluations of past leadership programs, current research in the field, and recommendations for expanding and changing existing leadership programs.
     

  • Retiring the mortgage for Paulsdale in 2007.

  • Receiving recognition in the March 2006 issue of the New Jersey Monthly magazine as a "Best of Jersey" for Advocate. Our State boasts some impressive philanthropic endeavors, but one of our favorites is the relatively unsung Alice Paul Institute in Mount Laurel.
     

  • Honoring individuals who demonstrate a long-standing commitment to advancing women's equality in New Jersey at The Alice Paul Equality Awards Dinner in April 2005 (API's 20th Anniversary). Recipients of the awards included Jennifer S. MacLeod, Ph.D., Vivian Sanks King, Esq., Ruth B. Mandel, Ph.D., and the Honorable Sylvia B. Pressler.
     

  • Launching the physical restoration and rehabilitation of Paulsdale, Alice Paul's birthplace and family home, which API purchased in 1990. The restoration of the house began in spring 2001 and the majority of the project was completed during summer 2002.
     

  • Serving as Project Director for the New Jersey Women's Heritage Trail: The New Jersey Women's Heritage Trail Bill, sponsored by Senator Diane Allen and Assemblywoman Rose Heck, provided funding for a comprehensive survey of women's historic sites statewide. New Jersey is the first state to conduct this type of survey.
     

  • Initiated Reclaiming Women's History Through Historic Preservation, the first national conference on the preservation of women's sites. API later became a founding member of the National Collaborative for Women's History Sites (NCWHS), a consortium of historic sites dedicated and/or incorporating women's history in their interpretation.
     

  • Receiving recognition from The President's Commission on the Celebration of Women in American History: In 1999, API was one of six sites nationwide to receive special recognition for visionary leadership in bringing women into the mainstream of American history.
     

  • Coordinating "Passing the Torch": In 1995, API organized New Jersey's statewide event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote.
     

  • Initiating the Alice Paul Leadership Program: In 1995, API offered its workshops that focus on leadership and women's history for eighth-grade girls using original curriculum, which is presented in single- and multi-session programs. This was the first (and remains the only) program of its kind in southern New Jersey.
     

  • Obtaining National Historic Landmark status: In 1991, Paulsdale was designated an NHL, one of the few dedicated to women in our nation. Paulsdale also is listed on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places.
     

  • Purchasing, in 1987, the only known books, papers, and personal memorabilia of Alice Paul: The collection was donated to The Arthur & Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Radcliffe College and the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. API and the Mount Laurel Library also hold a small collection of Alice Paul's books and papers.
     

  • Commemorating Alice Paul's 100th birthday in 1985 with the presentation of Alice Paul Women of Courage Awards to astronaut Sally Ride, Sonia Johnson and Judge Lisa Richette.

Mission

The mission of the Alice Paul Institute is to honor Alice Paul's legacy by:

  • educating the public about her life

  • preserving historic Paulsdale

  • developing future leaders

  • and achieving women's equality
     

Strategic Plan
2008-2011

Goal 1 To strengthen and diversify API's financial resources
Goal 2 To increase API's visibility through marketing and communications
Goal 3 To preserve Paulsdale and enhance the community experience
Goal 4 To grow and strengthen Board and Staff development.

 

Board of Trustees

    
     Valerie Buickerood,
     Executive Director
     Melinda Champion
     Marie DeCicco
     Diane Dooley
      Michele Dorris, Chair
      Dacia Haddad
     Jose Hernandez
      Kathy Kolesk
     Kim Moon
     Tara Parvey
     Suzanne Quigley
     Mary Saile, Treasurer
      Catherine Sakach
     Judy Sailer
     Lori Shropshire
      Deborah Shuff, Secretary
   

Staff

Valerie Buickerood
Executive Director
valerieb@alicepaul.org


Kris Myers
Director of Heritage & Outreach
kmyers@alicepaul.org

Dana Dabek
Director of Leadership Programs
 ddabek@alicepaul.org

Debra Hojsak
Administrative Director
dhojsak@alicepaul.org

Staff bios

API Donor Rights:

When soliciting funds from the public or from donor institutions, API uses material that is truthful about the organization. API respects the privacy concerns of individual donors and expends funds consistent with donor intent. API discloses important and relevant information to potential donors.

In raising funds from the public, API will respect the rights of donors, as follows:*

  • Donors will be informed of the mission of API, the way the resources will be used and their capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purpose;

  • Be informed of the identity of those serving on API’s governing board and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities;

  • To have access to API's most recent financial reports;

  • To be assured their gifts will be used for purposes for which they are given;

  •  To receive appropriate acknowledgement and recognition;

  • To be assured that information about their donations is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law;

  • Approach donors in a professional manner;

  • To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of API, or hired solicitors;

  • To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that API may intend to share;

  • Are encouraged to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.

   *This list has been developed and approved by professional organizations engaged in philanthropy.

 

  • Wall partitions

  • Oriental-style rugs (for downstairs rooms)

  • Computers

  • Ceramic Heaters

  • Digital camera

  • Bookcases/tables (for gift shop& library)

  • Cash Register (for gift shop)

  • Gift certificates -
     Staples, Target, Home Depot, etc.

  • Stamps
    (we have a lot of mailings every month!)

If you have purchased items for the API office, please call us at 856-231-1885 or info@alicepaul.org.
API thrives due to the support of our members and friends. We appreciate your support!
 

 

Copyright 1985, Alice Paul Institute, Inc.
For any questions or problems with this site, please contact the web manager.
This page was last updated on Tuesday January 24, 2012

Alice Paul Institute, Inc. at Paulsdale Directions
PO Box 1376 (mailing),  128 Hooton Road (street),
Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054
856-231-1885 phone    856-231-4223 fax  
info@alicepaul.org       www.alicepaul.org