The Hudson River Museum was a proud recipient of a $125,000 IMLS matching grant to support the digitization of 8,000 historical photographs representative of the Museum’s local and regional artists and communities. Today, the fate of this grant, and the reimbursement of the expended funds, is uncertain.

Dean Clymer, a member of the HRM’s Maintenance Team, wrote the following letter to Members of Congress. Please join Dean and reach out to your elected officials today and share your story of why museums matter to you.

Urge Congress to Support IMLS and NEH
Urge State-Level Officials to Contact Congress to Save IMLS and NEH

Dear Members of Congress:

I am writing this letter out of concern about the government budget cuts for museums, not only for the Hudson River Museum where I am employed, but for all museums throughout the United States. I am a maintenance worker at the Hudson River Museum of Yonkers, New York, 10701. I have been here for 14 1/2 years. I started out at the HRM through a workforce development program and then was hired full-time at the museum in January 2010. In my time working at the Hudson River Museum, I have met a lot of good people and have seen a lot of good things that the museum brings to the Westchester County community and the people of Yonkers, and beyond.

Here at the Hudson River Museum, we provide a place of joy, happiness, and laughter. We also show our history through artworks of different cultures from around the world. We have great programs for people of all ages, from school groups that come with young children to teenagers. We also have two great docent programs—one for seniors and one for Yonkers high school students, our Junior Docents. Our museum helps to prepare them for life’s challenges and for their second chapter in life after graduation.

It’s also a great place to work because our museum plays a great part in people’s lives. This is why it’s very important not to do away with funding for museums across America, and especially here at the Hudson River Museum.

I am asking you to help stop cutting budgets for museums across the United States, and especially here at the Hudson River Museum. If it wasn’t for the museum I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing in my life at this time. So I thank you on behalf of the Hudson River Museum.

Respectfully submitted by,

Dean Clymer
Maintenance Department, Hudson River Museum

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