News Release from
The Susan B. Anthony House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2005
Media Contact: Eileen Bisha, (585) 279-7490 ext. 10
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SUSAN B. ANTHONY HOUSE
MOVES ON TO PURSUE NATIONAL CONSULTING OPPORTUNITIES
Lorie Lachiusa Barnum served 13 years as SBA House leader
Contact Lorie Lachiusa Barnum directly
Rochester, NY - In honor of her service and contributions, the Board of Trustees of the Susan B. Anthony House has awarded Barnum the title of Executive Director Emeritus. Barnum will maintain regular office hours, and will support the transition in leadership as a consultant. She is leaving the Susan B. Anthony House to pursue numerous consulting opportunities across the country in institutional development, and to broaden her career as a speaker, continuing to spread the legacy of Susan B. Anthony.
Barnum became an officer of the Susan B. Anthony House board in 1982, following in the footsteps of her aunt, Roberta LaChiusa, who was president of the board at the time. Barnum was elected board president in 1991, and then she became the first and only paid employee of the historic site in 1992, working with a negligible operating budget to set a path for growth. She began her tenure by leading the board through a strategic planning process.
Since 1992, Barnum managed the museum's first public capital campaign that raised $2 million to implement much-needed restoration of the Susan B. Anthony House and three neighboring buildings on Madison Street, which are used for, an interpretive center, visitor services, curatorial and archival storage and office space. She increased the annual operating budget to nearly $500,000 and put the historic site on the national map, attracting tourists from all over the world to see the home of the woman whose work brought women in the United States the right to vote.
"I've accomplished what I set out to do here," said Barnum. "We've successfully completed the first phase of the restoration, so the house is secure for the long term—and plans are in place for completion of the project. The staff developed to support the Susan B. Anthony House is strong and growing. It's time for me to take on some new challenges."
The Susan B. Anthony House Board of Directors will conduct a nationwide search for an executive director to succeed Barnum, beginning immediately. Barnum informed the Board of her plans to move on in late 2004.
"It's never easy to lose an organization's leader—and we are especially sorry to see Lorie move on, because her leadership has been so important to the growth and development of the Susan B. Anthony House as a national historic landmark," said Shirley Eberly, chair of the Board. "We are grateful to Lorie for all that she accomplished on behalf of this important historic site, and we respect her decision to pursue new opportunities."
The Susan B. Anthony House was Anthony's home during the most politically active period of her life and the site of her famous arrest for voting in 1872. Anthony' story of courage and determination has been told and re-told to visitors for more than 50 years. The Susan B. Anthony House is supported primarily through the contributions of its members.
