Historical Museum closed Sunday for LiveARTS String Quartet Concert at 3 PM

Shared from  https://www.instagram.com/p/DYP-dbUnQIb/

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Franklin Historical Museum

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

The Franklin Historical Museum is a cultural heritage institution devoted to the stewardship of Franklin’s history and culture. Our mission is to collect historical artifacts and archival records pertaining to Franklin’s history; preserve the artifacts and documents in our collections; make materials accessible to the public; and to educate the public about Franklin’s historical and cultural narratives through exhibits and programming.

Core Functions

● Collection and Preservation

○ Collect historical artifacts and documents relating to the history of the Town of Franklin, including records from businesses and industries, educational institutions, municipal activities, religious organizations, and social organizations, dating from the 18th to 21st centuries. Ensure the physical stewardship of fragile documents and artifacts, and carry out preservation measures where necessary.

● Organization and Description

○ Organize, describe, and house objects and archival collections according to professional museum administration and archival standards. Develop and manage internal collection documentation, including donation records, object catalogs and inventory, informative finding aids for archival collections, and loan agreements. Make collection documentation accessible to inquiring parties.

● Education and Advocacy

○ In cooperation with the Historical Commission, plan and coordinate exhibits and programming to educate the public on the history of Franklin, and promote awareness and advocate for the protection of the town’s historical and cultural resources.

● Historical Reference

○ Fulfill inquiries and requests from researchers, community members, and town departments on business and industrial history, historical property research, genealogy, and other historical topics related to the Town of Franklin.

Staffing

● One (1) Archivist

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● Welcomed over 2,300 visitors from Franklin and surrounding towns for an average of 197 visitors per month, our highest annual attendance on record and a 16.6% increase in visitorship over 2024.

● Offered educational programming on a range of cultural and historical subjects to the public through five exhibits, thirteen guest speaker events, and two musical events.

● With funding from the Community Preservation Committee and support from the Facilities Department, restoration of the cupola was completed on our 183-year-old building.

● Continue to advocate for the preservation of historical resources in the community and make them accessible to the public through programming and exhibits.

● Expand outreach to surrounding communities to increase visitorship and build solidarity with local historic organizations.

● Grow digital collections to improve awareness of and accessibility to communal historic resources.

FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

● This is a level funded budget.

FY27 Requested Budget Summary

The Franklin Historical Museum is requesting a level funded budget for FY27, with no increases beyond the standard 2.5% COLA for the Archivist, the sole non-union employee for the department. In total, FHM’s budget request accounts for 0.04% of the Town Administrator’s FY27 Operating Budget Model. While this request accounts for a small percentage of the overall budget, that small percentage is fundamental to the continued activities of the Historical Museum, and essential to its mission to preserve and protect Franklin’s historical and cultural heritage.

A loss of funding and/or the sole municipal employee at the museum would result in the loss of 50 years’ worth of progress in historical stewardship and storytelling, the loss of a community space that has been utilized and treasured by Franklin's citizens for the past 183 years, and the loss of 247 years’ worth of history directly preceding the Town’s 250th anniversary in 2028. We hope to continue our mission in sharing historical narratives and being a space by the community, for the community.

The PDF of this section - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JkvJdmL5nqFgmBMnVdW2AEh2J-DbKr4E/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, May 10, 2026 ???

Sunday, May 10 = Mother's Day

12:00pm Kenny Hadley LEGACY Big Band (THE BLACK BOX)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (CLOSED Mother's Day)

***  NO  Town Meetings today   ***

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, May 9, 2026 ???

Saturday, May 9

Stamp Out Hunger

9:00am FHS Boys Lacrosse Fund raiser (Jimbo’s NY Diner)

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:30am Weekend Wiggles! (Franklin Public Library)

11:00am Dean College Commencement (Main St closed from Emmons to School)

1:00pm Craft Supply Swap (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Antique Appraisal Day (Franklin Historical Museum)

7:30pm Susan Werner (ticketed concert) (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse)

8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)

8:00pm Give My Regards to Franklin  (ticketed concert) (THE BLACK BOX)

For Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

***  NO  Town Meetings today   ***

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Antiques Appraisal Benefit Event Scheduled for May 9 from 1 PM to 5 PM

Residents of Franklin and surrounding communities are invited to discover the history and value of their antiques at a special Antiques Appraisal Event to benefit the museum, scheduled for Saturday, May 9, in Franklin.

The event will offer local residents an opportunity to bring antiques, collectibles, heirlooms, and unusual items to be evaluated by a highly experienced appraiser, James C. Johnston. Items may include artwork, coins, jewelry, books, documents, military items (but no guns, please!), toys, advertising items, and historical memorabilia. Verbal appraisals will be provided, along with general information about the item’s age, origin, and current market interest.

This ever-popular event is designed for anyone who has ever wondered about items found in attics, basements, or inherited from family members. Organizers say many people are often surprised to learn what ordinary-looking items can be worth, while other items turn out to have fascinating historical stories even if they are not highly valuable.

Event Details:

Saturday, May 9 - 1-5 pm

Franklin Historical Museum

80 West Central St., Franklin, MA

Cost: $10 for 1 item, or 3 for $25 

Senior Citizen Discount (65+, $5 for 1 item and $10.00 for 3 items  

No appointment is necessary. 

For more information, contact alan.r.earls@gmail.com.

This event is open to the public.

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, May 3, 2026 ???

Sunday, May 3

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:15pm Sunday Speaker: Horace Mann (Franklin Historical Museum)

***  NO  Town Meetings today   ***

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, May 2, 2026 ???

Saturday, May 2

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

10:00am Horace Mann Birthday Party - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am    Windphone Pebble Paint (Franklin Public Library)

10:30am    Weekend Wiggles!    (Franklin Public Library)

10:30am Jane Jacobs Walk (Franklin TV and Radio 102.9 FM)

12:00pm Post Walk Gathering (Franklin TV and Radio 102.9 FM)

7:00pm Rob Bellamy (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

7:30pm Electric Youth & The Bost Show Band (THE BLACK BOX)

8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)

***  NO  Town Meetings today   ***

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Second Sunday Speaker Series: Phillip Balkus on Horace Mann - Sunday, May 3 at 1:15 PM

Educator and Franklin resident, Phillip Balkus, who recently completed an academic thesis on Horace, will be exploring the less famous role of Horace Mann as a citizen of Franklin, where he returned to rescue the fortunes of his brother and manage other investments -- in the process also helping the town of his birth. 

Doors open at 1 and the program begins at approximately 1:15. 

The event is free but donations are always greatly appreciated.

Where: Franklin Historical Museum

Franklin's Cultural highlights feature Horace Mann's birthday at the Historical Museum

"Join @franklinhistoricalmuseum this weekend as we kick off #HoraceMann’s birthday month!"

• Horace Mann's birthday weekend
• Fakes & Forgeries
• LiveArts String Quartet

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DXwwnR2DzcO/

LiveARTS String Quartet Concert: Sunday, May 17 at 3:00 -- Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schumann

Tickets limited - get your guaranteed seat!

Hello music lovers! The LiveARTS String Quartet performs on Sunday, May 17 at 3:00 p.m. at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street, Franklin, MA. PROGRAM: Masterworks by Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schumann Tickets are limited to 70 seats. If you would like a guaranteed seat, please click here to reserve in advance. Thank you for supporting live music, and we look forward to seeing you on May 17! liveartsstringquartet.org Copyright © 2026 by LiveARTS String Quartet, Franklin, MA. All rights reserved. Our web address is: liveartsstringquartet.org

You can listen to Donald Krishnaswami talk about this upcoming performance https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/donald-krishnaswami-talks-about.html

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, April 26, 2026 ???

Sunday, April 26

The Little Shop | Lady Bug Walk (Day 2/2)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/the-little-shop-of-olive-oils-family.html

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

2:00pm Dance Company (Dean College Main Stage Theater)

3:00pm Music at the Museum: Jazz (Franklin Historical Museum)

***  NO Town Meetings today   ***

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Celebrate Happy Birthday for Horace Mann! Saturday, May 2

Horace's birthday is really May 4

The Historical Museum will show some short videos about Horace, for older kids and adults. And for elementary school age kids, we will have participatory diorama and discussion with our volunteer educator and buildings and figures representing the Franklin of Horace Mann's Childhood. 

Come share the adventure of young Horace (and some birthday cake!). 

Programs are free but donations are always appreciated! 10 AM to 1 PM

*Note: Horace's birthday is really May 4 but the Museum isn't open that day. They do have a speaker on Sunday, May 3 talking about Horace coming back to Franklin to help his family.

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, April 25, 2026 ???

Saturday, April 25

The Little Shop | Lady Bug Walk (Day 1/2)

9:00am Annual Ladybug Trail Walk Multiple points in Downtown Franklin

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Charles River Earth Day Cleanup (Sites across the watershed, from Boston to Hopkinton!)

10:30am Rainforest Reptiles! (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Painting for Adults! (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm Boston Typewriter Orchestra Concert (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm Dance Company (Dean College Main Stage Theater)

5:30pm dayTREAT featuring "SLOW BURN" (Pour Richard's Wine & Provisions)

7:30pm Dance Company (Dean College Main Stage Theater)

8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)

***  NO Town Meetings today   ***

----------

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar