Bowne House Historical Society Presents
“The Portrait of Mrs. Parsons”
During Open House New York Weekend, visit Bowne House for FREE self-guided tours of the home and a special exhibit featuring the newly conserved 1909 painting of Mary (Mitchell) Parsons, painted by Edwin B. Child.
Date: Saturday, October 19th, 2024
Open Access Hours: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Self-guided Tours: About 30 minutes in duration. Due to the small size of the historic rooms, a limited number of people are allowed in the house at one time. Guests are admitted on a rotating basis.
No pre-registration required. All guests will be asked to check in upon arrival.
Exhibit Description: The portrait of Mrs. Parsons will be hung next to the portrait of her husband Robert Bowne Parsons, also painted by Child. Mary’s husband Robert was a documented Underground Railroad agent and fundraiser, who actively assisted freedom seekers passing through Flushing. Mary, no doubt, knew of her husband’s activities and may have even assisted him. Personal items relating to Mary and her ancestors in the collection, such as samplers and correspondence, will also be on display.
Mrs. Parsons was also committed to preserving and protecting the c.1661 Bowne House, the oldest house in Queens and one of the oldest extant buildings in New York State. In 1886 when it was put up for auction, the house was saved from being sold through Mary’s intervention. In her 1915 will, she requested that the Bowne House remain as the family home which it did until 1945; it was opened two years later in 1947 as a museum to educate the public.
Conservation Work: The restoration of the 1909 portrait of Mary (Mitchell) Parsons was undertaken by conservators at the Williamstown (Massachusetts) Art Conservation Center, who conserved both the painting and its original, early 20th-century frame. The conservation of the painting and frame was supported through the NYSCA/GHNN Conservation Treatment Grant Program administered by Greater Hudson Heritage Network. The program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.