named programs · 3 · from sources
what they call their work
Educational Lectures
Lectures and presentations on American history, particularly the American Revolution and the Battle of Brandywine, often illustrated with items from the collection.
Museum Exhibits
Display of Christian C. Sanderson's collection of historical relics, artifacts, and memorabilia, covering various aspects of American history, culture, and local life.
Square Dances
Community square dances with live music and instruction, historically led by Christian C. Sanderson and his band, the Pocopson Valley Boys.
activities · 12 clusters
what they do
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Historic Battlefield Education & Advocacy 8 activities
- Advocacy for Historical PreservationAdvocated for the creation of the Brandywine Battlefield State Park to commemorate the Battle of the Brandywine and preserve its history.
- Advocacy for Historical PreservationAdvocated for the creation of the Brandywine Battlefield State Park to commemorate the Battle of the Brandywine and preserve its history.
- Advocacy for Historical PreservationAdvocated for the creation of the Brandywine Battlefield State Park to commemorate the Battle of the Brandywine and preserve its history.
- Advocate for historical preservationAdvocated for the creation of the Brandywine Battlefield State Park to preserve the history and significance of the Battle of the Brandywine.
- Deliver educational programs and lecturesProvides educational outreach through lectures on American history, particularly the American Revolution and the Battle of the Brandywine, delivered to students at Chadds Ford School.
- Educational Lectures and OutreachLectures to classes at Chadds Ford School on American history, particularly the American Revolution and the Battle of the Brandywine.
- Educational Lectures and ProgramsLectures to classes at Chadds Ford School on American history, particularly the American Revolution and the Battle of the Brandywine, and documents the lives of the Wyeth family to demonstrate the value of everyday history.
- Educational Lectures and ProgramsLectures to classes at Chadds Ford School on American history, particularly the American Revolution and the Battle of the Brandywine, and hosts an annual essay contest for high school students.
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Historical Collections & Archives Management 4 activities
- Maintain archival and genealogical collectionsMaintains an archival collection including original Civil War letters, a Family Name Index for genealogical research, and thousands of historical artifacts. These collections document local and national history and are preserved for public and scholarly access.
- Maintaining Historical CollectionsMaintains a collection of thousands of artifacts related to local Chadds Ford history and American history, including original letters from Civil War soldiers, autographs from historical figures, and items from various wars, ensuring their accessibility for future generations.
- Maintaining Historical CollectionsMaintains a collection of thousands of artifacts related to local Chadds Ford history and American history, including original letters from Civil War soldiers, autographs from historical figures, and items from various wars, original sketches and paintings from the Wyeth family, and Jennie Wade's change purse.
- Maintaining Historical CollectionsMaintains a collection of thousands of artifacts related to local Chadds Ford history and American history, including original letters from Civil War soldiers, autographs from historical figures, and items from various wars and the Wyeth family, preserving them for future generations.
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Museum Membership Benefits Program 4 activities
- Military Family Admission ProgramOffers free admission to active-duty military personnel and up to five family members through the Blue Star Museums Program, from May 20 to September 4.
- Military Family Admission ProgramProvides free admission to active-duty military personnel and up to five family members through the Blue Star Museums Program, from May 20 to September 4.
- Military Personnel Admission ProgramOffers free admission to active-duty military personnel and up to five family members through the Blue Star Museums Program during specific periods.
- Provide community-accessible admission policiesOffers "Pay as You Wish" admission on the first Sunday of each month and provides free admission to active-duty military personnel and up to five family members through the Blue Star Museums Program from May 20 to September 4.
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Historic House Museum Operations 4 activities
- Operate historic house museum with public toursOperates a historic house museum with eight rooms open for public tours, featuring over 3,000 artifacts related to Chadds Ford and American history. The museum is open on weekends from 12pm to 4pm, starting March 1, 2026.
- Operating a Historic House MuseumOperates a historic house museum with eight rooms open for public tours, featuring a collection of over 3,000 artifacts spanning more than 200 years, and is open on weekends from 12pm to 4pm, starting March 1, 2026, with "Pay as You Wish" admission on the first Sunday of each month.
- Operating a Historic House MuseumOperates a historic house museum with eight rooms open for public tours, featuring a collection of over 3,000 artifacts spanning more than 200 years, and is open on weekends from 12pm to 4pm with "Pay as You Wish" admission on the first Sunday of each month.
- Operating a Historic House MuseumOperates a historic house museum with eight rooms open for public tours, featuring a collection of over 3,000 artifacts spanning more than 200 years, and is open on weekends from 12pm to 4pm, starting March 1, 2026, with "Pay as You Wish" admission on the first Sunday of each month.
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Student Essay and Art Contests 3 activities
- Administer youth engagement and essay contestHosts an annual essay contest for high school students in grades 9–12 from local schools, offering cash prizes to encourage engagement with history.
- Annual Essay ContestHosts an annual essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12 from specific local schools, offering cash prizes.
- Annual High School Essay ContestHosts an annual essay contest for high school students in grades 9-12 from specific local schools, offering cash prizes.
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Museum Volunteer Operations Support 3 activities
- Operate with volunteer staffing and governanceThe museum is operated primarily by volunteers, supported by the Board of Directors, and has been volunteer-run since its founding in 1967.
- Volunteer Staffing and EngagementOperates the museum primarily through volunteer staffing, a tradition since its founding in 1967.
- Volunteer Staffing and OperationsOperates the museum primarily through volunteer staffing, a practice since its founding in 1967.
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Genealogy Research Support & Education 3 activities
- Providing Genealogical Research ResourcesProvides a Family Name Index to support genealogical research.
- Providing Genealogical Research ResourcesProvides a Family Name Index to support genealogical research.
- Providing Genealogical Research ResourcesProvides a Family Name Index to support genealogical research.
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Museum Exhibits & Collections Stewardship 2 activities
- Display historical artifacts and curated collectionsDisplays curated collections including a framed map of Chester County with artwork by Andrew Wyeth, hundreds of autographs from historical figures, a baseball signed by famous players, and personal artifacts such as Jennie Wade’s change purse from the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Preserving Historical ArtifactsPreserves historical artifacts and ensures their accessibility for future generations through the work of the Board of Directors and volunteer guides, emphasizing the personal connection to history and art.
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Community Art Exhibitions & Festivals 1 activity
- Host public events and cultural performancesHosts public events including tribute band performances, country dances (square, contra, and round), and historical re-creations such as the 2014 Pocopson Valley Boys tribute on the museum porch.
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Religious Call-in and Talk Programs 1 activity
- Radio Broadcasting of Historical ContentHosted a weekly radio show discussing travels and history, including a program "Old Folks at Home" on WDEL in Wilmington from 1930 to 1940, as part of a broadcasting career spanning 43 years.
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Folk & Traditional Music Festivals 1 activity
- Supporting Traditional Music and DanceOrganized country dances with his band, the Pocopson Valley Boys, made a record album of square dance music in 1950, and founded and supported The Old Fiddlers’ Picnic since 1928.
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Uncategorized 5 activities
- Conduct historical research and public art projectsConducted Projected in Place, a historical research and conceptual art project that projected historic images to real-life scale onto original locations, blending research with public engagement.
- Historical Research and Art ProjectsConducts historical research and conceptual art projects, such as "Projected in Place" which projected historic images onto original locations, and collaborated on a "Map of Historical Chester County" with Andrew Wyeth.
- Historical Research and Art ProjectsConducts historical research and conceptual art projects, such as "Projected in Place" which projects historic images onto original locations, and collaborated on a "Map of Historical Chester County" with Andrew Wyeth.
- Historical Research and Art ProjectsConducts historical research and conceptual art projects, such as "Projected in Place," which projects historic images to real-life scale onto original locations, and collaborated on a "Map of Historical Chester County" with Andrew Wyeth.
- Preserving Historical Memory and Personal ConnectionsDocuments the lives of local figures, including the Wyeth family, and emphasizes the personal connection to history and art to preserve historical memory.
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financials · form 990PF · fy2020
the money
revenue
Total revenue$548K
Contributions & grants$116K21%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$128K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out$404K
balance sheet
Total assets$8.17M
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$8.17M
1 years on record · 2020–2020
relationships · 24
who they work with
- 6ABC news Partner — Featured the museum on its "One Tank Trip" segment.
- American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia Partner — Jim Christ, Vice President of the American Revolution Round Table of Philadelphia, serves on the museum's Board of Directors.
- Andrew Wyeth Partner — Andrew Wyeth was a close friend and collaborator of Christian C. Sanderson, continuing his father's support and collaborating on the "Map of Historical Chester County."
- Andrew Wyeth Partner — Drew the historical map of Chester County displayed at the museum.
- Blue Star Families Partner — Sponsors the Blue Star Museums Program, which the museum participates in.
- Board of Directors Partner — Works to preserve and maintain access to the museum's collection
- Boy Scouts of America Partner — Chris Sanderson's first radio broadcast in 1923 was for the Boy Scouts of America on station WFI in Philadelphia.
- Brandywine Valley Civil War Round Table Partner — Jim Christ, Vice President of the Brandywine Valley Civil War Round Table, serves on the museum's Board of Directors.
- Chadds Ford School Partner — Chris Sanderson lectured to classes and held country dances in its auditorium.
- Chester County 250th Committee Partner — Jim Christ, member of the Chester County 250th Committee, serves on the museum's Board of Directors.
- Harry Scheidter Partner — Donated a signed baseball to Chris Sanderson on the 100th Anniversary of Baseball.
- Historical Military Impressions Partner — Jim Christ, Treasurer of Historical Military Impressions, serves on the museum's Board of Directors.
- Junior Achievement of Delaware Partner — Hollie Gorman, a Board member of Junior Achievement of Delaware, serves on the museum's Board of Directors.
- N.C. Wyeth Partner — N.C. Wyeth was a close friend of Christian C. Sanderson, helped him financially, and collaborated on projects.
- N.C. Wyeth Partner — Painted the "Chads' Ford Barber Shop" sign displayed at the museum.
- NC Wyeth family Partner — Preserves and displays photographs, original paintings, and sketches related to the NC Wyeth family through their friendship with Christian Sanderson.
- National Endowment for the Arts Partner — Sponsors the Blue Star Museums Program, which the museum participates in.
- Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund Partner — Jim Christ, President of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund, serves on the museum's Board of Directors.
- Paoli Memorial Association Partner — Jim Christ, board member of the Paoli Memorial Association, serves on the museum's Board of Directors.
- Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) Partner — Featured the museum in an episode of its show "It's History!"
- Pocopson Valley Boys Partner — Chris Sanderson's band that played music for country dances and entertained troops.
- The Pocopson Valley Boys Partner — Chris Sanderson organized his own country band, The Pocopson Valley Boys, in 1932 to perform at dances and other events.
- U.S. Department of Defense Partner — Sponsors the Blue Star Museums Program, which the museum participates in.
- Wells Fargo Advisors Partner — Dean Camp, a Managing Director – Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors, serves on the museum's Board of Directors.