Staff Contacts
Laura Carpenter
Director
Laura Carpenter began her tenure as Van Cortlandt House Museum’s Director in September of 1994. During her time as Director, Laura has had the privilege of helping The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York celebrate both the 100th anniversary of their stewardship of Van Cortlandt House as a public museum and the 250th anniversary of the construction of the house.
Laura’s somewhat unusual professional and scholarly career that led to her appointment as Director of Van Cortlandt House has served her well. While an undergraduate student in American Studies at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, OH, Laura was selected to attend the Preservation Institute in Nantucket, MA, where she cut her teeth in the field of preservation. This specialized study led to a graduate assistantship in the university archives during her pursuit of a Master’s Degree in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame. While working in the Notre Dame archives, Laura was assigned to create finding aids for researchers, and catalogue the extensive collection of original blueprints and architectural documents. Upon graduating from Notre Dame, Laura was hired to establish an archive at Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury, New York. The archival materials at Old Westbury Gardens included a large collection of architectural drawings, watercolor renderings, and construction specifications for Westbury House and its extensive ornamental gardens.
Laura’s tenure at Van Cortlandt House has seen a wide range of projects, including restoration of the West Bed Chamber, rehabilitation of the slate roof, and the replacement of the oil-fired heating system and underground oil tank. Perhaps the most challenging project has been the ongoing restoration of the former Dining Room, which has included the discovery of 75 years of period wallpaper and a fragment of original 18th century paneling surrounding a previously unknown exterior door. Laura has also been privileged to have been Director of Van Cortlandt House when two very important gifts were made to the Museum’s collections: A memorial bequest of further pieces of the Van Cortlandt family’s Chinese export porcelain dinner service to compliment those previously given to the Museum in 1972, and the gift of a circa-1760 Van Cortlandt family New York five-legged card table that was itself used in Van Cortlandt House. Laura has worked with New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts Conservation Center and Columbia University’s graduate program in historic preservation to bring graduate students into the working classroom that is Van Cortlandt House. These students have provided valuable scholarly research into the preservation issues and architectural history of Van Cortlandt House.
In addition to her professional interest in the 18th century, Laura is also a fledgling Colonial-era re-enactor. She enjoys sharing her love for and knowledge of everyday life in the 18th century with the public at Van Cortlandt House and other historic sites such as Federal Hall, Saint Paul’s Church in Mount Vernon, New York, and Thomas Paine Cottage in New Rochelle, New York.
Laura.Carpenter@vancortlandthouse.org
Michael J. Grillo:
Education Coordinator
Michael joined the staff of Van Cortlandt House Museum in May of 2000. While he wasn’t the first to hold the then part-time position of Museum Educator, Michael gave the job his imprint starting on day one. The popularity of his school programs over the next 5 years proved the need for a full-time Museum Educator and the position was established in 2007. In addition to developing, scheduling, and teaching hands-on history school programs, Michael is also responsible for coordinating public programs such as group tours, after school programs, and public outreach.
Michael’s love of 18th century history began in Brooklyn where he now presently lives. Growing up at the time of the bi-centennial, Michael developed a curiosity and thirst for knowledge about the handful of American Revolutionary War relics that survived in Brooklyn. This led him, later in life, to the hobby of Revolutionary War reenacting in which he has been active since 1994.
Michael’s expertise and continued thirst for knowledge and authenticity has led his interest in the Colonial era well beyond the hobby stage. His professional work at Van Cortlandt House is complimented by his personal development and research of hands-on living history interpretations, first person personal, and period correct clothing. His reputation as a regimental and gentleman’s tailor has been honed one garment at a time and through workshops with Colonial Williamsburg’s Master Tailor Mark Hutter and also with Henry Cooke, IV. Michael has also been called upon to create period clothing for The History Channel, Trenton Barracks, and Thomas Paine Cottage in New Rochelle, New York.
In addition to his work on site at Van Cortlandt House, Michael also represents the Museum through his first-person portrayal of George Washington, British and Continental 18th century officers, at various historic reenactments, schools and museums. In this capacity, Michael has participated in events at Fraunces Tavern Museum, The New York Historical Society, Jacob Purdy House, Morris Jumel Mansion, The Conference House, and the New Utrecht Historical Society.
Michael is a member of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, is an official volunteer for Federal Hall and St. Paul’s National Historic Sites, and has been a member of the Brigade of the American Revolution since 1994.
Michael.Grillo@vancortlandthouse.org