04/25/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2025
Federal Grant for Robbins House Museum Terminated Under Executive Order Aimed at “Reducing Federal Bureaucracy”
Concord, MA — The Robbins House, a historic site dedicated to preserving and interpreting Concord’s Black history and the legacy of freedom, has received formal notification that its federal funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been terminated effective April 8, 2025. The decision, issued by IMLS Acting Director Keith Sonderling, comes under the directive of Executive Order 14238—“Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy”—signed by President Trump on March 14, 2025.
According to an IMLS memorandum dated April 8, the termination aligns with the agency’s “updated priorities” under the current administration. The letter states:
"IMLS has determined that your grant is unfortunately no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program. IMLS is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the President’s agenda."
The order authorizes the immediate cessation of all listed federal grants, including the one awarded to the Robbins House for its educational programming and exhibits highlighting African American resistance, resilience, and civic contributions throughout Massachusetts history.
The Robbins House is more than just a museum—it is a living archive of Black freedom and perseverance. Located across from the North Bridge in Concord, it tells the stories of residents such as Caesar Robbins, a formerly enslaved man and Patriot of Color who fought in the Revolutionary War, and his descendants who became leaders in abolitionism and civil rights. Most notably, Ellen Garrison worked to ensure that all Black and Brown citizens had access to education that would help them be successful.
"This action is more than a bureaucratic decision—it is a signal about whose stories are deemed expendable," said Nikki Turpin, Board Chair of the Robbins House. "Our work amplifies voices that have too often been marginalized. The loss of this grant imperils not just our programming but the broader mission of reckoning with the full history of our nation."
The Robbins House had been utilizing IMLS funding to hire full-time staff and expand its youth programming, community engagement events, and digital exhibits—initiatives that have become vital to educators, students, and visitors exploring untold histories of Black life in early New England.
In a moment where the national discourse increasingly demands honest, inclusive storytelling, the termination of this grant raises pressing questions about the federal government’s commitment to historical truth and equity. The Robbins House urges supporters, educators, and community members to stand with institutions preserving African American heritage and all those who fought for freedom. Together we can advocate for the protection of our shared history as we celebrate all the people who built our great nation.
For more information, contact Jen Turner, Executive Director of The Robbins House at [email protected] or 312-401-0898 or Board President Nikki Turpin at [email protected] or at 508-353-2391.
