About

Mission

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms’ mission is to develop, demonstrate, and deepen connections between history, design, lifestyle, and the natural environment, through the preservation of Craftsman Farms and the presentation of the ideals of Gustav Stickley and the Arts and Crafts movement in America.

Land Acknowledgement

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms acknowledges that it is situated in Lenapehoking (homelands of the Lenape) on land that is within the traditional territory of the Munsee Lenape. The Lenape were the first farmers, artists, makers and caretakers of this land and we honor and respect their past, present and future.

DEAI Statement

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms values and celebrates the unique qualities, perspectives, and attributes inherent in everyone.  We strive to be a museum that is welcoming and accessible to all who visit, work, or volunteer here.  Because diversity and inclusion are drivers of institutional excellence, at every level of the organization we endeavor to create an environment that fosters diversity of participation, thought, and action.  Our goal is that our staff, members, partners, key stakeholders, and audiences reflect and embrace these core values.

History

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms (SMCF) is a National Historic Landmark and historic house museum, located on the campus of Craftsman Farms in Parsippany, New Jersey. Built by Gustav Stickley between 1908 and 1917 as the most complete expression of his “Craftsman” style, the campus of Craftsman Farms provides an unmatched opportunity to experience Stickley’s ideas about the impact of architecture, design, and landscape on a meaningful life.  In partnership with the owner of the property, the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, which rescued Craftsman Farms from private development in 1989, the museum works to interpret, preserve, and protect its original landscape and buildings, including the Log House, which remains the heart of the property.  Now in its 35th year, the Museum continues to serve its neighboring community, history and heritage tourists, and design, craft, and architecture audiences from the across the United States and abroad.

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms is situated on the remaining thirty acres of Craftsman Farms’ original 650-acre campus. Its original buildings include the Log House, which was the Stickley family home, and three cottages. The original farm buildings include the horse barn, dairy house, and the remains of the cow barn (which was partially destroyed by fire in the 1970s). An original garage building now serves as the museum’s administrative office, library, and multi-use Education Center. The Annex, which is currently being rebuilt after severe damage from Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020, is adjacent to the Log House. It was an exterior dining pavilion in Stickley’s era, and later enclosed by the second owners of the property. When construction is completed, it will re-open as the museum’s visitor pavilion and home of The Craftsman Shop.

Site Map

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, Inc. (SMCF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of New Jersey. Established in 1989, it was formerly named The Craftsman Farms Foundation, Inc.  

Craftsman Farms, the former home of noted designer Gustav Stickley, is owned by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills and is operated by The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, Inc., (“SMCF”) (formerly known as The Craftsman Farms Foundation, Inc.). SMCF is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization incorporated in the State of New Jersey. Restoration of the National Historic Landmark, Craftsman Farms, is made possible, in part, by a Save America’s Treasures Grant administered by the National Parks Service, Department of the Interior, and by support from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust, The New Jersey Historic Trust, and individual donors. SMCF received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State and a grant from the New Jersey Arts & Culture Recovery Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. Educational programs are funded, in part, by grants from the Arts & Crafts Research Fund.

Staff

Vonda K. Givens
Executive Director

Dr. Jonathan Clancy
Director of Collections and Preservation

Parker Sanchez
Manager of Membership and Visitor Services

Meghan Fletcher
Assistant Manager of Member and Visitor Services

Samuel Calabrese
Assistant Manager of Programs and Communications

Beth Arena
Events Coordinator

Susie Traverso
Office Manager

Board of Trustees

Barbara A. Weiskittel, President
Theodore Lytwyn, Vice-President
Robert C. Burchell, Treasurer
Marti Weinstein, Secretary

Dianne Ayres
Mayor James R. Barberio, Ex-Officio

Dr. Donald Davidoff
Frank Giebfried
Dorothy Guzzo
Jasmine Lim
Michael McCracken
Cynthia Glesmann McGinn, MD

Brad E. Muniz, CPA
Michelle LaConto-Munn
Councilman Justin Musella, Ex-Officio
David T. Musselman, Esq
Laura Daly Russell
Jill Thomas-Clark

Trustee Emeriti

Barbara N. Fuldner

David Lowden, Esq.

Advisory Council

Alexandra Arnold
Robert C. Burchell
David Cathers
Dr. Mitchell Codding
Elaine Ellis
Frank Finkenberg
Barbara N. Fuldner
Don Hafner

John Harper
Edwin Heinle
Suzanne Jones
Lynn Leeb
David Lowden, Esq.
Peter Mars
Catherine Mathis

Thomas Menard
David Rudd
Ray Stubblebine
Mark E. Weaver
Davey Willans
Nancy Willans
JoAnn Young

Financial Statements

Job Opportunities:

No job opportunities are available currently at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms.

Internship Opportunities:

No internship opportunities are available currently at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms.

Volunteers provide essential support for the museum's everyday activities. The Stickley Museum is currently seeking volunteer docents. Volunteers are also needed for special events and interpretive programs. 

Our Docent Program:

Volunteer docents give guided tours of the Log House, the central building at Craftsman Farms, lasting roughly 75 minutes. Docents should expect to be at the museum 2.5 hours total when giving a tour, to accommodate updates from staff, pre-tour assistance with visitors, the guided tour, post-tour questions with visitors, and wrap-up with staff. The Introductory Tour tells the "who, what, when, where, and why" of Craftsman Farms. The Introductory Tour provides visitors with a general overview of Gustav Stickley, his life and work, his business endeavors, his mindset, and his ambitions. Docents additionally help facilitate Open House days and specialty tours including Children and Family Tours, school tours, and private group events. Docents adhere to SMCF policies and procedures while facilitating a safe, positive, and engaging experience for museum visitors.

This is a volunteer position with the amount of volunteer commitment ranging from once a month to every week. This position will facilitate visitor engagement, connecting visitors to the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms’ collections and encouraging visitors to explore and discover more about the history of the early 20th century, decorative arts, the Arts and Crafts Movement, and Gustav Stickley.

Volunteer Docent Skills and Responsibilities:

  • Effective communication skills, patience, and approachable nature.
  • Completion of The Stickley Seminar, consisting of six weekly, 2 hour sessions, held on site at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms.
  • Additional research and reading on off-time, including familiarizing self with collections items via the online collections database.
  • Adherence to SMCF volunteer policy and procedures handbook.