The Society for the Preservation of America's Founding Values (SPAFV) is a 501(3)(c) corporation dedicated to the preservation of the values, culture, skills and history of America's founding. To accomplish this mission, SPAFV engages in a broad array of activities. Among these are the development and presentation of educational exhibits, the coordination of reading and discussion groups to encourage the study of America's historical writings, the presentation of lectures and seminars regarding America's founding era, the coordination of historical reenactments and skill demonstrations, and the coordination of internships and apprenticeships that teach the occupational skills of early America.
Mayflower Model SPAFV is in the process of building a scale model of the Mayflower. The model is being constructed on a scale of ¾''=1'. Upon its completion, it will be one of the largest models (if not the largest model) of the Mayflower in existence. This model will form the centerpiece of a travelling exhibit that will educate about the Pilgrim colonists of North America. The exhibit will showcase reconstructions of tools and other artifacts that were common to life in early Colonial America. This exhibit is overseen by John Lundquist, member of the SPAFV Board of Directors. He or another volunteer will accompany the exhibit in its travels. The exhibit will be available to be available to schools and other organizations willing to pay reasonable shipping and docent expenses year round. This activity furthers the SPAFV's exempt purposes by providing education on the skills, values, culture and history of the American Pilgrims. Perhaps ten to twenty percent of the total time of SPAFV will be spent on this exhibit. Of course, as more exhibits are developed, the proportion of total time spend on this exhibit will decline. SPAFV intends to seek funding for this through private donations and fees charged for the display of the exhibit.more
Isaiah Thomas Press SPAFV has commissioned the construction of a replica of the Benjamin Franklin printing press that is on display at the Smithsonian Institution. Built in the early 1700s, the press is typical of printing presses in Colonial America. The exhibit will focus on the technology of typesetting and printing with a common press and teach the important role that a free press played in the American Revolution. This exhibit is overseen by Gove Allen, member of the SPAFV Board of Directors. He or another volunteer will accompany the exhibit in its travels. The exhibit will be available to schools and other organizations willing to pay reasonable shipping and docent expenses year round. This activity furthers the SPAFV's exempt purposes by providing education on about the skills of printing with a common letter press and about the critical role that the press played in the founding of America. Perhaps ten to twenty percent of the total time of SPAFV will be spent on this exhibit. Of course, as more exhibits are developed, the proportion of total time spend on this exhibit will decline. SPAFV intends to seek funding for this through private donations and fees charged for the display of the exhibit.more
SPAFV coordinates and helps to establish community groups to encourage the reading and discussion of America's historical documents. For example, the Federalist Papers and the Anti-federalist Papers were publications that made the argument for and against the adoption of America's current constitution. The study and discussion of these documents can help Americans today understand the issues that were of most concern to our founding generation regarding the establishment of a strong federal government. These documents were written in a language style that is foreign to most contemporary readers. By providing recommended reading schedules, discussion questions, and materials to help modern readers read and grasp federal-period writings, SPAFV hopes to encourage small, community-based groups to undertake independent study of such founding documents. These discussion groups will be conducted year-round by volunteers and held in homes or community meeting places throughout the nation. This activity furthers the mission of SPAFV by helping people to educate themselves about the history and founding documents of America. Approximately 10 percent of the total time of SPAFV will be spent on this project. SPAFV intends to seek funding for this through private donations.
SPAFV sponsors lectures, seminars and workshops about the values, culture, skills, and history of America's founding era. Such events may be coordinated with universities and other educationally-focused organizations to educate adults about the sacrifices that early Americans made to provide today's population with the freedoms we enjoy. These events will also seek to inspire individuals to engage in community-based educational activities to increase exposure an awareness of the history surrounding America's founding. Lectures, seminars and workshops will be coordinated and presented year-round by SPAFV volunteers. Depending on the venue, they will be offered either free of charge or for a fee. An honorarium may be paid to presenters and presentation locations are not limited geographically. Perhaps ten to twenty percent of the total time of SPAFV will be spent in this activity, which supports SPAFV's mission by providing direct educational experiences for individuals. SPAFV intends to seek funding for this through private donations and government grants.
SPAFV sponsors the Colonial Heritage Festival, the largest colonial living and reenactment event west of the Mississippi River. SPAFV currently provides an exhibit of a working 18th century bakery that demonstrates the manner in which bread was made and baked in colonial-era, wood-fired ovens. SPAFV also runs the exhibit that represents the Isaiah Thomas Print Shop from the late 1770s in Worcester, Massachusetts. SPAFV seeks to support such non-profit events and to expand its offering of educational, historic reenactment. Historical reenactments are not limited by time of year or by geographical location. They will be performed by volunteers who may or may not receive an honorarium or be reimbursed for expenses incurred. This activity supports SPAFV's mission by helping people see and experience the skills and craftsmanship of early American history. People are amazed by the skills of 18th century craftsmen and artisans. SPAFV believes that this amazement can inspire individuals to seek to learn more about American history and as such, this activity contributes directly to SPAFV's goals. This activity is funded through contributions of time by society members. SPAFV intends to seek funding for this through private donations and government grants.more
SPAFV seeks to help individuals who have developed skills peculiar to America's founding era to pass those skills on to others. One way to preserve these skills is to help them to be passed onto younger individuals. SPAFV seeks to match skilled artisans and craftsmen with eager young individuals for the purposing of learning trade and artistic skills. This activity will happen year-round without regard to geographic location. Volunteers will coordinate the activity, which directly supports SPAFV's mission by connecting experienced skill holders with eager learners. SPAFV intends to fund this activity through private donations and fees charged and fees charged for participation.