Giving Rye is a feature series highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Jackie Jenkins of the Rye Historical Society.
Your Name: Jackie Jenkins
Name of your organization: Rye Historical Society
Your role: President, Board of Trustees
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission
Jenkins: The Rye Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to researching, preserving and celebrating the unique historic heritage of Rye. We bring together people interested in local history and collect and preserve materials that illustrate the area’s past. We are committed to protecting historic buildings, monuments and markers throughout the community. Through educational programs and public outreach, we foster awareness of and pride in Rye’s historical legacy.
How long have you operated in or around Rye?
Jenkins: The Rye Historical Society was founded 61 years ago, in 1964, by a few Rye citizens, to preserve, restore and protect the Square House. It has grown in its scope and importance each year as an accredited museum and well respected historical society. Last May we celebrated our 60th with a fun 60’s themed gala.
What programming or work is the organization best known for?
Jenkins: The Rye Historical Society is best known for the Square House on Purchase Street, our walking tours of Rye, and our exhibits. All of our programming, exhibits and events are constantly evolving, keeping our offerings current.
- We have been leading fascinating walking tours for over twenty years, featuring different geographical areas throughout Rye such as Milton Point (Walk Old Mill Town), The Kirby Mill Pond, Wainwrights & Their Houses, Downtown Rye, to name but a few. In July we launched a new tour, From the Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties – Trolley Tour & Picnic, which took participants on a historic, renovated New Orleans trolley car, through Rye’s past – its’ summer resorts, the railroad era and early 20th-century waterfront evolution- culminating in a picnic at our historic property on Milton Point, The Timothy Knapp House. This was very popular and we will run it again in 2026.
- The Square House is a local landmark standing at the gateway to downtown Rye. Circa 1730, it has been restored and maintained by the Historical Society for more than 60 years. Permanent exhibits illustrating our colonial history, especially during the Revolutionary period, are on display year round while we host other exciting exhibits, all with historic importance. In March 2025 we opened the major exhibit “The Unforgiving Yardstick: Women’s Roles and Struggles” in Westchester County with artist Fleur Spolidor, and received grant support from ArtsWestchester. The exhibit will be open until March 2026. In addition we will open another smaller exhibit at the end of November, “Life, Literacy, and Legacy: Barbara Bush.” Barbara Bush spent her early years growing up in Rye and returned in 2003 to serve as the Honorary Chair of the Rye Free Reading Room capital campaign. 2025 is the 100th Anniversary of her birth and the US Postal Service is honoring her lifetime of championing literacy for families with a Barbara Bush Forever postage stamp.
- We expanded our youth and school-based programs at our historic sites. In addition to Square House tours, our “A Look into Colonial Life” and “Colonial Communication” programs invite students to interact with colonial-era activities and artifacts. We also brought our curriculum into classrooms through “Native Americans of New York: The Land and the People are One,” a station-based activity for students to learn about Iroquois & Algonquian peoples.
Looking forward to 2026, what will be your top initiatives?
Jenkins: We have two top initiatives this year. The first is our obligation to fully restore our 17th century property on Milton Point, the Timothy Knapp House. This house, c.1670, is on the National Registry for Historic Places and a City of Rye landmark. While work has been completed to temporarily shore up the building over the last 10 years, we want to completely restore the building and its surrounding property for use by the community. Our vast archives will continue to be stored there and these include maps, photographs, census data, manuscripts, and letters all pertaining to local history.
Another initiative this coming year will focus primarily on our country’s Semiquincentennial, or the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Revolutionary Rye 250 (RR250) is a committee of the Rye Historical Society, inspired by Revolutionary Westchester 250, focused on the enduring legacy of the American Revolution, with a special emphasis on our local narrative.
- For the past four years we have hosted a casual outdoor event at the Knapp House to raise funds and awareness for the upcoming restoration project. This vital fundraiser was a huge success this year, largely due to the generous triple match granted to us from an anonymous donor
- We began programming and events for the 250th early last year and will continue with more community-driven initiatives such as “A Debate for the Ages” led by Rye High students exploring the perspectives of Loyalist vs Patriot families in Rye. We hosted another student debate, this time with students from Rye Country Day School, at the Rye Free Reading Room this fall, in affiliation with RR250, and led by Clemmie Everett, US Humanities Dept. Chair, “Framing the Constitution: From Crisis to Closure.”
- Our lecture series has been expanded this year and we will continue to add lectures throughout the upcoming year. On Sunday Nov. 23rd Howard Husock will present a lecture “Slavery in my Neighborhood” at the Rye Free Reading Room. His talk amongst others, including book talks are scheduled for the year.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Jenkins: We serve Rye and surrounding towns/cities. Everyone can find something of interest on our website or through our social media. Joining Rye Historical Society as a member brings more information via newsletters and mailings. We bring our programs to our Rye elementary schools and beyond with two educators throughout the spring and fall.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Jenkins: Yes we are a 501c3 with tax exempt status.
Looking back across 2025, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Jenkins: I’m happy to say that during 2025 we added new, timely exhibits, continued to update our educational programming for schools, added new content to our tours, website and classroom visits.
- Keeping history alive and fresh is a challenge that we have met by the “Yardstick” exhibit and updated tours
- Expanded our membership to reach more people of all ages
- Continued to offer favorite events like “Slightly Spooky Square House” and our Annual Ladies Spring Luncheon.
How can local residents support your organization?
Jenkins: Local residents can support us by becoming a member of the Historical Society, attending our events, volunteering with us as a docent, tour guide, researcher, or by donating to our campaigns.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Jenkins: I’d rather not list names of any sort, but what I will say is that someone who donates $20 to our annual appeal over decades is every bit as important to us as someone who donates a one-time gift of $20,000. There are so many worthy, important organizations in our town, we always feel honored when someone chooses to support us in any way, especially during difficult economic times.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Jenkins: In June I will complete my third year as president of the board. I was vice president for the previous three years, and have served several terms on the board over the past 18 years.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Jenkins: This is a volunteer position. I have always enjoyed history and believe knowing our history is critical to understanding our past and finding ways to create the best future for our children, communities and country.
Where did you grow up?
Jenkins: I grew up in Pelham Manor, attending public schools there, and then lived in Manhattan until we moved to Rye in 1999. We have lived in the same house since our move to Rye on Milton Point.
What principles guide you when you have to make a difficult decision?
Jenkins: Truth and honesty first and foremost.
Thanks Jackie!
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