“We appreciate all John Brown Lives! does to make John Brown’s farm an important and successful memorial. It is a very special place for so many of us.”

A highlight of my return to the tri-lakes from Taiwan each summer is visiting the John Brown Farm…. As we mark the 250th anniversary of our nation, your work increases in significance.

“The Robert Shetterly Exhibit is extraordinary on so many levels. The subjects cover a wide breadth of our history into the world that we live in today. All the works are done in such detail that it speaks truth when I view each one of the works. Thank you for this wonderful inspiration.”

“JBL! keeps coming up with relevant and thought-provoking displays! I hope to get up to see Americans Who Tell The Truth” before the snow flies.”

Visiting The John Brown Farm and meeting all of you was one of the most rewarding and helpful parts of our work with the Colgate University Upstate Institute Fellowship Program. It was exactly what we hoped for. We were particularly impressed by the way you connected with the students, provided background information, talked about your mission, and encouraged them to be engaged in making a difference. It was very helpful for them to hear this message from someone in their generation. 

The [Good Trouble Lives On] event at John Brown Farm was uplifting and such a wonderful, positive thing to participate in, while all we hear about is shit, shit, shit. Thanks, Martha. You did our hearts good. And the Shetterly portraits totally rocked my socks off.

Melissa E.

“We had such a lovely time visiting the author tables, working our way through the story walks, seeing library pals at their booths, eating our picnic lunch, and catching bits from the talks under the tent. Raúl the Third drew his Little Lobo character on the flyleaf of one of his books for my daughter Juniper, and it blew her mind…The authors were all so generous about their work and process. It’s very heartwarming and likely powerful for published authors to bring a spirit of encouragement and permission to tell stories.”

“I appreciate the sculpture, Timbuctoo museum, trails, picnic area, gardens, and beauty of John Brown Farm. It is a place for quiet reflection. But I return again and again not only for these ongoing expressions but because of the new and challenging contributions: the Harriet Tubman sculpture last year and this year’s Americans Who Tell the Truth exhibit. I spent a long time reading and admiring the portraits. Thank you for the work of making the historic site one that helps us grow. And thank you to John Brown Lives! for this collaboration. Other historic sites could learn from this effort.”

“The homeschoolers look forward to learning from all of you again in the future. Thank you SO MUCH for a truly amazing day that I feel these kids will remember for the rest of their lives….I LOOOOOOOOOVE the way you work with young people and elevate their voices! ”

“I can’t begin to thank you for providing such a rich and dynamic experience for my students! I can attest that everyone walked away feeling more invested in the story of John Brown and of Timbuctoo. And the kids all raved about the session with Loree! …. I hope to bring an even larger group next year!”

“It was a wonderful experience, and I thank you for inviting me. Congratulations on such a vibrant, well-attended 25th anniversary celebration! John Brown Lives! clearly has a big local (and regional) fan base. Your community felt uncommon in a very good way.”

“We are all implicated when we allow other people to be mistreated. An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation … we all need mercy, we all need justice, and—perhaps—we all need some measure of unmerited grace.”

“I wanted to thank you [JBL!] for another awesome experience. Listening to Janet McFetridge, Lewis Papenfuse and Dr. Barbara Ransby opened my mind and heart so much more. I hope I never stop learning or caring.”