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The Mather Homestead Foundation relies on contributions from community members who are dedicated to the preservation of the Mather Homestead and its important and unique place in Darien's history. Donations support the following: Ongoing maintenance of the Mather Homestead and property, Educational programs, Public tours, and Oversight of the Mather Homestead. HELP US BRING HISTORY TO LIFE! The Mather Homestead Foundation relies on its generous supporters to fund the ongoing operations of the Homestead as well as special projects related to preservation and beautification. We also rely on our volunteers who generously offer their time - get involved! The Mather Homestead Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All gifts to the Mather Homestead are considered tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Annual Fund The Mather Homestead relies on annual contributions from our Mather friends who recognize the importance of the Mather Homestead in our local and national history and are dedicated to the preservation of the 1778 home and surrounding seven acres as a place for historical education. SUPPORT Membership When you become a member of the Homestead your support our mission and help us secure our future. Members enjoy discounted/free tickets to events and free private tours. SUPPORT 1778 Restoration Project In 2022, the Mather Homestead Foundation completed a "Condition Assessment" of the historic house and other buildings on the property. The resulting 152 page document concluded that while the ~250 year old house was well maintained by the Mather-McPherson family, there is still much work to be done to keep the house in shape with projects totaling $400 - $500K. SUPPORT Beautification The Mather Homestead property was originally 100 acres of farmland. The property now consists of seven acres, surrounded by Land Trust property which was also part of the Mather farm. In 2023, The Mather Homestead Foundation hired Heritage Landscapes to conduct a Cultural Landscape Report of the property. The report will provide a better understanding of the property, its history and usage, and inform a Master Plan for the future. The Mather-McPherson family has seeded a fund which will enable us to execute our Master Plan. Please consider a gift to help us plant and beautify the property! Our goal is to create a park like setting to be enjoyed by the community. SUPPORT Sponsor The Mather Homestead Foundation offers many opportunities for sponsorship and appreciates the support of our business sponsors who have contributed with financial and in kind donations. Donors are recognized in various ways - through our events, social media and publicity, and signage at the Homestead. SUPPORT Planned Giving We appreciate individuals who will consider the Mather Homestead in their giving plans through bequest, life insurance beneficiary or trust. Help us to secure the future of the Mather Homestead for another 250 years! SUPPORT Volunteer We welcome the help of volunteers and offer many wants to get involved - join us as a docent, lend us your green thumb, help us plan events ... and more! Thank you to our volunteers! VOLUNTEER T hank you to the McPherson Family The Mather Homestead Foundation thanks the McPherson family (descendants of the Mather Family) for their generous contribution of the Mather Homestead and its six acres of property in 2017, plus an additional acre of property in 2021, for the benefit of the Darien community. The family has maintained and preserved the Mather Homestead for over two and a half centuries. Now, future generations will enjoy the homestead and be educated about its important place in Darien's rich history. Thank you to the Chilton Family The Mather Homestead Foundation thanks the Chilton family whose generous contributions have made possible the creation of the Mather Homestead Foundation in 2017, the building of the Elizabeth W. Chilton Education Center in 2020, the seeding of the new endowment in 2021 which will ensure the long time sustainability of the Mather Homestead, and the creation of the Stephen Tyng Mather exhibit in 2022. Thank you to The Darien Foundation The Darien Foundation proudly supports The Stephen Mather Foundation. "Whether a harvest festival for families or a scholarly lecture over tea in the garden, Mather caters to a range of ages and local constituencies, preserving the past and making history relevant to the future." - Sarah Woodberry, Executive Director, The Darien Foundation Thank you to our grantors We are grateful to CT Humanities, the 1772 Foundation & Preservation CT, Baywater Properties and the First County Bank Foundation for their generous support of the Mather Homestead. T hank you to our Lead Sponsors The Mather Homestead Foundation appreciates the support of Rings End, in kind donor to the 1778 House Restoration Project and BMW of Darien, lead sponsor of the Fall Harvest Festival. Many other sponsors have contributed to various events and projects and we are very grateful. Thank you to our Donors! The Mather Homestead Foundation appreciates the support of the 600 donors who have supported us since inception in 2017. We hope you will help us continue to "bring history to life!" 2024 supporters below.

The Mather Homestead is bringing history to life through educational programs designed for all ages. Come for an event or tour to learn more about the rich history of the Mather family and their home. HOMESTEAD HAPPENINGS There's lots happening at the Homestead! We are bringing history to life through lectures , literary workshops , kids learning & fun , family events including historic reenactments , art-at-mather , music-at-mather , field trips and more! Tour The Mather Homestead Today at 9a, 10a, 11a, 12p, or 1p Apr 21, 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM More info RSVP Records Erased - Professor Chris Brown on Abolition and American Revolution Apr 23, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM More info RSVP Painting Patriotism, Healing Wounds: The Art of Col. John Trumbull with Walter W. Woodward Apr 28, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM More info Details The British are Coming! Revolutionary War Reenactment at The Mather Homestead May 02, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM More info RSVP Field Trip to Yale's Beinecke Library and University Art Gallery May 14, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM More info RSVP It Girl Book Group May 26, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM More info RSVP The Mather Homestead's 6th Annual Garden Tea Jun 04, 2026, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM More info RSVP Celebrate The Summer Solstice with The Mather Homestead Junior Board Jun 13, 2026, 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM More info RSVP Plein Air Week September 14 through 18. Please RSVP for lunch September 16 Sep 14, 2026, 9:00 AM – Sep 18, 2026, 7:00 PM More info RSVP Middlesex Parish Open House Day Date and time is TBD More info RSVP Book a Tour T-Th 9a to 2p More info RSVP Vinyasa Yoga with Mary Ann Wednesday/Saturday 9:30a More info RSVP

The Mather Homestead includes documents related to the Mather family dating back to the 1700s. THE MATHER HOMESTEAD ARCHIVES The Mather Homestead archives includes papers dating back to the 1700s. Thank you to Donn Smith for sorting, organizing, documenting and blogging the many documents that tell the story of the Mather Family. Please note this page is still work in progress ... Summary of Collection Archives 1-10 1- Borax Related Materials 2- Materials Related to Specific National Parks 3- Anniversary events of the National Parks of the National Park Service and Other Organizations 4- Materials Signed by Stephen T. Mather with Will and Photos From 1912 Kern Trip 5- Miscellaneous Newspapers Including NPS Courier 6- Steve Mather of the National Parks Book by Robert Shankland 7- Specific Individuals with Ties to the National Park Service 8- Dedications and Related Materials for: Potomac Gorge, Bear Mountain Park, Redwood Grove, Mather Junior High School, Mather High School, and Tree Planting at Homestead 9- 1977 Annual Meeting Board of National Park Foundation and NPF 1978 Spring Meeting 10- Stephen in Local (Darien) Reporting Archives 11-16 11- Stephen T. Mather Photographs 12- Joseph Wakeman Mather- (father of STM) Box 1 of 3) 13- Box 13a and 13b Joseph Wakeman Mather-Files 2⁄3 14- Miscellaneous 15- Recognitions of STM Including Posthumous Acknowledgements 16- Mather Family Memorabilia Archives 17-23 17- Mather Family Photographs (Other Than STM) 18- Unidentified Photographs 19- American Quilt 20- Horace Marden Albright 21- Books From Mather Homestead Attic Trunks 22- Correspondences of Stephen Mather McPherson and Anne McPherson Tracy 23- Bertha Mather McPherson and Edward McPherson Correspondence Archives 24-28 24- Mather Mountain Party 1915 25- Clothing and Apparel of Early Mathers and Relatives 26- Stephen T. Mather Honorary Degrees and Oversized Photographs and Awards 27- Recognitions and Awards to Bertha Mather McPherson 28- Children’s Books from Attic Trunk Archives 30-33 30- Clothing and Fabric from Homestead Attic 31- A Century of Old Documents 1802-1905 32- Photograph Albums and Loose Photos (Primarily Albums of Bertha Walker Mather) 33- Old Sheets and Woven Fabrics Archives 34-37 34- Floy Books 1 of 2 35- Floy Books 2 of 2 36- Floy Papers and Photographs 37 Floy Papers and Diaries Archives 38-40 38-40 Accordion File Contents- Mather Homestead Safe: In the safe in the basement of the Homestead was an accordion file with 30 pockets, almost all of which had contents. The subjects vary widely but were deemed important enough by Bertha McPherson to have sorted and placed them in the safe. Archives 41-51 41- Magazines/Books/Reports re: STM, National Parks, Homestead 42- Magazines/Reports re National Parks, Mather Homestead 43- Mather Mural Santa Fe NM 44- Stephen Tyng Prints 45- Old Darien Maps 46- Ted Mack Family Hour Record 47- Architectural Monographs 48- Joseph Mather Writings 49- Art Portfolios 50- Misc. Magazines Mentioning STM 51- Slide Photograph Carousels Archives 52-55 52(a)- Dolls from Attic 52(b)- Dolls Clothing 53- Archived Books 54- Archived Books- First Editions 55- Archived Books

Southwestern Connecticut, probably Milford area, 1750-1800 Maple, ash stretchers, rush seat; 39" h. x 18 ½" w. x 18" d., seat 13" < Back Molded Slat Side Chair First Floor - Keeping Room Furniture and Hard Furnishings Southwestern Connecticut, probably Milford area, 1750-1800 Maple, ash stretchers, rush seat; 39" h. x 18 ½" w. x 18" d., seat 13" Turned side chair has four vertical molded slats tenoned into a crest that curves downward to the stay rail. Rear posts, having pronounced striped or tiger grain, are columnar turnings above balusters with urn finials; turned front legs with ball feet. Condition overall is good. Previous Next

Cherry; 1780-1800. Connecticut or Southern Massachusetts; 37 ¾” h. x 21” w. x 17 ¾” d. < Back Carved Ribbon-Back Armchair Second Floor - NW Sitting Room Furniture and Hard Furnishings Cherry; 1780-1800. Connecticut or Southern Massachusetts; 37 ¾” h. x 21” w. x 17 ¾” d. A curved and pierced crest rail over three conforming pierced slats or ribbons, curved arms, upholstered square seat, H-stretcher with recessed front stretcher, four straight tapered legs, molded at front. Condition: A well rendered example of this form however all four legs have been ended-out, a condition issue apparently known when the chair was purchased in 1964; otherwise in good refinished condition. Bertha McPherson stitched seat needlework. Previous Next

Maple, pine; 36” h. x 18” w. Circa 1830-1850. < Back Converted Arrow-back to Comb-back Windsor Rocking Chair Attic Furniture and Hard Furnishings Maple, pine; 36” h. x 18” w. Circa 1830-1850. Converted from an arrow-back chair to a rocking chair with comb-back crest; rockers are later additions; Previous Next

Southeastern New England, 1780-1810 Mahogany; 27" h. x 28" w. x 20" d. < Back Rectangular Table with Canted Corners First Floor - Parlor Furniture and Hard Furnishings Southeastern New England, 1780-1810 Mahogany; 27" h. x 28" w. x 20" d. An overhanging top with a thumbnail molded edge and canted corners; four turned and tapered legs ending in offset button feet. Table rails have a beaded bottom edge. Note: Canted corners were seldom if ever employed in late 18th century furniture. There is no way to determine when the canted corners on this table were cut. Previous Next

Young and Restless < Back Mattie Kahn & Reena Ninan - October 3, 2023 Young and Restless Previous Next

England, first half 19th century. Fruitwood, iron hinges and escutcheons, wooden stems. Pear: 6 ½" h. x 4 ½" d.; Apple: 5" h. x 4 ¼" d. < Back Apple and Pear Form Tea Caddies First Floor - Parlor Other Decorative Arts England, first half 19th century. Fruitwood, iron hinges and escutcheons, wooden stems. Pear: 6 ½" h. x 4 ½" d.; Apple: 5" h. x 4 ¼" d. Tea caddies are turned to apple and pear shapes with well-executed carved stems, each has a hinged top and lock. Condition is good; pear shows some staining around base. Previous Next

Walnut; 1800-1810. Probably Pennsylvania; 28 ½” h. x 20 ¾” l. < Back Oval-Top Candlestand with Inlay Second Floor - W Bedroom (Ted's Dressing Room) Furniture and Hard Furnishings Walnut; 1800-1810. Probably Pennsylvania; 28 ½” h. x 20 ¾” l. Solid oval top with inlaid oval (center) and stringing inlay around top, over a ring-and-vase-turned pedestal and ogee feet. In good refinished condition with some loss to stringing inlay at top. Previous Next

Probably Connecticut; first quarter 19th century. Cherry, tulip poplar; 35” h. x 39 ¾” w. x 20” d. < Back Chippendale Chest of Four Drawers Second Floor - NE Bedroom and Hallway Furniture and Hard Furnishings Probably Connecticut; first quarter 19th century. Cherry, tulip poplar; 35” h. x 39 ¾” w. x 20” d. A two-board top over four graduated drawers with replaced Hepplewhite style oval pulls, resting on bracket feet. Previous Next

NC/TN Border < Back Great Smoky Mountains NC/TN Border 1934 Established: Size: 522,419 acres Visitors: 14,137,812 in 2020 Summary Wildlife Sounds of the Park Things to Do When to Visit Ties to Stephen Mather Fun Fact Previous Next