The Foundation sponsors
events and publishes material designed to preserve and extend the cultural and
literary legacy of Robinson Jeffers, poet of California.
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The
Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation, affiliated with the National Trust for
Historic Preservation, is a nonprofit organization of volunteer members
established in 1978 to acquire, maintain and provide for public access to Tor
House, Hawk Tower and the surrounding gardens.
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The 2009 Poetry Prize winners
have been selected! See our Poetry Prize page for
the announcement.
Be sure to check out our 2009
Reading Series. Details are now available on our
Events page.
A Message from
the President
From the Winter 2008 Newsletter
Dear Members and Friends of the
Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation,
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House
Foundation. While the neighborhood has grown up around us, your Foundation
has preserved Hawk Tower, the gardens and this quintessential Carmel cottage,
with original furnishings, much as it was when the Jeffers family was in
residence. Tor House remains an irreplaceable historic, cultural, and
architectural resource. It would be a tragedy to lose it.
We were fortunate to be awarded a matching grant from the National Endowment for
the Arts for use in a “Big Read” program to promote a broader appreciation of
Robinson Jeffers. Funding associated with the “Big Read” was dedicated
exclusively to program costs. None of it could be used for any other
purpose.
Taking care of the Tor House properties is a constant and costly effort.
Annually, your Foundation spends over $13,000 for garden maintenance. A
new irrigation system cost $5,500. Electric circuits, at a cost of $1,600,
were installed to the Tower. A roof leak was repaired for $1,470.
Property insurance runs $4,200. The alarm system costs some $1,500.
Utilities come to nearly $5,000. In addition, there is the cost of a
part-time administrative assistant, routine house maintenance, and unavoidable
expenses, such as property tax, postage, and cleaning, and office supplies.
Your Foundation is frugal. Volunteers, from your president to tour
docents, hospitality docents, flower docents, Gift Shop docents, Newsletter
editor, website manager, publicists, carpenters, legal advisors, accountants,
grant writers, collections curators, outreach program coordinators, and others,
donate thousands of pro-bono hours annually. They allow us to keep our
expenses at a minimum.
In the past we have received great support, such as the Peter Bennett 2005
Matching Grant for a future endowment. We have managed to maintain our
financial bottom-line despite the declining economy. To meet our operating
expenses, however, we depend on your financial contributions, especially now, as
the year draws to a close. In these troubled times, giving might be
difficult. But the need remains. Please be as generous as you can.
Come visit and see how well we are doing our job. I wish you all the very
best in 2009.
Alex Vardamis, President
On-Line Bookstore
Our
publications include several which are available only from the Tor House
bookstore. Other merchandise for sale includes
Jeffers-related CDs, DVDs, note cards and works of art.
A Tor House Exclusive -
Tor House is pleased to announce the re-issuing of The Stone Mason of Tor
House by Melba Berry Bennett.
Melba Berry Bennett won the affection of both Jeffers and Una and after Una’s
death became Jeffers’ secretary and worked with him until the end of his life.
The result is a biography rich in detail and true to its subject. Jeffers
did not reveal himself often to others, so his and Una’s friendship with Bennett
represented an unusual opportunity for Bennett to produce an authoritative,
sensitive portrait of the poet.
This handsome edition, with slipcase, is available exclusively through the Tor
House Bookstore, including at our online store.
Mission
The mission of the Robinson Jeffers Tor House
Foundation is:
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To preserve Tor
House, Hawk Tower and their collections
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To promote the
literary and philosophical legacy of Robinson Jeffers for the enrichment and
enlightenment of the public
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To serve the
community as a cultural resource
(Adopted by the Board of Trustees,
March 1998)
For more information on the
Robinson Jeffers Tor House Foundation, our events and our organization, click on
a link below.
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