Kirk Trasborg pushes numbers at Winterthur, the former home of Henry Francis du Pont. His office is literally located in du Pont’s former bedroom in a “smaller” 50-room house on the New Castle County, Delaware, estate. Upon meeting him, I had to know how a New Yorker, who lives in Lancaster, became the Chief Financial Officer of one of the country’s most prestigious properties.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library’s CFO, Kirk Trasborg, is pictured on the Du Pont Dining Room Porch, which overlooks the estate’s East Terrace. Winterthur photo.
At its core, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library is a premier museum of American decorative arts. According to Winterthur’s website, the museum, which is housed in the 175-room mansion that was the residence of du Pont and his family, is home to an unparalleled collection of 90,000 objects that range in style from the simplicity of Shaker design to the opulence of 18th-century craftsmanship. Through the museum, Winterthur carries on du Pont’s goal of creating spaces in which his visitors would be immersed in beauty, as well as history.
The collection of fine art includes works by America’s greatest early painters, as well as newly discovered objects that are understood to be the work of enslaved individuals.
Walking paths are flanked by stunning displays of azaleas in the aptly named Azalea Woods, which happens to be Kirk’s favorite place at Winterthur. Becca Mathias photo.
Du Pont’s interest in horticulture is evidenced in the 1,000-acre estate’s protected meadows, woodlands, ponds, waterways and a 60-acre garden he designed in collaboration with Marian Cruger Coffin, who took charge of the more formal parts of the garden (Reflecting Pool, East Terrace, Glade Garden and the Sundial Garden), while du Pont oversaw the more naturalized wild-garden areas. Du Pont was awarded a Garden Club of America Medal of Honor for the project.
Kurume azaleas, Spanish bluebells and dogwoods greet visitors to Azalea Woods at this time of the year. Lois Mauro photo.
“I sincerely hope that the Museum will be a continuing source of inspiration and education for all time, and that the gardens and grounds will of themselves be a country place museum where visitors may enjoy, as I have, not only the flowers, trees and shrubs but also the sunlit meadows, shady wood paths, and the peace and great calm of a country place which has been loved and taken care of for three generations.”
– H. F. du Pont
The extensive research library makes Winterthur an important center for the study of American art and culture. Because of du Pont’s commitment to preserving American cultural heritage through the museum and library, he was awarded honorary degrees from Williams College (doctorate in humanities, 1957); Yale University (doctorate in humanities, 1953); and the University of Delaware (doctor of law, 1954).
“Today, we have graduate programs with the University of Delaware,” says Kirk of the programs that focus on art preservation and conservation, as well as the study of American objects and artifacts. He hopes to extend this educational reach into the art-centric world of Lancaster. “Lancaster is a really neat community from the arts perspective,” he observes. “Artists here have a bit of grit to them and an entrepreneurial spirit, and I would love to be able to bring that spirit over to Winterthur.”
Behind the Numbers
“My big focus is on having the money to support the mission, run the place, put on programs, and care for the estate,” Kirk says of his role as Winterthur’s CFO.
Beyond educational programs, Winterthur offers more than 100 events and special tours each year. Some past events that were well received included a year-long salute to Downton Abbey; one focused on Jacqueline Kennedy (the First lady appointed du Pont the chairman of the 12-member Fine Arts Committee for the White House); and an exhibit of fashions from Black designer, Ann Lowe.
The Du Pont Dining Room at Winterthur. Winterthur photo.
The public is welcome to attend special presentations that range from birding to wine events and artisan workshops. Members enjoy yoga classes in the gardens, guided walks and special shopping days. Story times, seasonal and holiday gatherings, and the new Eco Explorers program allow children to be active at Winterthur.
There is a lot to do … and manage! “Would you believe, we bought a fire truck recently?” says Kirk, rather off the cuff. The proclamation took me by surprise, but when he told me Winterthur employs its own fire chief and EMT staff to cover 1,000 acres that include 25 miles of paths and trails, 10 miles of roads and 118 buildings, I understood why a fire truck is a perfectly reasonable expenditure. Also, approximately 50 people reside at Winterthur, including essential workers like an electrician and the fire chief. “We are out here in the woods, and it could be 15 to 20 minutes before we get a fire department response. We can at least keep things under control until we get some help,” he explains. In addition to the fire truck, the property is home to a fleet of 50 vehicles.
Winterthur even has its own zip code: 19735. The operation consists of 200 full-time and 200 part-time employees. Volunteers are also integral to the operation of Winterthur.
Winterthur’s Artisan Market (July 18-20) will feature 100-plus vendors. Bob Leitch photo.
Building repairs cost an average of $2 million each year. The du Pont endowment accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars, of which only four to five percent can be utilized per year in order to ensure Winterthur’s longevity.
“Du Pont opened the property up to the public and he left a good amount of money to keep it open. My job is to manage those funds,” Kirk notes. Visitation, food and beverage sales, and more than 50 weddings and corporate retreats that take place annually provide much of the income for Winterthur. Another big moneymaker is the annual Point-to-Point Steeplechase event, which will take place May 4 and features steeplechase racing, tailgating, food and fashion. Other signature events include the Artisan Market (July 18-20, with 100-plus vendors), and the Delaware Antiques Show (November 7-9, at the Chase Center, Wilmington). Other operating revenue is made possible through the generosity of corporations, foundations and individual donors who help support education, expanded programming, and key environmental and landscape stewardship initiatives.
Winterthur offers many child-friendly activities, including the new Eco Explorers program. Enchanted Summer Day will be held June 14 in the Enchanted Woods area. The family-friendly event features music, crafts and historical games. Suchat Pederson photo.
Surprisingly, only about 150,000 visitors make their way to Winterthur every year – opposed to the million-plus who visit another nearby du Pont property, Longwood Gardens. “It’s really a hidden gem. We are not just a garden, there are so many different things, including a certified old growth forest,” Kirk comments.
Roots
“I grew up in a part of New York City that many New York City residents do not consider part of New York City, Staten Island. I’m from the part of the city where Pete Davidson and the Wu-Tang Clan are from,” Kirk points out. An academic scholarship to York College of Pennsylvania brought him to this area. “Staten Island is a little mix of city and country, so I felt very comfortable here [in Pennsylvania],” he notes.
After graduating with degrees in accounting, behavioral science, and information systems, Kirk stayed in York for over a decade. He made the move across the Susquehanna when his wife became an administrator in the Conestoga Valley School District. When the Winterthur opening “popped up” on Kirk’s LinkedIn feed, he submitted his résumé for what he viewed as a new and exciting opportunity.
Winterthur’s Peony Garden blooms in May. Through the garden, du Pont paid tribute to Dr. Percy A. Saunders, one of the great peony hybridizers of the 20th century. Bob Leitch photo.
“There are so many things going on at Winterthur, with some really great people,” Kirk reports. His commute to work is a little over an hour’s drive each day, but he takes scenic Route 896 most of the way. Nearly every morning he makes a stop at Crossroads Café in Quarryville. “I’ll stop and pick up doughnuts and bring them into the office,” he says, but admits there is one thing Lancaster County has yet to satisfy in his life: pizza. So, his dining habits in Lancaster City center around visits to Lombardo’s (Italian language classes were standard at his Staten Island grade school) and chasing down great burgers at Cabalar and Double C. On Wednesdays he is throwing axes in a league at Meduseld Meadery.
Next up in the Wine Through Winterthur series is Midsummer Sip & Stroll on June 21. This experience features seasonal wines and local artisanal cheese perfectly paired to enhance the beauty of June in bloom at Winterthur. Bob Leitch photo.
As for his favorite part of Winterthur, it is definitely the Azalea Woods, which date back to du Pont’s 1917 purchase of Japanese Kurume azaleas. “It is just a beautiful place to visit … and work,” he says.
Winterthur is located at 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday. For more information, visit Winterthur.org.
Almost Unknown, The Afric-American Picture Gallery
May 3-January 4
Inspired by an 1859 essay written by a free Black journalist and educator named William J. Wilson, Almost Unknown, The Afric-American Picture Gallery takes visitors on a tour of Wilson’s imagined gallery of drawings, paintings, sculptures and objects that represent Black life in the United States and across the Diaspora, as interpreted by curator and historian, Dr. Jonathan Michael Square, assistant professor of Black visual culture at Parsons School of Design.
Winterthur will be using objects from the collections to represent Wilson’s displays. These include a silhouette attributed to Moses Williams, the portrait of George Washington and his family painted by Edward Savage, and copies of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, among others.
The exhibition extends beyond the gallery walls and features books that will be displayed in the library and an exclusive tour of selected objects in the house. Through this multifaceted presentation, the exhibition not only brings Wilson’s envisioned gallery to life, but also sheds light on stories that have long been overlooked in American museums and history.
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