American Friends Appeal
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Bring America's history to life in the new Museum of Liverpool
Donations to AFNML can help to repair items for display at the new Museum of Liverpool, like the snowshoes below, owned by Colonel Arent de Peyster (1736-1822).
Colonel de Peyster, a native of New York City, was a commander in the King's Liverpool Regiment at Michilimackinac and later in Detroit during the American Revolution. In later life he retired to Scotland and was friends with famous Scottish poet Robbie Burns.
Colonel de Peysters snowshoes are severely damaged from woodworm and are undergoing consolidation and repair. The estimated cost for repair is $1,500.
How to donate
- You can give online by clicking the button below:
- Send a check to the American Friends of National Museums Liverpool, Inc. Details of where to send your check can be found here.
- If you are not a US resident or citizen you can still support our appeal.
Donations can also be made directly to National Museums Liverpool online in $USD below.
Colonel Arent de Peyster (1736-1822)
Colonel de Peyster, a native of New York City, was educated in London and joined the British Army in 1755. He served in the King's Liverpool Regiment and when assigned to Canada he enjoyed a series of promotions, in 1774 being appointed commandant of Fort Michilimackinac (now Mackinaw) and in 1779 promoted to Major, taking control of Detroit.
In later life he retired to Scotland and was friends with famous poet Robbie Burns. De Peyster published his own works in 1813, titled “Miscellanies, by an officer”. After his death, John McDiarmid, who knew de Peyster, wrote; 'No man ever possessed more of the principle of vitality. Old age, which had silvered his hair and furrowed his cheeks, made so little impression on his inner man that... up to... his last illness his mind appeared as active and his intellect as vigorous as they had ever been.’
A fuller biography of Colonel de Peyster and his connection with Robbie Burns
can be found on this Robert Burns website.
Conservation: the preservation, repair and care of archaeological, historical and cultural artefacts
Conservation is a core function of every museum. That is why National Museums Liverpool opened the National Conservation Centre in 1996. The centre, part of which is open to the public, not only cares for the collections held in Liverpool but also carries out work for many other venues across Europe
The dedicated team of conservators, specialising in paintings, paper, sculpture, models, metals, ceramics, frames, textiles, ship keeping and industrial and land transport conservation, ensure these collections are made available to the public now and preserved for future generations.
Without targeted funding there are items of work that will not receive the attention they need in order to be on display. We hope you will join us in supporting National Museums Liverpool’s important work by donating to the American Friends Appeal today.
