Institute of Thomas Paine Studies facts for kids
The Institute for Thomas Paine Studies, also known as ITPS, is a special place where people learn about and share the life and ideas of Thomas Paine. It's like a research center for his work. The ITPS is located at Iona College in New Rochelle, a city in Westchester County, New York.
Thomas Paine was a very important person in American history. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was also a key thinker during a time when many countries were fighting for democracy and freedom. Thomas Paine lived in New Rochelle for a while. His farm was not far from where Iona College is today.
The ITPS was started in 2013. It holds a unique collection of items related to Thomas Paine. This includes many first editions and early copies of his famous books and pamphlets. Some of these are Common Sense, Age of Reason, and Rights of Man. The collection also has more than 100 other writings by Paine, plus some of his personal belongings.
Why the ITPS Was Created
For a long time, a group called the Thomas Paine National Historical Association took care of many of Paine's items. This group was started in New Rochelle in 1884. They gathered a large collection of his writings and personal things over more than a hundred years.
Challenges for the Collection
The association kept these important items safe at the Thomas Paine Museum. However, taking care of such a large and valuable collection was a big job. The group often didn't have enough money to properly protect and preserve everything they had collected.
In the early 2000s, the association moved a lot of its collection. They sent many items to the New York Historical Society in Manhattan. A few years later, they even sold some of the artifacts to try and raise money.
A New Home for Paine's Legacy
In 2009, the Thomas Paine National Historical Association started working with Iona College. They formed a partnership to make sure Paine's important collection would be kept safe forever. After several years of legal work, a court approved the plan in 2013. The collection was officially moved from the association to Iona College.
Now, the collection is kept at Iona's Ryan Library. It includes personal items that belonged to Thomas Paine, many historical documents about him, and a wide range of his writings. This ensures that future generations can continue to learn about his life and ideas.
