The Friends of Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters began in 1994 when Diana Korzenik gathered a group of friends and colleagues united by their fondness for the big yellow house on Brattle Street and the little-known treasures it contained. The Friends became a non-profit corporation in 1995 and a formal partner of the National Park Service, steward of that property for the American people. 

The Friends group brings life to the House in many ways. Every year we pay for the Longfellow Summer Festival—poetry readings organized by our friends at the New England Poetry Club and musical concerts by a variety of artists, most recently from the Berklee School of Music. We also sponsor public talks, such as the annual Evacuation Day lecture about the House’s Revolutionary history and the holiday celebration. And all those events are free. 

Our biggest project to date is the restoration of the Longfellow Garden. We raised well over half a million dollars to reproduce the early-20th-century Colonial Revival design, and we maintain a fund to replace heirloom plantings when needed. Free for anyone to visit year-round, dawn to dusk, the Longfellow Garden has become a beloved local landmark.

In addition, the Friends group helps to fund the conservation of the House’s unique collection of art, furnishings, clothing, and more. These projects have included a rare gown worn by Fanny Longfellow and her daughters; the grandfather clock on the stairs; and many decorative details that make the interior of the House look more accurate. Currently we are seeking donations to refurbish Longfellow’s study, from the writing case and inkwells he used to the stately curtains on the walls.

Other Friends initiatives include research fellowships for scholars working with family papers in the House archives, the publication of a book about Charles Longfellow’s visit to Japan as the country opened up to Americans, and prizes for school-age poets. We have published many newsletters for visitors, detailing different aspects of the House’s history. 

From advocating for the park with our elected officials to providing a platform for online events, the Friends of Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters is committed to preserving this cultural treasure and sharing it with the world.