THOMAS PAINE
~ Patriot ~ Author ~ Humanitarian ~ Political Philosopher ~
~ Champion of Equal Rights, Human Rights & Justice ~
~ Advocate of Free Thought & Free Expression ~
~ A Founder of the United States of America ~
"We have it in our Power to begin the World over."
"The cause of
Common Sense, 1776
Monument at
At the edge of Paine's farm, close to his original gravesite
The first Paine Monument, erected 1839, John Frazee, sculptor
Funds raised by New York publisher, Gilbert Vale
Bronze bust by Wilson MacDonald was added in 1899
WORLD CITIZEN
English by Birth, French by Proclamation, American by Choice
" ~ my country is the world, and my religion is to do good ~ "
Rights of Man, part 2, 1792
Born
Died
Author of
Common Sense, The American Crisis, Rights of Man, The Age of Reason,
Agrarian Justice, Dissertation on First Principles of Government, and much more
THOMAS PAINE FRIENDS, INC.
Thomas Paine Friends, Inc. ("the organization") shall be an educational, historical, monumental and civic non-profit organization which shall encourage people to learn about and from the author-patriot, Thomas Paine, his times and his philosophy, so that they may be inspired to participate in public affairs in ways reflective of the spirit of Paine's life, thought and ideals; and which shall strive to increase public awareness of Paine's contributions to our representative democracy, to equality, to justice, to human rights, to free thought and free expression; and which shall endeavor to strengthen a sense of world citizenship; and which shall propose and support fitting memorials to Thomas Paine.
Activities of the organization fall into two principal spheres: 1. To raise public consciousness of Paine's notable contributions to the political foundations of our representative democracy, and to numerous social and economic reforms; and, 2. To advocate the role that Paine in his writings and by his life's example set out for citizens in a free representative democracy -- education and discourse in the public interest so that citizens will participate in an informed way in the civic and public life of the large and small community.
A Short History of Thomas Paine Friends
I. IN 1998, VIRGINIA BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO ENACT, AS LAW, THOMAS PAINE DAY TO BE OBSERVED EVERY JANUARY 29th, THE ANNIVERSARY OF PAINE'S BIRTH IN 1737. IN 1999,
Out of these efforts by Sherwood V. Smith in
From this state-by-state Thomas Paine Day effort developed the nucleus of the small, committed band of activists who dubbed themselves, Thomas Paine Friends.
II. IN THE YEAR 2000, THIS SMALL NUMBER OF ADMIRERS OF THOMAS PAINE, THOMAS PAINE FRIENDS, PRODUCED THE FIRST ISSUE OF A NEWSLETTER, BULLETIN of Thomas Paine Friends, volume 1, number 1, May 2000. The following excerpts are from page 2 of that issue.
THOMAS PAINE FRIENDS
Who We Are and What We Do and An Invitation
Thomas Paine Friends is an association of activists committed to several specific projects designed to bring the great political philosopher and humanitarian into permanent prominence, as is his due. We invite anyone who wants to be active in one or more of these projects to join us---
One goal...is to obtain recognition of Thomas Paine's life, achievements and legacy. We see various routes to reach the goal....
1 - State-wide, annual THOMAS PAINE DAY---
2 - Informational programs for schools, libraries, civic and community groups---
3 - Encouragement to youth to learn...about Thomas Paine, and...the foundations of our country, for example by...essays, special teaching units, performances, etc.
4 - Proposals to schools to teach about the civic and political life and...self-government---
5 - Exhibits in libraries, town halls, community centers, and similar locations---
6 - Letters and short articles sent to professional journals...to newspapers---
7 - Production and distribution of a newsletter, the BULLETIN of Thomas Paine Friends, to exchange information and views related to Thomas Paine...and to provide a forum---
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
III. THEN, IN A SUBSEQUENT ISSUE OF THE BULLETIN, volume 2, number 1, January 2001, Thomas Paine Friends reviewed a history before May of 2000 and the production of the initial issue of the BULLETIN. The following excerpts are from page 5, volume 2, number 1.
BELATED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
...Many of us in the Thomas Paine Friends network come from the Thomas Paine Readers Club which Florence Stapleton and Nat Mills began [around 1987] in order that admirers of Paine remain in contact....the Readers list grew as both Florence and Nat...encountered Readers to add.
...After the TPNHA [Thomas Paine National Historical Association] decided in Fall 1999 to discontinue a newsletter, a number of recipients of the expired TPNHA newsletter said that we ought to maintain a news exchange....we decided to call our network Thomas Paine Friends.
...Ever faithful, Florence Stapleton and Nat Mills cannot be forgotten as guides and examples to any of us working to restore Thomas Paine to his rightful place in history and in the civic life.
The BULLETIN of Thomas Paine Friends respectfully embraces the phrase,
"To Know Paine, Read Him" (Florence Stapleton)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Florence Stapleton died in July 1999, only a day or two after she had spent a good part of July 4, Independence Day, at Thomas Paine Memorial Museum in New Rochelle NY. Even though she was in failing health, Florence continued to the end to pay tribute to Thomas Paine. She was a tireless worker for Paine and for the democratic ideal, and she brought many people into the fold of the Thomas Paine Readers Club.
~ TPF regrets to have to report the death of Nat Mills on September 8, 2003. He was a powerful inspiration to many -- in numerous fields including, of course, recognition of Thomas Paine and his achievements. TPF is proud that
Nat and Helja Mills became charter members of the organization,
and proud and pleased that Helja Mills continues as a member. ~
Two statements head the Nat Mills memorial booklet:
Nat's own organization title, Advocacy & Coalition Strategies For People's Unmet Needs,
and the phrase that well fit Nat, from Paine's Rights of Man, part 2, 1792,
My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
THOMAS PAINE FRIENDS IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION
TPF encourages everyone to view the other links for descriptions of major activities and plans, including:
~ STATE THOMAS PAINE DAYS ~ PADL [Paine Anti-Defamation League] ~
~ NEWSLETTER ~ ACTIVITIES ~ SALE ITEMS ~
And TPF hopes that website visitors will then decide to join Thomas Paine Friends.
Go to the link, To Join
Or for additional information you may contact any of the Board of Directors.
Board of Directors Elected in Annual Balloting Every Fall
Officers 2008
Irwin Spiegelman, President Timothy Nelms, Vice President
185 Middle Street 221 Poplar Drive
Amherst MA 01002-3011 Morgantown WV 26505
194 Amity Street 185 Middle Street
Amherst MA 01002 Amherst MA 01002-3011
vern.turner@verizon.net spiegelman22@yahoo.com
Other Directors 2008
Maurice Bisheff Joyce Chumbley Ann Kalloudis
604 So. San Marcos Road 3213 Burchfield Avenue 575 Oakley Avenue
Santa Barbara CA 93111 Orlando FL 32812-6804 Elmont NY 11003
Mark Levinson Klara Rukshina John F. Skibiski, Jr.
630 Giltner Lane 2 Mt. Auburn Street 50 Hastings Heights
Edmonds WA 98020-3001 Cambridge MA 02138 Northampton MA 01062
Sherwood V. Smith James Tepfer Robert N. Walsh
223 Hillcrest Drive 604 So. San Marcos Road 2150 Indian Creek Blvd. East
Fredericksburg VA 22401 Santa Barbara CA 93111 Vero Beach FL 32966-5189
Thomas Paine Friends, Inc.
Website: www.thomaspainefriends.org
Email: spiegelman22@yahoo.com / Telephone: 413-253-7934