On the recordFebruary 27, 2012
I rise to recognize Thomas Culbertson of Fremont, OH, for many years of outstanding leadership and service to The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. A former college librarian and stockbroker, Mr. Culbertson began his service to the center in 1988 as a manuscripts curator and rose to the position of executive director in 2004. Mr. Culbertson was instrumental in developing two workshop series for educators. The first series, ``History Links: A Partnership to Teach American History,'' helped 300 area schoolteachers implement State standards for social studies that focused on American history. The second series included three workshops for more than 200 community college faculty that focused on America's Gilded Age. Mr. Culbertson also led the effort to gain accreditation for the Hayes Museum from the American Association of Museums in 2002. Of utmost importance to Mr. Culbertson's legacy is the $1.2 million restoration of the first floor of the Hayes home to how it looked when our 19th President and his wife, Lucy, lived there. With the help of the late U.S. Representative Paul Gillmor, the Hayes Center was awarded a $400,000 Save America's Treasures grant through the U.S. Department of Interior. In addition, the center received $500,000 in State capital funding, and Mr. Culbertson helped raise $300,000 in donations to pay for the restoration. The project included replicating wallpaper, carpets, and other features that had been altered over the years.…
