Vantage Point historian Eric Zimmer presented a paper entitled “Funding Tribal Existence: The Ford Foundation’s Support for the Native American Rights Fund Since 1970” on March 15, 2019. His presentation was part of a panel that explored the ways in which philanthropic support can help shape agendas for burgeoning minority and civil rights organizations while […]
On February 11, HistPhil — the leading online platform for historians of philanthropy — published an essay by Vantage Point president Eric Abrahamson. His contribution is part of a broader scholarly forum commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Tax Reform Act of 1969, which still governing charitable giving today. Read the essay here: Control Stock: […]
Vantage Point historians Eric Abrahamson and Eric Zimmer presented their new book, Expanding the Energy Horizon: A History of Black Hills Corporation Since 1883 last week. Around 70 people gathered over the lunch hour at the Journey Museum and Learning Center in Rapid City for the talk and a question-and-answer session with the authors.
Vantage Point historians Eric Abrahamson and Eric Zimmer headed up to Black Hills Corporation’s headquarters — known as Horizon Point — for the release of their new book, Expanding the Energy Horizon: A History of Black Hills Corporation Since 1883. The pair signed copies of the book for corporate employees. Expanding the Energy Horizon captures the history of Black Hills Corporation, which currently has more than 1.25 million […]
Use the link below to listen to Eric Abrahamson discuss the framework for his new book project, Profit for Good, on South Dakota Public Broadcasting’s “In the Moment.” Abrahamson Interview
Vantage Point Principal Historian Eric John Abrahamson was quoted in Exempt magazine. To see the blurb — which includes a shout-out to Abrahamson’s 2013 book Beyond Charity: A Century of Philanthropic Investment — click here.
In 1936, Henry Ford feared that if he died, his family would be forced to sell the Ford Motor Company (FMC) to pay the taxes on his estate. He created the Ford Foundation and planned to give it most of the stock in FMC. By naming trustees who were close to him, Ford hoped his […]
Vantage Point History recently completed a book project, Letters From Paris: My Life as the Wife of the U.S. Ambassador to France from 2001-2005, by Gretchen Leach. The book features correspondence and photographs that document the experiences of Gretchen Leach, wife of U.S. Ambassador to France Howard H. Leach, during the couple’s time serving the administration of President […]
In February 2018, Mayor Steve Allender appointed Vantage Point Senior Historian Eric Zimmer to the board of the Journey Museum and Learning Center in Rapid City. Zimmer looks forward to helping the Black Hills community document, preserve, and tell its story to locals and visitors from around the world.
On the eve of its 70th anniversary in 2018, the RAND Corporation asked IQ Magic to design an exhibit case for the institution’s Santa Monica-based headquarters. Vantage Point worked with exhibit designer Tom Hartman and RAND archivists to help identify and articulate themes in RAND’s history. Known for its fact-based research and analysis, RAND has helped to shape public policy […]