Program areas at Daystar Foundation and Library
Maintenance of rare book/document collectionDaystar houses and maintains a rare and unique collection of books and documents related to the history of the Christian religion and the practice of Christian Science. Its library and facility are open to the public for study, research, inspiration, and to foster a deeper and more widespread interest in the history of Christianity and the history of Christian Science. The number of visits to Daystar was over 600 during 2022.Statement continued on Schedule O.Daystar receives, on average, over 100 calls a year requesting answers to research questions. Daystar's website (daystarfoundation.org) had 10,095 users in 2022, with over 13,340 sessions and over 27,475 page views. The Daystar collections include early editions of the published writings of Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of the Christian Science religion, original letters written by Mrs. Eddy, reminiscences prepared by those who knew her, and numerous books and other publications about her and the emergence of Christian Science in nineteenth-century America. Also included in the collection are historic Bibles and commentaries. Daystar's maintenance and preservation of such books, documents and artifacts means that the history of Christianity, Christian Science and the Bible will be preserved for future generations. Daystar has a historic collection of rare Bibles, dating back to 1606, as well as a selection of well-known Bible research works. Daystar's exhibits include Bibles from the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries.
AV restoration and preservationDaystar is committed to preserving A/V programs related to the history of the Bible, Christianity, and Christian Science. It digitally restores and archives its collection of historic A/V programs to make them available to visitors in the library now and for years to come.
Presentation series regarding the history of the Bible, Christianity, and Christian Science. During the association week guests are offered tours of Daystar, access to the Library collection, and research help. The Traveling Program (AKA Road Show) was presented by Daystar's Archivist and Librarian to groups in different communities where they were invited by Daystar supporters to introduce the Foundation and share Christian Science history with potential members. They gave six of these presentations in 2022.Statement continued on Schedule O.The New England Field Program offered a trip to New Hampshire and Massachusetts where attendees visited sites of historic significance to the founding and early years of Christian Science. The fall event included tours of the library and new wing; time for guests to study and research; a harp concert; a piano duet concert with variations on hymns from "The Christian Science Hymnal; a movie about an early worker in the Christian Science movement, Helen Wood Bauman; a staff panel presentation about items in the Library collection; and a talk by author and historian Cindy Safronoff.
Investment in Abbott Marker Systems, LLC and bookstore salesThe activities of Abbott Marker Systems, LLC is substantially related to the Foundation's purpose of preserving the history of the Christian Science religion and the practice and understanding of Christian Science through the production of metal book markers for the study of weekly Bible lessons. In addition, the Foundation sells various materials related to the study of Christian Science.