{"id":223738,"date":"2024-04-11T17:05:34","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T21:05:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=223738"},"modified":"2025-07-15T10:24:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T14:24:48","slug":"montclair-state-university-opens-the-charles-j-muth-museum-of-hinchliffe-stadium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2024\/04\/11\/montclair-state-university-opens-the-charles-j-muth-museum-of-hinchliffe-stadium\/","title":{"rendered":"Montclair State University Opens The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Montclair State University officially opened The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium, the latest highlight in the school\u2019s growing partnership with the city of Paterson, at a special event on April 11.<\/p>\n<p>Distinguished guests and elected officials were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new museum and learning center, which highlighted the transformational support of Montclair alumnus and Paterson native <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/business\/about\/advisory-board\/chuck-muth\/\">Chuck Muth \u201977<\/a> and his wife, Laura.<\/p>\n<p>Montclair President Jonathan Koppell, Chuck Muth, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, Hinchliffe developer Baye Adofo-Wilson, Paterson Public Schools Superintendent Laurie W. Newell and Museum Director Jessica Bush provided remarks as part of the morning program, which also included a special performance by the Rosa L. Parks School of Fine and Performing Arts choir.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Video: Montclair State University Opens The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qPYnOrbXyqc?feature=oembed\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen style=\"width: 500px; height: 281px; border: 0px solid #000;\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Muth\u2019s $5 million gift will allow Montclair to serve as an educational partner for the museum, which will chronicle the history and legacy of Hinchliffe Stadium \u2013 one of two remaining Negro League baseball stadiums in the country and a cultural touchstone in the city.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChuck embodies everything that makes Montclair State University special, and the impact of he and Laura\u2019s philanthropic support in ensuring generations of our students can also succeed cannot be overstated,\u201d says Koppell. \u201cThis museum is a truly collaborative effort and strengthens our bond with one of the most vibrant and diverse communities in New Jersey. It will be a space that will not only allow members of the city to engage with educational programming, but that will also provide experiential learning opportunities for Montclair State University students. We are thrilled to officially launch this initiative and are grateful to Chuck and Laura for helping make it a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_2151_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_2151_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Jonathan Koppell speaks to the crowd inside a tent.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell speaks about the University&#8217;s bond with Paterson to invited guests and elected officials at the opening of Muth Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The gift furthers the Muth family\u2019s continued support of Montclair State University. Growing up near Hinchliffe Stadium, Chuck graduated from Montclair in 1977 and has served on the advisory board of the University\u2019s Feliciano School of Business since 2013. The Muth\u2019s also have an endowed scholarship at Montclair that is named for Chuck\u2019s parents, Charles and Madeline, that supports business students from Paterson.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGrowing up in Paterson and attending Montclair State University gave me the foundation I needed to achieve my dreams in business and in life, so to continue our support in this unique way is an incredible opportunity,\u201d says Muth. \u201cTo know that this museum will help educate generations of students from the two places that have had the biggest impact on me means the world to us, and we cannot wait to see the community and Montclair students engaging with the history of Hinchliffe Stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_2562_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_2562_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Charles J. Muth speaks to the crowd inside a tent.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chuck Muth \u201977 (speaking) and his wife, Laura, donated $5 million to allow Montclair to serve as an educational partner for the museum, which chronicles the history and legacy of Hinchliffe Stadium \u2013 one of two remaining Negro League baseball stadiums in the country &#8211; and will serve as a cultural touchstone in the city.<br \/>Montclair will oversee the educational programming for the museum, which will include the curation and presentation of a wide range of exhibits and programs for diverse audiences.<br \/>The space will include a movie theater, interactive displays that engage audiences in the history of the Negro Leagues and its famous players (including the more than 20 Hall of Fame players who played at Hinchliffe such as Satchel Paige and Paterson native Larry Doby), and displays of artifacts that span the history of the stadium, its place in Paterson history, and its revitalization.<\/p>\n[caption]<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_4580_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"People explore the museum.\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>Opening day guests and elected officials get a first look at the museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It will also ensure future learning opportunities for both Paterson and Montclair State University students, which is a key component of various initiatives between the city and institution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHinchliffe Stadium was constructed as \u2018the city stadium\u2019 with Paterson residents in mind,\u201d says Museum Director Jessica Bush. \u201cAs a component of the Great Falls National Historical Park, our museum offers visitors the chance to discover the stadium\u2019s profound national historical significance, and, alongside Paterson\u2019s other cultural institutions, help to instill a sense of community pride and help to make this city a true travel destination.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The museum is the latest achievement in the expanding relationship between Montclair and the City of Paterson.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2023\/02\/02\/university-announces-1-million-grant-to-develop-paterson-one-square-mile-initiative\/\">One Square Mile<\/a>, a place-based approach to community revitalization developed by Montclair President Koppell, was launched in Paterson in 2023 through support from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, with East Side High School serving as the first component of the multi-year initiative.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChuck is a source of inspiration for Paterson children who can look to him as an example of what is possible for them,\u201d says Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. \u201cToday, we celebrate the restoration of Hinchliffe Stadium, and of the opening of The Charles J. Muth Museum to help tell its incredible story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For more information on The Charles J. Muth Museum at Hinchliffe Stadium, visit Montclair\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/center-for-community-engagement\/hinchchliffe-stadium\/\">Center for Community Engagement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PHOTO GALLERY<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_3899_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA-1.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_3899_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA-1.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Six people cut the ribbon for The charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(From left) Paterson Superintendent of Schools Laurie Newell, Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, President Jonathan Koppell, Charles J. Muth, Laura Muth and Developer Baye Adofo-Wilson help cut the ribbon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_4437_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_4437_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A man with a camera and a microphone interviews another man in front of a line of banners featuring players.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paterson educator Joseph Fulmore, Sr., being interviewed for CBS New York, explains that the museum is as much about Civil Rights as it is Negro League baseball.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_2319_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_2319_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"People smile and clap as camera crews look on.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, Chuck Muth and Laura Muth during the program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_3220_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_3220_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Developer Baye Adofo-Wilson speaks at the opening.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Developer Baye Adofo-Wilson helped bring the stadium back to life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0776_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0776_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Baye Adofo Wilson, Charles J. Muth, Laura Muth and Jonathan Koppell stand in front of the information for The Charles J. Muth Museum of Hinchliffe Stadium.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left, developer Baye Adofo-Wilson, museum benefactors Chuck and Laura Muth and University President Jonathan Koppell at the entrance to the museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_3700_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_3700_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Jessica Bush at the podium.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Museum Director Jessica Bush says the museum offers visitors the chance to discover the stadium\u2019s profound national historical significance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_3517_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_3517_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Laurie Newell speaks at the microphone\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paterson Public Schools Superintendent Laurie W. Newell with Paterson Board of Education President Manny Martinez, Montclair\u2019s educational partners in the museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_1695_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_1695_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A school choir, wearing purple shirts, sings.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Rosa L.Parks School of Fine and Performing Arts choir performs during the program..\u200b\u200b<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_2717_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_2717_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"A line of camera operators.\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0257_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0257_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Player banners\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0244_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0244_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"More banners, one with a quote from Larry Doby that reads &quot;If you&apos;re a pioneer in a historic-type thing, you&apos;re gonna suffer. But you look down the line and see you&apos;re in a situation that could be very, very big in the future. If we hadn&apos;t done it, you probably wouldn&apos;t have the Mays and Aarons and Banks and Newcombes.&quot;\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0213_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0213_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Banners about Larry Doby, the New York Cubans, Effa Manley and the creation of the Negro Leagues\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_4420_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_4420_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Signs explaining the history of the Negro leagues, highlighting Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby.\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"responsive-image-holder wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mlt-responsive-image\" data-original-image=\"\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0553_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg\" src=\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/04\/04112024_0553_041124-Hinchliffe_Muth_Museum_Opening-LAROSA.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\" alt=\"Hinchliffe Stadium entrance.\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><em>Video by University Videographer Christodoulos Apostolou. Photos by John J. LaRosa for Montclair State University.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>You may also like:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2022\/12\/05\/university-announces-5-million-gift-to-partner-in-paterson-revitalization-efforts\/\">University Announces $5 Million Gift to Partner in Paterson Revitalization Efforts<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2023\/05\/12\/take-me-out-to-the-ball-game\/\">Take Me Out to the Ball Game<\/a><\/p>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/\/ Output tags as a list for Google Analytics custom dimension\nwindow.MSU_TagList = [];\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New museum and learning center will chronicle history of Hinchliffe and serve as educational resource for Paterson and Montclair State University students<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":223747,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[578,123,7,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-223738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-donors","category-homepage-news","category-press-releases","category-university"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=223738"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":226483,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/223738\/revisions\/226483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/223747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=223738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=223738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=223738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}