RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE LOCKE LORD LLP APPLICATION
Recommendations for Locke Lord Proposal June 2020
Here is John Barry’s recommendation which I included in the application. Mr. Barry is the author of Roger Williams and the Creation of the American Soul: Church, State and the Creation of Liberty
“…I’m best known, especially these days, for my book about the 1918 pandemic, but in my view my best book is one on Roger Williams, which apparently has gotten under Marc Kohler’s skin to the extent he is dedicating an extraordinary amount of time to making Williams’s legacy better known. He’s clearly dedicated and is expanding the knowledge of Williams and those around him. I am just writing now in support of his efforts. If you can help, please do…”
Recommendation from Alan Johnson, author of The First America Founder Roger Wiliams and Freedom of Conscience.
Douglas G. Gray, Esquire Locke Lord LLP Providence, RI Dear Mr. Gray:
I write in support of the proposal of Marc Kohler to the Pro Bono Committee of Lord Locke LLP for the pro bono 501(c)(3) incorporation of the Roger Williams Educational Foundation.
As background, I was a practicing attorney in Ohio and Pennsylvania for about three decades, focusing primarily on constitutional and public law civil litigation. I retired from law practice in 2012 to devote full time to my work as an author and independent scholar. I am on permanent retirement status with the bars of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the federal courts. I have no background or experience in incorporations and, even if I were still in active practice, I have never been a member of the Rhode Island bar and accordingly could not advise Mr. Kohler regarding a Rhode Island incorporation.
I am the author of The First American Founder: Roger Williams and Freedom of Conscience (Philosophia, 2015), which is an extensive, scholarly biography of Roger Williams, his historical circumstances, his writings, and his influence. I have posted Errata and Supplemental Comments to this book here. The U.S. Supreme Court has a copy of my book in its library.
On May 27, 2020, I presented a lecture titled “The Architect of Freedom of Conscience and Church-State Separation: Roger Williams’s Life, Political Action, Writings, and Influence.” A YouTube video recording of that lecture (about 52 minutes) can be located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuSHk8v0G7M&t=1s. Upon reviewing the video, I realize that I misspoke on a couple of occasions: (1) At 47:36, I used the word “established” when I should have said “adopted,” i.e. adopted at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, and (2) at 48:13, I said “Williams” when I meant “Madison.”
On August 11, 2018, I gave a speech on Roger Williams to the Roger Williams Family Association, the prepared text of which is posted here. As a result of this presentation, the Association made me an honorary member. I have recently become a member of Marc Kohler’s Roger Williams Study Group, which is currently meeting on Zoom.
I strongly support Marc’s application. I think that improved knowledge about Roger Williams in Rhode Island and elsewhere would be of great benefit to American society.
Sincerely,
AlanAlan E. Johnson Author and Independent Scholar 301 South Hills Village Drive Suite LL 200-112Pittsburgh, PA 15241-1400 412-498-2997alanjohnson10@comcast.net
Here is one recommendation from Edward F O’Donnell:
Douglas G. Gray Partner Locke Lord LLP 2800 Financial Plaza Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Dear Mr. Gray,
I am writing in support of Marc C. Kohler’s request that you do what is necessary to establish the Roger Williams Educational Foundation as a not-for-profit organization here in Rhode Island where I might add, given its purpose, it belongs.
I have known Marc since the mid-nineteen-eighties. At that time, he was running The Puppet Workshop and I was invited to join his Board of Directors. During the time I was associated with the Workshop, I became very impressed with the warmth, intelligence, sensitivity, humility, and social consciousness of Mr. Kohler. A Brown University graduate with a passion for the truth and dogged persistence to expose it, he made sure that his Board enabled his mission, and that was to use the medium of puppetry to expose children of all kinds to essential truths of human goodness. The shows were particularly effective with special audiences – children who suffered with autism, for example. He was sure to include child psychologists on his Board, along with others who could help assure that his art was couched in an effective and never hurtful framework. One simple example that I also observed be very effective, was that he was advised to let the children come up on stage after the performance to touch the puppets and understand that the dragon’s teeth were soft and would not hurt and that they were characters designed to first capture the attention of young minds, appeal in a fun way to their imaginations and then a moral lesson could flow along on the winds so created. This art took a lot of hard work, intelligence, and sensitivity. I can think of no finer qualities for a researcher to have than those. And so, it is with all of that in mind that I strongly support Marc’s application. If there is truth to be exposed about our State’s founder, Marc will be the person to do it.
Respectfully submitted,
Edward F. O’Donnell
13 Aspen Lane
Greenville, RI 02828
efodonnell1@gmail.com
cell: (401) 500-2405
From Stephen Snyder, Producer at WGBH: Subject: Roger Williams Educational Foundation incorporation proposal
Douglas G. Gray, Esquire Locke Lord LLP Providence, RI
Dear Douglas:
I am writing to recommend that you help Marc Kohler to incorporate the Roger Williams Educational Foundation as a non-profiit organization with 501(c)(3) status. I am convinced that Marc’s enterprise, creativity and passion can go a long way toward renewing the legacy of Rhode Island’s founder. Your work would help make that happen.
Roger Williams’ idealism, his friendship with the Wampanoags and his dedication to religious liberty made him unique among the European settlers that began our nation. Marc has researched Williams’ life thoroughly. His goals for the Roger Williams Educational Foundation are practical. I can see that, with enough support, Marc could readily train Roger Williams guides, produce a self-directed Roger Williams history trail, or revitalize Roger Williams Park. I would like to see him succeed in this.
I worked with Marc Kohler in the early 1980s as a composer and accompanist for a dozen or more touring puppet shows produced by his Puppet Workshop. Marc was an able manager, a strong mentor for young artists and actors, and he never forgot his mission: to educate and entertain audiences.
I encourage you to consider his proposal to the Pro Bono Committee. And I would be delighted to talk with you more about Marc’s abilities and leadership skills.
Sincerely,
Stephen Snyder
617-650-1753
From Michael Bresler Musician, Music Teacher, and more!
Michael Bresler 61 Geneva Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 (401) 273-9814 breslersmusic@gmail.com
Douglas G. Gray Partner, Locke Lord LLP June 14, 2020
Dear Mr. Gray;
I am writing in support of Mr. Marc Kohler’s grant application for his Roger Williams project. While I am not a Williams scholar, I am someone in a position to know that Mr. Kohler is quite capable of accomplishing what he sets out to do.
Decades ago, I worked for Mr. Kohler for two and a half years as a performer in his Puppet Workshop. He created and operated for many years a 501C(3) corporation which provided thousands of performances to area schoolchildren, and provided steady paying work for dozens of talented people. Many individuals who subsequently produced significant work passed through the doors of The Puppet Workshop.
This is no small matter. To be responsible for the creative side of the operation, and also manage to keeps an arts organization operating, takes sustained focus and hard work. It is on the basis of this experience that I feel sure that Mr. Kohler will be able to make good use of whatever resources are made available to him, to accomplish the laudable goals of The Roger Williams Project.
Sincerely Yours,
Michael Bresler
