newsletter

May 2013

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The Annotated Newspapers of Harbottle Dorr, Jr. Website Launched

The MHS staff is pleased to announce the launch of a new website providing access to a set of Revolutionary-era Boston newspapers collected, annotated, and indexed by Harbottle Dorr, Jr., from 1765-1776. Dorr, a shopkeeper, conscientiously collected and assembled 3,969 pages of newspapers and other documents into 4 volumes. He systematically indexed the contents of the newspapers, and, as he was well versed in the heated politics of the day, Dorr annotated many pages with his opinions, cross-referenced articles elsewhere in the collection, and sometimes noted the identities of anonymous contributors. Visitors to the website can explore the collection outline, or browse by newspaper title or date. High-quality digital images of all 805 newspaper issues (over 3,300 pages) make it easy for users to examine Dorr's handwritten annotations in the margins. The website facilitates access to the indexes Dorr assembled by providing digital images of the 133 index pages, electronic transcriptions of those index pages, and a search tool that enables users to search for words Dorr used in his index terms. This extraordinary four-volume set and the new website provide the insights of an ordinary man as the Revolution unfolded around him. Browse the Annotated Newspapers of Harbottle Dorr, Jr. to learn more.

Personal Recollections of the Events Surrounding the Boston Marathon Bombings

"The town of Boston is a spectacle worthy of the attention of a deity, suffering amazing distress, yet determined to endure as much as human nature can, rather than betray America and posterity."
-Letter from John Adams to a friend in London, 21 January 1775

Since 1791, the MHS has been collecting the letters, diaries, and other personal papers of individuals and families. Millions of pages of documents—diaries, pamphlets, books, newspapers, photographs, and thousands of letters—record the accounts and stories of American history. As we recover from the tragic events of 15 April that occurred in connection with the 117th Boston Marathon, the Society is calling for personal recollections of the events as a record of this time in Boston's history. In keeping with our collecting strength, we are seeking personal written accounts as well as small artifacts related to the race that are connected to your memories. If you would like to share your recollections, please fill out the donation form and return it along with your recollections to Brenda Lawson, Director of Collections Services, Massachusetts Historical Society, 1154 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02215. Please contact Brenda Lawson with any questions at blawson@masshist.org.

From the Stacks: Whist and Poetry in 19th Century Brookline

Of the many social club records held by the MHS, the Brookline Whist Club's records are unique. Established in early 1874, the Whist Club's members gathered to socialize with crackers, cheese, and sherry and to play whist, a 17th-century English card game closely related to bridge. The club's record book curiously holds far more whimsy than winning records; it does not contain proceedings of the organization or lists of appointed officers, but rather a volume of poetry produced during the Saturday evening meetings. Read more about the Brookline Whist Club and its poetry.

Adams Papers Receive NHPRC Grant

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission has awarded the MHS a one-year grant for $148,209 in support of its project to edit the Adams Papers. This award marks 40 years of continuous support from the Commission for the publication of the papers and correspondence of John and Abigail Adams and their children. During the upcoming grant period, the Adams Papers will submit the 17th volume of the Papers of John Adams to Harvard University Press.

Sounds of the Civil War

On Wednesday, 29 May at 6:00 PM, the MHS will be filled with the sounds of the Civil War. Visitors are invited to sing along with the Boston Saxophone Quartet as we explore the music of this era. The program will feature familiar tunes from the 1860s that were sung around the parlor piano, as well as songs written specifically for the newest instrument of the era, the saxophone. The evening will include musical performances and historical commentary on the selected pieces. There is a $30 fee ($20 for MHS Fellows and Members). The program is free for MHS Fund Giving Circle members. Register by calling 617-646-0557 or by e-mailing education@masshist.org. Learn more about the Boston Saxophone Quartet at www.bostonsaxquartet.com.

Kudos to the MHS Seminars

The Society's five seminar series draw to a close for the academic year in April and May, but an acknowledgment in a new monograph reminds us of their ongoing vitality. In The Hub's Metropolis: Greater Boston's Development from Railroad Suburbs to Smart Growth, James C. O'Connell writes: "Perhaps the leading influence [on the book] has been the Environmental History Seminar at the Massachusetts Historical Society . . . I have learned a lot from its members and have enjoyed their fellowship." Join us again in the fall when we start a new year of seminars. As we complete our plans for the coming year we will provide full information on the 2013-2014 series.

Time is Running Out to Support the MHS Fund

"Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation"
- Walter Cronkite

By donating to the MHS Fund, you connect with the American experience through our unparalleled collections, publications, programs, exhibitions, and online resources. You support the Society's mission to share the documents that define America's past, so we can better understand how the past informs who we are today and the challenges we face as a nation. If you have not already contributed to the MHS Fund this year, please consider making a gift today to help us reach our goal by the end of the fiscal year on Sunday, 30 June. We are grateful for gifts of any amount to the MHS Fund. With a donation of $500 or more, you can become a member of one of the MHS Fund Giving Circles and enjoy a full year of social, cultural, and educational experiences reserved for this select group. By contributing to the MHS Fund, you make the Society a vibrant place where history happens!

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Object of the Month

"This Convulsed Commonwealth": Daniel Shays Attempts to Call a Truce during Shays' Rebellion, the Agrarian Revolt Named for Him

Daniel Shays and Daniel Gray were two of the leaders of Shays' Rebellion, a revolt by citizens of central and western Massachusetts against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts during 1786 and 1787 over oppressive taxation and unresponsive government. This letter, dated 25 January 1787, to General Benjamin Lincoln, who was marching westward to quell the rebellion, seems to offer one last chance to avoid armed conflict. Read more about Daniel Shays and "his" Revolt.

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Looking at the Civil War: Massachusetts Finds Her Voice

May 1863: "...I hope soon to see Stephen again, alive and well."

Letter from Warren H. Cudworth to [John Sherman or George Harvey] Emerson, 15 May 1863

Writing to a brother of Private Stephen Goodhue Emerson on 15 May 1863, Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, chaplain of the First Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, states his assumption that Emerson had been taken prisoner by the Confederates earlier in the month. Emerson and his fellow soldiers in Company H of the First Massachusetts were in the thick of the action during the Battle of Chancellorsville and Emerson was last seen on the third of May. At the time Cudworth writes, his ultimate fate was unknown. Read more about Stephen Goodhue Emerson and Warren H. Cudworth.

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On View

Closing 24 May - Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land: Boston Abolitionists, 1831-1865

Massachusetts, the home of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and The Liberator, was the nexus for the American antislavery movement. This exhibition will feature manuscripts; broadsides and banners announcing antislavery meetings and fairs; artifacts—including the imposing stone for The Liberator; and portraits of key players to illustrate the role of Massachusetts in the national debate over slavery and demonstrate how the movement was communicated and followed.

Visit www.masshist.org/features/boston-abolitionists, a companion website, featuring manuscripts, photographs, and artifacts from the antislavery movement from the Society's collections.

Closing 24 May - Forever Free: Lincoln & the Emancipation Proclamation

This exhibition features the pen used by Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation on 1 January 1863 as well as a bronze cast made from a study model of Daniel Chester French's statue for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Visitors can learn how the MHS acquired the pen and view paintings, broadsides, engravings, and manuscripts that tell the story of how Boston celebrated emancipation.

Closing 24 May - Lincoln in Manuscript & Artifact

This exhibition displays documents and artifacts related to Abraham Lincoln. Featured items include Lincoln's famous 1855 letter to Joshua F. Speed explaining his evolving views on slavery and the casts of the life mask and hands of Lincoln made by Leonard Volk in the spring of 1860.

Exhibitions are free and open to the public, Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The galleries will be open on Tuesday, 1 January, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

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MHS Events Calendar

Please note that the building and library will be closed for Memorial Day on 27 May.

Wednesday, 8 May 6:00 PM

Annual Jefferson Lecture
New Perspectives on Jefferson's Monticello: House, Landscape, & Family
Susan R. Stein, Monticello
Pre-Talk Reception at 5:30 PM
RSVP required

Saturday, 11 May 10:00 AM

MHS Tour
The History and Collections of the MHS

Wednesday, 15 May 12:00 PM

Brown-Bag
Cotton Mather Encounters the Gods of Egypt: The Transatlantic Enlightenment & the Origin of Pagan Religions
Reiner Smolinski, Georgia State University

Thursday, 16 May 6:00 PM

Dramatic Reading
"The Tender Heart & Brave": The Politics & Friendship of Charles Sumner & Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Rob Velella, Longfellow-Washington's Headquarters NHS and Stephen Puleo, author of The Caning
Pre-Talk Reception at 5:30 PM
RSVP required

Saturday, 18 May 10:00 AM

MHS Tour
The History and Collections of the MHS

Wednesday, 29 May 12:00 PM

Brown-Bag
Representing the Race: African American Performances of Slavery & Freedom in the 19th Century
Heather Cooper, University of Iowa

Wednesday, 29 May 6:00 PM

Concert
Sounds of the Civil War
Boston Saxophone Quartet
Fee $30 public / $20 MHS Fellows and Members
RSVP required

Saturday, 1 June 10:00 AM

MHS Tour
The History and Collections of the MHS

Monday, 3 June 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Conference
"Listen my children and you shall hear": Balancing History & Myth in Massachusetts Public History
Keynote Speaker: Ray Raphael
Location: College of the Holy Cross in Worcester
The conference is presented by Mass Humanities, Massachusetts Historical Society, University of Massachusetts Amherst Public History Program, and the University of Massachusetts Boston Public History and Archives Track
Register at wwww.masshumanities.org/history_conference

Tuesday, 4 June 12:00 PM

Author Talk
What "The Federalist Papers" Are Not
Ray Raphael

Saturday, 8 June 10:00 AM

MHS Tour
The History and Collections of the MHS

All events are free and open to the public and held at the MHS unless otherwise noted. Reservations are requested for most events. There is a charge to receive seminar papers in advance.

For complete event and RSVP information, visit the MHS online calendar: www.masshist.org/events.

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