By Dan Hinchen

August is leaving us and September steps in. As fall approaches we will see increased activity on our events calendar, but we want to ease into so this week we keep things light.

On Wednesday, 2 September, we have a Brown Bag lunch talk taking place at noon. Pack a lunch and join us to hear Christopher Capozzola of MIT share “Brothers of the Pacific: America’s Forgotten Filipino Armies and the Making of the Pacific Century.” Capozzola’s talk and research explores the relationship between military service, immigration policy, and civil rights in modern American history. This talk is free and open to the public. 

Friday, 4 September, is your last chance to come in and see our current exhibition before it closes. “God Save the People! From the Stamp Act to Bunker Hill” is open to the public free of charge 10:00AM-4:00PM. Come take a look before it goes away for good! To see what is coming up next, be sure to check the Exhibitions page on our website. 

Please note that the MHS is CLOSED Saturday, 5 September, through Monday, 7 September, in observance of Labor Day. Also, the LIBRARY remains CLOSED through Friday, 11 September. Normal hours resume on Saturday, 12 September. 

By Dan Hinchen

It is a quiet week here at the Society as we leave the dog days of summer behind. On Wednesday, 19 August, we have a Brown Bag lunch talk presented by Jordan Taylor of Indiana University. Taylor’s talk, “News in Flux: Early American Information and Commerce in the Age of Revolution,” explores how Americans’ sources of news, as well as their discourses of authority and authenticity, changed over the course of the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions. This talk is free and open to the public and begins at noon. 

Then, on Saturday, 22 August, join us at 10:00AM for the History and Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. This 90-minute, docent-led tour exposes visitors to all of the public spaces in the Society’s home on Boylston street while providing information on the history of the MHS, the collection it holds, and the art and architecture in the building. The tour is free and open to the public with no reservations required for small groups or individuals. Parties of 8 or more should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at abentley@masshist.org or 617-646-0508. 

And finally, remember to come in and see our current exhibition, “God Save the People! From the Stamp Act to Bunker Hill.” The exhibit is free and open to the public, Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-4:00PM, but only until 4 September, so come on in and check it out before it goes away!

By Dan Hinchen

This week at the Society there are two teacher workshops and a Brown Bag taking place. Maritime Massachusetts: Falmouth Stories and Sources, is a three-day program (Monday, 10 August-Wednesday 12 August) which is open to educators and history enthusiasts with a fee of $35. The workshop will begin each morning at 8:30AM and run until 3:30PM. To register or to get more information, complete this registration form, or contact the education department at education@masshist.org or 617-646-0557. This program will take place in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

On Wednesday, 12 August, join us at noon for a Brown Bag lunch talk presented by Julia James, Syracuse University. “Women in the Woods: Crime, Gender, and Community in Colonial New England, 1675-1763” draws upon various primary sources to reveal information about Native women’s community roles and the intercultural relationships formed between Native and English peoples. This talk is free and open to the public.

Then, on Friday, 14 August, the Society hosts a free one-day program for teachers, co-sponsored by TeachingAmericanHistory.org and the Ashbrook Center at Ashland Univesity, and with assistance from the Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation. Framing America’s Constitution is lead by Dr. Gordon Lloyd, Ashbrook Center Senior Fellow and Emeritus Professor at Pepperdine University. For more information, contact the MHS education department at education@masshist.org or 617-646-0557. To register, visit www.TeachingAmericanHistory.org to complete the online registraiton form. 

And on Saturday, 15 August, starting at 10:00AM is the History and Collections of the MHS. This 90-minute, docent-led tour is free and open to the public. Parties of 8 or more, please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org.

By Dan Hinchen

Summer is speeding along and we enter a new month. Here is what is on tap at the Society in the first week of August.

On Wednesday, 5 August, we have a Brown Bag lunch talk taking place at noon. “African Americans and the Cultural Work of Freemasonry: From Revolution Through Reconstruction” is presented by research fellow Sueanna Smith of the University of South Carolina. This talk is free and open to the public. Pack a lunch and come on by.

Also on Wednesday, beginning at 6:00PM, is a public author talk. This talk features journalist James Schlett presenting his new book, A Not Too Greatly Changed Eden: The Story of the Philosophers’ Camp in the Adirondacks. Registration is required for this event at no cost, please RSVP. There will be a pre-talk reception at 5:30PM. 

And on Saturday, 8 August, there is a free tour of the Society beginning at 10:00PM. The History and Collections of the MHS is a 90-minute, docent-led tour through the buildings public spaces which touches on the history, art, architecture, and collections of the MHS. No reservation needed for individuals or small groups. Parties of 8 or more should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. 

By Dan Hinchen

The lone event on the calendar this week is our free tour, “The History and Collections of the MHS.” This tour is open to the public and begins at 10:00AM. Parties of 8 or more should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. 

By Dan Hinchen

By Dan Hinchen

It is all about the teachers this week at the Society as we host another three-day teacher workshop, starting on Tuesday, 14 July. This time around, participants have the opportunity to get acquainted with John and Abigail Adams in “John & Abigail: A Life in Letters.” For more information: contact the education department at education@masshist.orgor 617-646-0557. To register: visit The Education Cooperative website: http://www.tec-coop.org/sites/default/files/PD-Sum15-AbigailandJohn.pdf. 

Also, on Saturday, 18 July, join us for a tour of the Society. “The History and Collections of the MHS” is an opportunity for visitors to get an informational look at the art, architecture, collections, and history of the MHS. Free and open to the public, the tour is docent-led and lasts about 90 minutes. No need for individuals or small groups to make reservations. However, parties of 8 or more should contact the Curator of Art, Anne Bentley, at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. 

By Dan Hinchen

July is here and it is a busy month for teachers at the Society. This week, starting on Tuesday, 7 July, there is a three-day teacher workshop titled “Perspectives on the Boston Massacre.” The workshop includes a visit and tour to the Old State House, discussion with historians using historical documents, and suggestions for exploring the event further. Registration is required for the workshop with a fee of $35. Complete this registration form, or contact the education department at education@masshist.org or 617-646-0557.

On Wedensday, at noon, is a Brown Bag lunch talk called “Native Hawaiian Labor in a Global Economy: The View from Nineteenth-Century New England.” In this talk, Gregory Rosentahl of SUNY Stony Brook discusses the mansucript and archival sources he is currently using in his current research project. The talk is free and open to the public, so pack a lunch and stop on by!

And on Thursday, 9 July, there is an author talk taking place at 5:30PM. Join us as John Ferling of the University of West Virginia discusses his new book Whirlwind: The American Revolution and the War That Won It. In the book, Ferling attempts to balance social and political concerns of the period while examning the war itself. This event is open to the public. Registration is required at no cost, so please RSVP.

Finally, on Saturday, 11 July, stop by at 10:00AM for “The History and Collections of the MHS.” During this is a 90-minute docent-led walk through the public spaces at the MHS, visitors will learn about the history, collections, art, and architecture at the Society. The tour is free and open to the public. Parties of 8 or more should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. Small groups and individuals do not need to make arrangements beforehand. 

By Dan Hinchen

There are no events on the calendar this week at the Society. Please note that the library is closed on Friday, 3 July, though the exhibition galleries will remain open, 10:00AM-4:00PM. The MHS is closed on Saturday, 4 July. Normal hours resume on Monday, 6 July.

Happy Independence Day!

By Dan Hinchen

It is another quiet week at the MHS with only two items on the calendar. First up, on Wednesday, 24 June, is the MHS Fellows Annual Meeting & Reception. MHS Fellows are invited to the Society’s annual business meeting and reception. The meeting begins at 5:00PM and registration is required at no cost. Plesae call 617-646-0572 with any questions. This event is open only to MHS Fellows. 

And on Saturday, 27 June, if you find yourself strolling about the city and enjoying the new summer, why not stop by for a free tour? The History and Collections of the MHS is a free, docent-led, 90-minute tour that exposes visitors to all of the public spaces at the Society, while providing information about the art and architecture, history, and collections here. The tour is open to the public. Larger parties (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at abentley@masshist.org or 617-646-0508.