By Dan Hinchen

As our season of programs winds down, there is but a single lonely item on the calendar this week. Join us on Saturday, 20 June, for the History and Collections of the MHS. This free tour, open to the poublic, is led by a docent and lasts about 90 minutes. Visitors will tour the public spaces at the Society while learning about the art, architecture, history, and collections held here. No need for reservations for individuals and small groups. However, large parties (8 or more) should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org.

And do not forget to come in and view our current exhibition. Open to the public and free of charge, “God Save the People!: From the Stamp Act to Bunker Hill” features documents, images, art, and artifacts from the Society’s holdings to illustrate this turbulent time in the city’s (and the nation’s) history. The exhibit is open Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-4:00PM.

By Dan Hinchen

Once again, we are doubling-up on the Brown Bag lunch talks this week. We also have a public program and a free tour on the slate. 

First, on Monday, 8 June, stop by at noon for “Stray Threads: How the Factory System Unravelled Terms in Women’s Labor in the Early Industrial Era.” This talk is given by short-term research fellow Meghan Wadle of Southern Methodist University. Brown bag talks are free and open to the public. 

And on Wednesday, 10 June, pack another lunch and come in for “Wilderness and the Continental Soldiers’ Mind: Eighteenth-Century Ideas About the Environment of Eastern Massachusetts, 1775.” This talk by Daniel Soucier, University of Maine, is part of a larger doctoral dissertation project and it focuses on Benedict Arnold’s invasion of Canada in 1775. 

Also on Wednesday, beginning at 6:00PM, is a reception for Boston Historical Societies. The MHS is pleased to invite representatives of local historical organizations for a chance to mingle and inform their neighbors about recent accomplishments and current projects. RSVP required at no cost. 

Finally, on Saturday, 13 June, come in for the History and Collections of the MHS. This docent-led, 90-minute tour exposes guests to all of the public spaces in the Society’s home on Boylston Street. 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.

By Dan Hinchen

June is arrived, and with it come brown bags and conversations at the MHS. 

On Monday, 1 June, stop by at noon for a Brown Bag lunch talk given by Kristina Garvin of Ohio State University. “The Cultural Work of the Serial in U.S. Literature, 1786-1815” gives an overview of serial ficiton in the early republic and explores its particular uses and features. This program is free and open to the public. 

Wednesday, 3 June, sees another Brown Bag starting at noon, this time given by Jordan Smith of Georgetown University. His project, “The Invention of Rum,” investigates the history of rum in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. 

On Wednesday evening, there is a special author talk and conversation facilitated by independent author and activisit Jim Vrabel. “How Community Activism Made the New Boston Better” will focus on the rise in community activism in the 1960s and 1970s as well as the state of activism today. Joining Vrabel are Tom Corrigan, Moe Gillen, Renee Loth, and M. Daniel Richardson, Jr. This event is open to the public with a fee of $10 (no charge for Fellows and Members), and registration is required so please RSVP. A pre-talk reception begins at 5:30PM with the event starting at 6:00PM. 

And on Saturday, 6 June, stop by at 10:00AM for the History and Collections of the MHS. Docent-led and lasting about 90 minutes, this free tour explores the public rooms in our historic building and touches on the art, history, architecture and collections at the Society. Tours are open to the public, free of charge, with no reservation needed for individuals or small groups. Parties of 8 or more should contact the Curator of Art, Anne Bentley, in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org.

Also on Saturday, beginning at 1:00PM, is the third installment of “Begin at the Beginning: Boston’s Founding Documents.” Led by historian Abby Chandler and the Partnership of Historic Bostons will look at the Massachusetts 1641 Body of Liberties, the first legal code in the English colonies. The talk is free and open to the public, RSVP required. No expertise necessary, just an interest in the history of where we live. 

Finally, don’t forget to come in and view our current exhibition: “God Save the People! From the Stamp Act to Bunker Hill.” This exhibit is open to the public free of charge, Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-4:00PM.

By Dan Hinchen

It is a shortened week here at the Society with a couple of early closures and a long weekend. 

Please note that the Library closes early on Tuesday, 19 May, at 3:45PM, and on Wednesday, 20 May, at 3:30PM. 

On Tuesday, 19 May, there is an Early American History seminar taking place at 5:15PM. “Slavery in Massachusetts” is a panel discussion featuring Barbara A. Mathews of Historic Deerfield, Gloria McCahon Whiting of Harvard University, and Maria A. Bollettino of Framingham State University. The session considers two papers, Mathews’ “‘Is This Where Titus Lived?’ Researching and Intepreting African-American Presence in 18th-Century Rural New England,” and Whiting’s “The Body of Liberties and Bodies in Bondage: Dorcas the Blackmore, Dorchester’s First Church, and the Legalization of Slavery in the Anglo-Atlantic World.” This event is free and open to the public. 

And on Wednesday, 20 May, is the second installment of the Utopian Settlement series. “Mr. Ripley’s Utopia” consists of a lecture and walking tour at Brook Farm (670 Baker Street in West Roxbury). The event is guided by Peter Drummey, Stephen T. Riley Librarian (MHS) and Maggi Brown, Regional Interpretive Coordinator (DCR). The program begins at 5:30PM – Sold Out

The MHS is CLOSED on Saturday, 23 May – Monday, 25 May, in observance of Memorial Day. Normal hours resume on Tuesday, 26 May.

By Dan Hinchen

It is a quiet week here at the Society with just two items on the calendar. 

First, on Wednesday, 15 May, there is an author talk beginning at 6:00PM. Join us as Zach Hutchins, Assistant Professor of English at Colorado State University presents “Puritan Paradise: Eden in Massachusetts & Beyond.” In this talk, Hutchins will draw on research conducted for his recently published first book, Inventing Eden: Primitivism, Millenialism, and the Making of New England (Oxford UP, 2014). Preceding the talk is a reception that begins at 5:30PM. This talk is free and open to the public, though registration is required. Please RSVP. This program is the first installment of the Utopian Settlement series, with two more events taking place later in May.

Then, on Saturday, 18 May, stop by at 10:00AM for the History and Collections of the MHS. This 90-minute, docent-led tour explores all of the public space in the Society’s home on Boylston St., touching on the art, collections, history, and architecture of the MHS. The tour is free and open to the public with no need for reservations for individuals or small groups. However, groups of 8 or more should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at abentley@masshist.org or 617-646-0508.

Finally, do not forget to come in anytime Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-4:00PM to view our current exhibition, “God Save the People!: From the Stamp Act to Bunker Hill.”

By Dan Hinchen

It feels as if spring is finally here to stay. Why not take advantage of the warming and stop by the Society for some public programs?

On Tuesday, 5 May, there is an Early American History seminar beginning at 5:15PM. “‘All Manner of Slavery Servitude Labor Service Bondage and Hire’: Varieties of Indian and African Unfreedom in Colonial New England and Jamaica” is presented by Linford Fisher of Brown University, with Jennifer Anderson of SUNY – Stonybrook providing comment. Seminars are free and open to the public, RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers. 

Come by on Wednesday, 6 May, for a Brown Bag lunch talk featuring Charlotte Carrington-Farmer of Roger Williams University. Her talk, “Slave Horse: The Narragansett Pacer,” examines the connections among people, colonnies, and nations in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, using horses and the horse trade as a lens. 

And on Saturday, 9 May, stop by at 10:00AM for the History and Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. This 90-minute docent-led walk through the public rooms at the Society touches on the art, collections, history, and architecture of the MHS. The tour is free and open to the public with no need for reservations for individuals or small groups. Larger parties (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. While you are here you will also have the opportunity to view our current exhibition, “God Save the People! From the Stamp Act to Bunker Hill.”

By Dan Hinchen

On Tuesday, 28 April, we have an Immigration and Urban History seminar. “Due Credit: Chinese Workers and the Central Pacific Railroad” is presented by Manu Vimalassery of Barnard College, with Hidetaka Hirota of Columbia University providing comment. The talk begins at 5:15PM and is free and open to the public, RSVP required. 

And closing out the month on Wednesday, 29 April, there is an author talk with Jasmine Nicole Cobb, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Northwestern University. “Picture Freedom” explores the earliest illustrations of free Blacks and reveals the compliated route through visual culture toward a vision of African American citizenship. The talk begins at 6:00PM and is open to the public with a fee of $10 (no charge for Fellows and Members). There is a reception preceding the talk at 5:30PM. Registration is required, so please RSVP.  

Entering the new month, there are two events on Saturday, 2 May. First up, beginning at 10:00AM is the History and Collections of the MHS. This 90-minute docent-led tour explores all of the public spaces in the Society’s home on Boylston Street and is free and open to the public. Larger parties (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org in advance. 

Also on 2 May is a rare Saturday evening event. May Day Mayday! is a conversation among three eminent historians – William Fowler, Nathaniel Philbrick, and Michael Tougias – sharing stories of catastrophes at sea. This program is open to the public and registration is required with a fee of $20 (no charge for Fellows and Members). Please RSVP here. There is a reception preceding the talk at 5:30PM with the event starting at 6:00PM. 

By Dan Hinchen

The Society is closed on Monday, 20 April, in observance of Patriot’s Day. Good luck to the marathon runners!

On Tuesday, 21 April, there are three events taking place that all focus on comics and history. First, beginning at 2:00PM, is “Comic History: Making Your Own Comic History.” This Family Day program for young historians, parents, and grandparents features historian John L. Bell telling the story of the riots that followed the passage of the Stamp Act in 1765 from a child’s point of view. Follwoing the talk, local comic book artists will help the young historians create their own historical comics. Finished products will be part of a temporary display. Registration is required at no cost; please RSVP. 

Then, at 6:00PM, join us for “Colonial Comics.” Editor Jason Rodriguez, Fulcrum Publishing, will speak about the process of putting together a collection of twenty stories focusing on the colonial period from 1620 to 1750. Registration is required at no cost; please RSVP. A reception will precede the talk starting at 5:30PM. Following the event, at 7:30PM, MHS Associate Members (age 40 and under) are invited to join Mr. Rodriguez for Colonial Comics Happy Hour, a chance to continue the discussion about historical events as subject matter for comic books and graphic novels. The event will take place at a nearby restaurant. Registration required at no cost. Please call 617-646-0543 for more information. 

On Thursday, 23 April, join us for a History of Women and Gender seminar discussion. “Mildred Jefferson and the Right to Life Revolution of 1976” is presented by Jennifer Donnally of Hollins University with Sara L. Dubow, Williams College, providing comment. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers. 

Finally, on Saturday, 25 April, there is a special event taking place at the Society starting at 9:00AM. “Massachusetts History Lab” is a program designed for students in grades 5-8 to learn more about the behind-the-scenes activities at one of the country’s oldest organizations devoted to our nation’s history. Registration is required at no cost; please RSVP. Students must register with an adult chaperone. For more information, contact the Education department at education@masshist.org or 617-646-0557. 

By Dan Hinchen

On Tuesday, 14 April, there is an Environmental History seminar taking place at 5:15PM. Join us as Joel Tarr of Carnegie Mellon University presents “Legacy Pollution Issues in Energy Development: The Cases of Manufactured Gas and Natural Gas.” Patrick Malong, Brown University, provides comment. Seminars are free and open to the public, though RSVP is required. You can also subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers. 

And on Wednesday, 15 April, there is a Brown Bag talk, starting at noon, in which Mary Draper of the University of Virginia presents “The Urban World of the Early Modern British Caribbean.” Draper’s project examines the history fo the early modern British Caribbean through its cities and urban residents. This event is free and open to the public. 

Also on Wednesday is the fourth installment of the Lincoln & the Legacy of Conflict series which features John Stauffer, Professor of English and African American Studies at Harvard University. “Mourning Lincoln & Racial Equality” explores the responses of Frederick Douglass and other black and white abolitionists to Lincoln’s assassination and the degree to which it prompted Northerners to consider and accept full black citizenship. Registration is required for this event with a fee of $20 (no charge for Fellows and Members). Please RSVP. There will be a short reception beginning at 5:30PM with the program beginning at 6:00PM. 

Finally, on Saturday, 18 April, stop by the Society for a free tour. The History and Collections of the MHS is a 90-minute docent-led tour that explores all of the public spaces in the Society’s building on Boylston Street, touching on the history, art, architecture, and collections of the MHS. The tour begins at 10:00AM and is open to the public with no need for reservations for individuals or small groups. If would like to bring a larger group (8 or more) please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. While you are here you will also have the opportunity to view our current exhibition, “God Save the People! From the Stamp Act to Bunker Hill.” 

Please note that the Society is closed on Monday, 20 April, in observance of Patriot’s Day.

By Dan Hinchen

It is an active week here at the Society. Here is what is on tap.

Kicking things off on Monday, 6 April, is a special book launch featuring author David Grayson Allen and his new publication Investment Management in Boston: A History. This book explores the history of Boston’s evolution as a center of American money management, from early settlement to the twenty-first century. This event begins at 5:30PM and is open to the public. Please RSVP by calling 617-646-0578. 

On Wednesday, 8 April, stop by at noon for a Brown Bag lunch talk. This time around we have Jacqueline Reynoso of Cornell University presenting “When ‘the Fourteenth Colony’ Lost its Place: Quebec after 1776.” This event is free and open to the public. 

Also on Wednesday is the third program in the Lincoln & the Legacy of Conflict series. Join us as Martha Hodes, Professory of History – New York University, presents “Mourning Lincoln.” This event is open to the public with a fee of $20 (no charge for Fellows and Members). Registration is required so please RSVP. Reception begins at 5:30PM and the program begins at 6:00PM. 

And on Thursday, 9 April, begins “‘So Sudden an Alteration’: The Causes, Course, and Consequences of the American Revolution.” This conference continues on Friday and Saturday, 10 and 11 April and consists of a variety of sessions focused on discussion of academic papers circlated prior to the conference. While the conference is open to the public, registration is required to attend the various sessions. 

Kicking off the conference on Thursday evening is the keynote address given by Holton McCauslan, Professor of History at the University of South Carolina. McCausland’s talk, “‘Not Yet’: The Originality Crisis in American Revolution Studies” begins at 5:00PM and is followed by a reception, 6:00PM-8:00PM. All are welcome to attend. RSVP by email or phone 617-646-0568.

Please note that the library closes early at 3:30PM on Thursday, 9 April, and remains closed on Friday and Saturday, 10-11 April. Normal hours resume on Monday, 13 April.