By Dan Hinchen

The Society is closed on Monday, 19 January, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

On Wednesday, 21 January, join us as the Boston Saxophone Quartet performs a selection of songs that take the audience through the musical landscape of World War I. “Here Comes America” begins at 6:00PM with a reception beginning at 5:30PM. This event is open to the public at a cost of $10 (no charge for Fellows and Members). Please call 617-646-0578 to register.

Calling all history teachers! On Saturday, 24 January, the Society will host a teacher workshop co-sponsored by the Abigail Adams Historical Society. “John & Abigail: A Life in Letters” is a hands-on workshop that (re)introduces participants to the famous couple and their rich correspondence. This program is open to all K-12 educators, as well as history enthusiasts. The workshop begins at 9:00AM. Regsitration is required with a fee of $50. For more information, or to register, contact the education departpment at education@masshist.org or 617-646-0557, or, complete this registration form.

Also on Saturday, 24 January, beginning at 10:00AM, is the History and Collections of the MHS, a 90-minute docent-led tour of the public spaces at the Society. The tour is free and open to the public with no reservations required. If you would like to bring a larger party (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. 

Finally, this week is your last chance to see our current exhibition before it closes. “Letters and Photographs from the Battle Country” is open this week every day, 10:00AM-4:00PM, ending on Saturday. Be sure to see if before it’s gone!

By Dan Hinchen

It is the return of the seminars this week at the MHS. Up first, on Tuesday, 13 January, from the Environmental History series is “The Rise and Fall of the Texas Longhorn.” This talk, given by Joshua Specht of Harvard University, explores the crossroads of economics and biology in the evolution of the cattle ranching industry. Comment provided by Beth LaDow, author of The Medicine Line: Life and Death on a North American Borderland. The talk begins at 5:15PM. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.

On Wednesday, 14 January, stop by at noon for a Brown Bag lunch talk given by Kate Culkin of Bronx Community College, CUNY. “The Emerson Sisters’ Correspondence: A Record of Daily Life in the Emerson Home and Nineteenth-Century Concord” explores the changing world of the nineteenth century through the correspondence of two daughters of Ralph Waldo Emerson. This event is free and open to the public. 

Another seminar takes place on Thursday, 15 January, this time from the Biography series. The panel, moderated by Caroly Bundy, will discuss “Biography, the Visual Artist, and the Story Behind Public Art.” This seminar begins at 5:30PM. Please RSVP. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.

Finally, once again there is a free tour taking place on Saturday, 17 January, at 10:00AM. The History and Collections of the MHS is a 90-minute docent-led tour through the public spaces of the Society’s home at 1154 Boylston Street. The tour is open to the public at no charge. If you would like to bring a larger party (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org.

By Dan Hinchen

As the new year begins, it is a quiet first week back at the MHS. 

On Wednesday, 7 January, join us for a rare musical program at the Society. “Over There: The Boys Who Went to Fight and the Women Who Endured” tells the story of the U.S.’s involvement in WWI and its effects on the nation’s women, men, and children, starting from before the U.S. entered the war until after the war when the “boys came home”. A reception for the event begins at 5:30PM and the program begins at 6:00PM. The event is open to the public for a $10 fee (no charge for Fellows and Members). Registration is required for this event. You can register online or call 617-646-0578.

On Saturday, 10 January, is a tour of the Society’s building at 1154 Boylston Street. The History and Collections of the MHS is a 90-minute docent-led walk through our public rooms. The tour is free and open to the public, with no need for reservations. If you would like to bring a larger party (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. While you’re here you will also have the opportunity to view our current exhibition, “Letters and Photographs from the Battle Country: Massachusetts Women in World War I.” This exhibit ends on Saturday, 24 January 2015. Catch it before it goes!

Also, please note that the other current exhibit, “The Father of His Country Returns to Boston, October 24, 1789,” ends on Friday, 9 January. Come in this week anytime, 10:00AM-4:00PM, to have a last look!

By Dan Hinchen

There is only one item on the schedule this week as we close-in on our winter break. On Saturday, 20 December, join us for a free tour of the building at 1154 Boylston St. “The History and Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society” is a 90-minute docent-led walk through our public rooms. The tour is free and open to the public with no need for reservations. If you would like to bring a larger party (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. 

Also, our exhibition galleries remain open so you can view both of our current exhibits: “Letters and Photographs from the Battle Country” and “The Father of His Country Returns to Boston, October 24, 1789.” The galleries are open to the public Monday through Saturday, 10:00AM to 4:00PM.

Please note that the MHS library will be closed beginning on Wednesday, 24 December and will not re-open until Monday, 5 January. During that time, the galleries will be open to the public on 26-27 December, 29-30 December, and 2-3 January. As always, keep an eye on our Calendar of Events to see what is coming up in January!

By Dan Hinchen

This is the final week of the year with events here at the Society. Here is what is on tap. 

On Monday, 8 December, there is a special public program presented by students from Boston University. “Making History: King Philip’s War in Documents & Artifacts” is the culmination of a semester-long project on the bloody conflict between English colonists and Native Americans, using letters and diaries, sermons, early printed books, and objects from the war. The event begins at 6:00PM and is free and open to the public. Please RSVP. 

Then, on Tuesday, 9 December, come by at 5:15PM for the next installment of the Environmental History seminar series. “Water Rights in the American Southwest” is presented by Steven Rudnick of UMass – Boston with author Megan Kate Nelson (Ruin Nation: Destruction and the American Civil War) providing comment. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.

And on Thursday, 11 December, there is a special author talk starting at 6:00PM. Writer-explorer Sheldon Bart presents “Race to the Top of the World: Richarc Byrd & the First Flight to the North Pole,” and will discuss his recent book of the same name. This talk is open to the public, registration required. There is a $10 fee (no charge for Fellows and Members). Please call 617- 646-0560 or click here to register. Pre-talk reception begins at 5:30PM.

Last but not least, on Saturday, 13 December, come by for a free tour beginning at 10:00AM. The History and Collections of the MHS is a 90-minute docent-led walk through our public rooms. The tour is free and open to the public with no need for reservations. If you would like to bring a larger party (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. While you’re here you will also have the opportunity to view our current exhibition, “Letters and Photographs from the Battle Country: Massachusetts Women in World War I.”

We hope to see you one last time before the new year!

By Dan Hinchen

Before the long holiday weekend ahead we have two events at the Society this week. On Monday, 24 November, join us for a Brown Bag lunch talk given by Nathan Jérémie-Brink, Loyola University Chicago. “‘Gratuitous Distribution’: Distributing African American Antislavery Texts, 1773-1850” is free and open to the public and begins at noon. And on Tuesday, 25 November, we have the next installment in our Immigration and Urban History Seminar series. Stop by at 5:15PM for “‘Greetings from the Levee!’: Labor and Leisure on the Streets and Docks of Postbellum New Orleans.” This talk is presented by Theresa McCulla of Harvard University with Lynnell Thomas, UMass-Boston, providing comment. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.

Please note that the Society is closed on Thursday, 27 November, for Thanksgiving. The library is also closed on Friday and Saturday, 28 and 29 November. The exhibition galleries are open on Friday and Saturday, 28 and 29 November. Take a break from battling the shopping crowds and come in for some history! There is also a free tour taking place on Saturday, 29 November, at 10:00AM. 

By Dan Hinchen

We are kicking things off this week with a rare Sunday event, an MHS blue moon, if you will. Beginning at 1:30PM on Sunday, 16 November, is a special screening of The Better Angels, a film about Abraham Lincoln’s childhood.The screening is followed by a discussion led by Professor John Stauffer of Harvard University, current long-term research fellow at the Society. This event takes place at Landmark Theaters in Kendall Square (355 Binney Street, One Kendal Square, Cambridge, MA 02139).

On Monday, 17  November, join us at 6:00PM for an author talk given by Lindford D. Fisher of Brown University and J. Stanley Lemons of Rhode Island College. Decoding Roger Williams: The Lost Essay of Rhode Island’s Founding Father documents the interdisciplinary approach to cracking Williams’ handwritten code. There is a $10 fee (no charge for Fellows and Members). Please call 617-646-0560 or click here to register.

And on Tuesday, 18 November, come by for an Environmental History Seminar given by Derek Lee Nelson, University of New Hampshire. “The Ravages of Teredo: The Historical Impacts of Marine Wood-boring Worms on American Society, Geography, and Culture, 1865-1930” begins at 5:15PM and is free and open to the public. Robert Martello of Olin College of Engineering provides comment. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Also, you can subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.

Last but not least, on Saturday, 22 November, there is another free tour at the Society. “The History and Collections of the MHS” is a 90-minute docent-led walk through our public rooms. The tour is free and open to the public with no need for reservations. If you would like to bring a larger party (8 or more), please first contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. While you’re here you will also have the opportunity to view our current exhibitions, “Letters and Photographs from the Battle Country: Massachusetts Women in World War I” and “The Father of His Country Returns to Boston, October 24, 1789.”

By Dan Hinchen

After a flurry of activity to close out last week, this one starts a little bit more slowly. Please note that the Society is closed on Tuesday, 11 November, in observance of Veteran’s Day. Happy Armistice!

On Wednesday, 12 November, join us at noon for a Brown Bag lunch talk given by Johann Neem of Western Washington University and the University of Virginia. In this talk, titled “Making the Self-Made American: The Original Meanings and Purposes of America’s Public Schools,” Neem discusses the collective effort required to achieve American individualism. This talk is free and open to the public. 

Then, on Friday, 14 November, beginning at noon is a free author talk. Join award-winning food and drinks writer Corin Hirsch as she discusses her first book, “Forgotten Drinks of Colonial New England.” This event is open to the public at no cost.

And on Saturday, 15 November, we return with “The History and Collections of the MHS.” This 90-minute, docent-led tour explores all of the public space in the Society’s home at 1154 Boylston St., touching on the art, architecture, collections, and history of the institution. The tour is free and open to the public with no need for reservations. If you would like to bring a larger party (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. While you’re here you will also have the opportunity to view our current exhibitions, “Letters and Photographs from the Battle Country: Massachusetts Women in World War I,” and “The Father of His Country Returns to Boston, October 24, 1789.”

By Dan Hinchen

Here we are again looking at events taking place at the MHS in the week ahead. On Wednesday, 5 November, there is a Brown Bag lunch talk beginning at noon and presented by the Society’s new Director of Public Programs, Gavin Kleespies. In his talk “Choosing Challenges,” Gavin will give a rough outline of his goals, as well as his plans to meet them, in his new position. This event is free and open to the public. 

Also on Wednesday, 5 November, is an author talk featuring James Redfearn. He will talk about his most recent work, “The Rising at Roxbury Crossing,” a novel which centers on the true events of the 1919 Boston Police Strike. Visit www.TheRisingAtRoxburyCrossing.com to learn more about the author and his novel. There is a $10 fee for this event (no charge for Fellows and Members) and registration is required. Please call 617-646-0560 or click here to register. A pre-talk reception begins at 5:30PM and the talk begins at 6:00PM.

On Thursday,  6 November, is the first in this year’s series of New England Biography Seminars. Beginning at 5:30PM, Ted Widmer moderates this panel discussion, “Understanding the Presidency: Personality, Politics, and Policy.” The discussion features three authors: Evan Thomas, Kathleen Dalton, and David Michaelis, and focuses on the balance between policy and politics as it affects writing presidential biography. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required.

Please note that the MHS Library is CLOSED on Friday, 7 November, as we prepare for our fifth annual Cocktails with Clio. Kicking off at 6:00PM, the evening features an elegant cocktail buffet at the Society’s historic building and then continues at the nearby Harvard Club where guests will here a conversation with historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, David Hackett Fischer. Purchase tickets (tickets cost $250 per person). All net proceeds from the event will support the Society’s outreach efforts. 

Finally, on Saturday, 8 November, there is a teacher workshop taking place at the Society. Painless: A Survival Guide to the Dreaded History Project is a free hands-on workshop co-sponsored by the National Archives at Boston. To register, contact the MHS Education Department at education@masshist.org or 617-646-0557. The workshop begins at 9:00AM and goes until 2:30PM. 

There is no building tour on Saturday, 8 November, but remember to stop by to check out our two current exhibitions anytime Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-4:00PM. 

By Dan Hinchen

On Tuesday, 28 October, there is an Immigration and Urban History seminar starting at 5:15PM. Join us as Laura Barraclough, Yale University, presents “At the Crossroads: Charros, Cowboys, and Capitalists in San Antonio, Texas,” a paper which examines the practice of charreria (Mexican rodeo) among Mexican immigrant men in San Antonio form the late 1940s through the early 1970s. Barraclough’s project looks at the reinscription of a genered and classed vision of ethnic Mexican inclusion while also seeing the place claimed by charros for Mexicans in the history of the Southwest. Comment provided by Desiree J. Garcia of Arizona State University. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.

And on Wednesday, 29 October, bring a lunch at noon and listen in as short-term research fellow Melissa Johnson, University of Michigan, presents “The Power of Women’s Words in Puritan New England: Gossip, Rumor, and Reputation in a Culture of Surveillance.” This approach uncovers the ways that women’s networks constituted alternate sites of community definition and how different kinds of information and modes of transmission were gendered as either “gossip” or “news.” Brown Bag lunch talks are free and open to the public. 

Also on Wednesday is a special event to honor Pauline Meier (1938-2013), a longtime friend and contributor to the Society. Join us as Professor Gordon S. Wood pays tribute to a great historian, teacher, and author who was committed to making American history vivid and accessible to all. The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30PM, followed by the talk at 6:00PM. Registration is required at no cost. Please call 617-646-0560 or click here to register.

On Saturday, 1 November, why not usher in the new month with a free tour of the MHS? The History and Collections of the MHS is a 90-minute, docent-led tour that explores all of the public spaces in the building at 1154 Boylston Street, touching on the history, architecture, art, and collections of the Society. The tour is free, open to the public, with no need for reservations. If you would like to bring a larger party (8 or more), please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org.

While you’re here you will also have the opportunity to view our current exhibition, “Letters and Photographs from the Battle Country: Massachusetts Women in World War I.” In addition, you can see our new side exhibition “The Father of His Country Returns to Boston, October 24, 1789,” on view until 31 December 2014.