newsletter

June 2013

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Opening 13 June – Three Exhibitions Featuring Extraordinary Items from the MHS Collections

"Estlin Cummings Wild West Show" Highlights Discovery of Early Works by E. E. Cummings

Long before Edward Estlin Cummings became known as E. E. Cummings, one of 20th-century America's most popular poets, he experimented with words and sketches that reveal a delightful childhood imagination. Many of these early childhood writings and drawings will be on display at the Society this summer along with portraits and photographs of the Cummings family. The writings and drawings, dating from 1900 to 1914, showcase the poet's early experiments with words and illustrations. Uncovered while processing a large collection of Cummings family papers with support from the Peck Stacpoole Foundation, these are likely some of the earliest works by E. E. Cummings. Among the items on display is a sketch of a rhinoceros and soldier drawn about 1902 that includes several lines of text showing his early use of capitalization and punctuation. There is also a self-portrait entitled "Edward E. Cummings, the animal emperor, famous importer, trainer, and exhibitor of wild animals." The exhibition will be open 13 June through 30 August. Read more about the drawings and writings on display at the Society.

Artwork and text: Artwork by E. E. Cummings. Used by permission of the Trustees for the E. E. Cummings Trust.

The Object of History: 18th-Century Treasures from the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society

The Object of History explores the meaning of historical objects through the display of 18th-century portraits and rarely seen objects including engravings, needlework, maps, weapons, furniture, clothing, scientific instruments, and silver. Visitors can view items such as the ca. 1765 scarlet wool cloak worn by Peter Oliver, the chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court; a Queen Anne-style church chair that became the property of Paul Revere, whose descendant embroidered the lion and unicorn design for the upholstered seat; and a mahogany cellaret with lead-lined interior fittings owned by Benjamin Faneuil, the brother of Boston's great benefactor Peter Faneuil.

Following the MHS Annual Meeting on 12 June, MHS Fellows and Members are invited to preview the exhibition. At 6:00 PM, Stephen T. Riley Librarian Peter Drummey will introduce the show; a reception will follow.

"The Education of our Children is never out of my Mind"

In a letter to his wife, Abigail, dated August 28, 1774, John Adams writes, "The Education of our Children is never out of my Mind. Train them to Virtue, habituate them to industry, activity, and Spirit. Make them consider every Vice, as shamefull and unmanly: fire them with Ambition to be usefull—make them disdain to be destitute of any usefull, or ornamental Knowledge or Accomplishment. Fix their Ambition upon great and solid Objects, and their Contempt upon little, frivolous, and useless ones." This letter, along with others written to each other, to their children, and to friends and family regarding their views on education, will be on display in the Society's Presidential Gallery through 7 September.

New Publication: Adams Family Correspondence

The MHS is pleased to announce the publication of the latest volume of Adams Family Correspondence (Volume 11, July 1795 – February 1797). With 303 letters covering the period from July 1795 to the eve of John Adams's inauguration as president, the volume chronicles the growing partisan divide leading up to the 1796 presidential election. From Philadelphia John reports on the rumors of George Washington's impending retirement and the emerging speculation about the successor. His letters to Abigail and his children reveal his hopes for—and then expectation of—his own election, coupled with his surprise at the ferocity of electioneering on both sides of the political divide. Abigail's letters from Quincy offer her usual keen commentary on national events, as she also contemplates the changes to her own life that would accompany John's elevation to the presidency. From Europe, John Quincy and Thomas Boylston shed light on events overseas, including the rise of the French Directory and shifts in the continental war. Their letters also testify to the broader scale of the U.S. presidential election by chronicling French and British attempts to influence American politics. On a more personal note, John Quincy's engagement to Louisa Catherine Johnson in London opens the next great collection of correspondence documenting the Adams family saga.

From the Stacks: The White Mountains in Summer

"Left Boston at 1/2 past two in the afternoon in a carry all with Mr. Webber and little Maria, went through Cambridge, Lexington, Concord to Acton, where we arrived about 8 oclock, it rained quite fast most of the way but we wrapt up well and were very comfortable," wrote Maria G. Webber in her travel journal on 27 June 1837. Accompanied by her husband, Aaron Webber, and their infant daughter, Maria, Webber embarked on a journey from Boston, Mass., to the White Mountain range in New Hampshire in 1837 via a horse-drawn carriage known as a "carryall." In her diary, Maria Webber recounts many of her stops with her family in the villages and towns along the way from Boston to Crawford Notch near Bartlett, N.H. Over the 16-day trip, the Webbers stopped in 41 towns and villages and made note of seeing several mountains. Read more about their journey to the White Mountains.

Discussing Digitization with a Visitor from Serbia

On 7 May MHS Director of Collections Services Brenda Lawson and Digital Projects Coordinator Nancy Heywood met with Dr. Andrej Fajgelj, Director of the Cultural Center, of Novi Sad, Serbia, to share information about how the MHS digitizes its collections. The Cultural Center is embarking on a new project to use information technology in art and culture, and Dr. Fajgelj will be overseeing a large digitization effort to present rare books, musical scores, notes, and manuscripts on line. Accompanied by Glenn Cary, a U.S. State Department English Language Officer, Dr. Fajgelj visited institutions across the U.S. including the San Francisco Public Library, Stanford University, the Internet Archive, Harvard University, and the MHS. Both the trip and itinerary were administered by the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program, and the Massachusetts portion was arranged by WorldBoston. Read more about Dr. Fajgelj's visit to the Society.

Give the Gift of History This Father's Day

If you are looking for the perfect gift for Dad (or any history lover in your life), why not give the gift of MHS membership? Presidents, noted scholars, civic leaders, authors, and historians including John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy, Robert Gould Shaw, Charles Sumner, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Ralph Waldo Emerson have been among those dedicated to continuing the Society's tradition of historical stewardship. Members receive invitations to special events; discounts on select MHS publications; and subscriptions to Miscellany, the Society's semi-annual printed newsletter, and the Massachusetts Historical Review, the Society's annual journal. In addition, the gift of membership helps support the Society's mission to collect, preserve, and share the documents of America's past. Order now and become part of the MHS community!

Time Is Running Out - Support the MHS Fund

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. The Society is 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

Dorothy Quincy: Portrait of the Little Maid with Her Parrot

This painting, ca. 1720, depicts a young Dorothy Quincy of Braintree, Mass. The painting is unsigned and is likely the work of an American artist. It descended through her family until it was bequeathed to the Society by her great-great-grandson Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., in 1936. The portrait, along with a wide-ranging selection of art, artifacts, clothing, furniture, manuscripts, maps, and silver, will be featured in The Object of History: 18th-Century Treasures from the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Read more about Dorothy Quincy.

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Looking at the Civil War: Massachusetts Finds Her Voice

June 1863: "I was wrapped in the American flag and lowered over the side in an arm chair into the boat . . ."

Lucy Lord Howes Hooper diary, 1862-1863, pages with entries for 6-12 June 1863

In this June 1863 diary entry, Lucy Lord Howes describes her capture by the crew of the Confederate commerce raider CSS Florida. Howes and her civilian husband Capt. Benjamin Howes were aboard the merchant ship Southern Cross, returning from Mazatlan, Mexico, with a cargo of brazilwood, when they encountered the Confederate ship. Howes describes how she and her husband, along with the other officers and crew, were forced to board the Florida under adverse conditions, carrying minimal personal effects, before the Southern Cross was looted and burned. Read more about Lucy Lord Howes.

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Opening 13 June

The Object of History: 18th-Century Treasures from the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

What is the meaning of historical objects? Why are they preserved, and why have they survived? Are they valued for their associations with notable historical figures or landmark events, as objects of beauty, as the survival of relics from a distant past, or for the stories they convey? This exhibition explores these questions through the display of 18th-century portraits and objects from the Society's collections, along with rarely seen engravings, needlework, maps, weapons, furniture, clothing, scientific instruments, and silver.

"The Education of our Children is never out of my Mind"

In letters to each other, to friends, and to their children, John and Abigail Adams discuss the importance of education to their family—and the new nation. This display will be featured in the Presidential Gallery through 7 September.

"Estlin Cummings Wild West Show"

A selection of E. E. Cummings's childhood writings and drawings, showcasing the young poet's earliest experiments with words and illustrations, will be featured in the Treasures Gallery through 30 August.

Artwork by E. E. Cummings. Used by permission of the Trustees for the E. E. Cummings Trust

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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On View 4 July

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America"

On 2 July 1776 the Continental Congress resolved "That these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States." In a letter written to Abigail Adams on 3 July 1776, John Adams reflected on the event and summed up what it meant for Americans of his own time and in the future. He writes that 2 July will be celebrated with "Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other." Adams seems to have understood the momentous importance of the vote for independence and how it should be celebrated. He was right about everything except the date. Join us at the MHS on 4 July from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM to view a special display of letters and documents relating to this extraordinary moment in the history of the United States.

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MHS Events Calendar

Saturday, 8 June 10:00 AM

MHS Tour
The History and Collections of the MHS

Wednesday, 12 June 5:00 PM

Special Event for MHS Fellows
MHS Annual Meeting
RSVP required

Wednesday, 12 June 6:00 PM

Special Event for MHS Fellows and Members
The Object of History Preview Reception
RSVP required

Friday, 14 June 2:00 PM

Exhibition Spotlight
The Object of History
J. L. Bell

Saturday, 15 June 10:00 AM

MHS Tour
The History and Collections of the MHS

Monday, 17 June 6:00 PM

Conversation
The Object of History: A Conversation
David Wood, Concord Museum, & Peter Drummey, MHS
Fee $25 public / $15 MHS Fellows and Members; free for MHS Fund Giving Circle members
Pre-Talk Reception at 5:30
RSVP required

Wednesday, 19 June 12:00 PM

Brown-Bag
19th-Century Narratives of Transgender Experience & the History of Possibility
Jen Manion, Connecticut College

Saturday, 22 June 10:00 AM

MHS Tour
The History and Collections of the MHS

Wednesday, 26 June 12:00 PM

Brown-Bag
Island Masters: Gender, Race, & Power in the 18th-Century British Caribbean
Brooke Newman, Virginia Commonwealth University

Saturday, 29 June 10:00 AM

MHS Tour
The History and Collections of the MHS

Wednesday, 3 July 12:00 PM

Brown-Bag
"The Spirit of Enterprise excited by the Acquisition of Louisiana": New Englanders & the Orleans Territory, 1803-1812
Lo Faber, Loyola University of New Orleans

Thursday, 4 July 12:00 to 4:00 PM

Special Display
"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America"

Saturday, 6 July 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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