By Dan Hinchen

As the days lengthen and start to warm, consider stopping by the MHS this week for a one of our public programs or to peruse our exhibits. Currently on display is “Tell It With Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Shaw Memorial.” This exhibition, organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, celebrates Saint-Gaudens’ magisterial Shaw Memorial and seeks to make real the soldiers of the 54th represented anonymously in the work. It brings together vintage photographic portraits of members of the regiment and of the men and women who recruited, nursed, taught, and guided them. The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Saturday, 10:00AM to 4:00PM.

On Tuesday, 11 March, join us for “The Galveston Spirit: How a Hurricane Remade American Politics.” In this Environmental History seminar, Summer Shafer of Harvard University address the political economy of the Galveston “Great Storm” of 1900, still considered the deadliest natural disaster to date. Those who failed to protect the island by taking preventative action utilized the post-disaster environment to take control of vital municipal functions. Imagery of triumph over the storm played a powerful role in progressive politics as the “Galveston Spirit” seized the American imagination and helped to remake urban politics nationwide. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers. Program begins at 5:15PM.

Then, on Wednesday, 12 March, join us at 5:30PM for a public program, “Created Equal: The Abolitionists & Slavery by Another Name.” During this screening clips of the two films will be shown, and both films can be viewed in their entirety at createdequal.neh.gov. The Abolitionists brings to life the struggles of the men and women who led the battle to end slavery. Slavery by Another Name is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Douglas Blackmon and tells the stories of men, charged with crimes and often guilty of nothing, who were bought, sold, abused, and subjected to deadly working conditions. Discussion of these films will be facilitated by Joanne Pope Melish, Associate Professor of History at the University of Kentucky and visiting scholar in American Studies at Brown University. She is the author of Disowning Slavery: Gradual Emancipation and “Race” in New England, 1780-1860. Registration is required at no cost. To reserve, call the MHS reservations line at 617-646-0560, or click here to register online. Program begins at 5:30PM.

Finally, on Saturday, 15 March, drop by the Society at 10:00AM for The History and Collections of the MHS, a 90-minute tour of the Society’s public rooms led by a docent or MHS staff member and touching on the history of the Society, and the art and architecture of building at 1154 Boylston Street. The tour is free and open to the public. No reservation is required for individuals or small groups. Parties of 8 or more should contact the MHS prior to attending a tour. For more information, please contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org.