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.”