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.