By Dan Hinchen
It is a busy holiday week at the MHS with plenty of programs on offer to meet your daily required amount of history. Please note that the library is closed on Monday, 12 October, in observance of Columbus Day. Despite the library closure, our doors remain open! Stop by anytime 10:00AM-3:00PM to enjoy Opening Our Doors, a city-wide celebration of free arts and cultural events. In addition to our two current exhibitions, visitors can also enjoy a special one-day presentation of “Doors from the MHS Collections.”
On Tuesday, 13 October, we return to our normal schedule, including an evening Environmental History Seminar presented by David Hecht of Bowdoin College. Beginning at 5:15PM, Hecht discusses “How Rachel Carson Became a Revolutionary: Environmental Politics and the Public Sphere.” Chris Bosso, Northeastern University, provides comment. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.
Then, on Wednesday, 14 October, join us for the first in a new program series, “Transforming Boston: From Basket Case to Innovation Hub, Program 1—Turning the City Around, 1945–1970.” This panel discussion features Lizabeth Cohen, Frank Del Vecchio, Mel King, and David Fixler, with Tunney Lee moderating the talk. The talk is open to the public for a fee of $10 (no charge for MHS, BARI, or Rappaport Fellows or Members) and registration is required. A pre-talk reception kicks-off at 5:30PM and the talk begins at 6:00PM.
Friday, 16 October, is a day of two beginnings. First, “Maritime Massachusetts: Boston Stories and Sources” is a two-day workshop that explores the maritime history of Boston. The workshop continues on Saturday, 17 October, and runs 9:00AM-4:00PM both days. The workshop is open to educators and history enthusiasts for a fee of $35/person. For more information or to register, complete this registration form, or contact the education department at education@masshist.org or 617-646-0557.
Also beginning on Friday is a new exhibition. “The Unitarian Conscience: Letters & Publications from the George E. Nitzsche Unitariana Collection” celebrates the sesquicentennial of the founding of the Unitarian Society of Germantown in 1865 through a display of letters and publications from the collection. Exhibitions are open to the public, free of charge, Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-4:00PM.
Last but not least, on Saturday, 17 October, the Society hosts its weekly free tour, the History and Collections of the MHS. Starting at 10:00AM, this docent-led tour explores all of the public spaces of the Society’s building on Boylston St, providing information about the history of the organization and the materials it has collected and maintained over the years. Tours are open to the public free of charge. No need for reservations for individuals or small groups. However, groups of 8 or more should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org.