By Dan Hinchen

As we approach the year’s end there are three opportunities this week to get your fill of history before the holidays:

– Monday, 14 December, 6:00PM : “She Can Bring Us Home: Dr. Dorothy Boulding Ferebee, Civil Rights Pioneer” Join us for this author talk with acting New York State Supreme Court justice Diane Kiesel. She will discuss her biography of Ferebee, an African American obstetrician and civial rights activist, introducing her to a new generation of readers. This talk is open to the public with a fee of $10 (no charge for MHS Fellows or Members). Registration required. 

– Wednesday, 16 December, 12:00PM : Stop by at noon for a Brown Bag lunch talk with research fellow Kathryn Lasdow of Columbia University. “Mrs. Rowe’s Wharf: Femal Property Owners in Early-National Boston” offers some preliminary findings on the relationship between female waterfront property ownership and the rise of corporate-sponsored building projects in early-national Boston. This talk is free and open to the public. 

– Friday, 18 December, 2:00PM : “Terra Firma: The La Perouse Atlas of a Lost Voyage” is a gallery talk centered around our current exhibition, Terra Firma: The Beginnings of the MHS Map Collection. Petery Drummey of the MHS will walk visitors through the mystery of the ill-starred Pacific voyage of the Comte de La Perouse. This event is free and open to the public. 

– Saturday, 19 December, 10:00AM : The History and Collections of the MHS is a free, docent-led tour of the Society’s home at 1154 Boylston St. Visitors will tour all of the public space in the building and will also have time to view our current exhibition. No reservations necessary for individuals or small groups. Parties of 8 or more should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at abentley@masshist.org or 617-646-0508.