By Dan Hinchen
May is arrived! With it comes a full month of programs taking place here at the Society for public consumption. Kicking off the month, we have
– Tuesday, 3 May, 5:15PM : “‘They bid me speak what I thought he would give’: The Commodification of Captive People During King Phillip’s War” is an Early American History seminar event presented by Joanne Jahnke Wegner from the University of Minnesota. Wegner’s essay addresses the systems of human trafficking that circulated both Native American and English captives during King Phillip’s War. Kate Grandjean of Wellesley College provides comment. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.
– Wednesday, 4 May, 12:00PM : Join us at noon for our next Brown Bag lunch talk, this time featuring Michael Zakim of Tel Aviv University and the Charles Warren Center. “Fear and Loathing at the Crystal Palace: the Failure of America’s First World’s Fair” examines how an enthusiastic group of New Yorkers, hoping to repeat the success of London’s 1851 Exhibition, ended up stoking ongoing American debate over the changing meaning of industry in these years of the Industrial Revolution. This talk is free and open to the public.
– Saturday, 7 May, 10:00AM : Stop by for The History and Collections of the MHS, a docent-led walk through our public rooms. The tour is free, 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 exhibition.
– Satuday, 7 May, 5:00PM : “Mad for Glory: The True Story of Two Americans and the Fate of the Pacific World” is an author talk with Robert Booth. This book tells a story set amidst the confusion of the War of 1812 in which two charismatic Americans played out an astonishing drama of nation-building and imperialism in the Pacific. This talk is open to the public, registration required for $10 (no charge for MHS Members and Fellows). A pre-talk reception begins at 4:30PM.