MHS News

MHS Goes Prime Time with SJP

Over one year ago, on 27 January 2009, there was a rare celebrity sighting at the MHS, which we were unable to announce until today.  Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, best known for HBO's Sex and the City, visited the reading room to work with material from the Society's manuscript collections as part of filming for the inaugural episode of NBC’s new series Who Do You Think You Are?  The program, an American adaptation of the hit British documentary series by the same title, follows well-known celebrities as they discover their proverbial roots, researching their ancestors in an attempt to learn more about their families and themselves. 

During her visit, Ms. Parker registered as a researcher and followed the standard MHS rules that apply to researchers working in the reading room.  The one, highly unusual exception was that the Society allowed the film crew to follow her and record her as she researched her ancestors.  Reference librarian Elaine Grublin spent some time with Ms. Parker in the catalog room, helping her identify and call for the material she wanted to see, and then brought the manuscripts to her in the reading room. Ms. Parker's examination of the materials led to some surprising discoveries.   

Unfortunately, the MHS cannot disclose which documents Ms. Parker requested to see or what she learned from her research.  Instead, tune in to the series debut on NBC on Friday, 5 March, 2010, at 8:00 PM to learn more about the Society’s role in Sarah Jessica Parker’s journey of genealogical discovery and enjoy the MHS and its reading room staff’s 15 minutes of fame.

Image: Reference Librarian Elaine Grublin in the MHS reading room

41 Presidents and Counting: Presidential Letters at the MHS

The MHS announces the completion of a special new subject guide, "Presidential Letters at the Massachusetts Historical Society: An Overview," which brings together descriptions of all known letters written by American presidents found in the Society's manuscript and autograph collections. Already renowned for the thousands of letters of Presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in its collections, the MHS also holds more than 3,500 letters written by all U.S. presidents through George H. W. Bush, which are now described in this guide. While the guide emphasizes letters written during each president's term of office, it includes an overview of letters written throughout the lifetime of each president. The Society's top three holdings by president (without the Adamses and Jefferson) are George Washington, James Monroe, and Theodore Roosevelt. One collection that is particularly rich in presidential manuscripts, the Edward Everett papers, contains correspondence from 14 presidents. Support for this project was generously provided by MHS Trustee L. Dennis Shapiro through the Arzak Foundation. Read a recent President's Day Beehive blog post or view the new subject guide.

Image: George Washington by Joseph Wright, 1784, completed by John Trumbull, 1786, commissioned by Thomas Jefferson

Franklin's Silence Dogood Essays Now Available Online

Benjamin Franklin's first published prose consisted of 14 essays that he wrote under the pseudonym Silence Dogood.  In these essays, published as letters to the editor of a Boston newspaper, The New-England Courant, between March and October 1722, the 16-year-old Franklin writes in the voice of the outspoken widow Silence Dogood, telling the story of her life and commenting on social and political issues such as higher education, freedom of speech, the rights of women, religious hypocrisy, and the vice of drunkenness.  These witty, satirical pieces, described as the first essay series in American literature, foreshadow Franklin's later success as the author and publisher of Poor Richard's Almanack. The digitization of the Silence Dogood essays was made possible with the support of the Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation. Read the essays.

MHS Announces New Introductory

Membership Rates

Over the past year, the challenging economic climate has discouraged many individuals from becoming involved with organizations, such as the MHS, whose work they support. In an effort to encourage people to learn more about the Society and the history of our nation, the MHS is pleased to announce a promotional new member rate for the new year.  Members who join through the end of June can take advantage of a special first-year introductory membership rate of $75. As an added incentive, new members who are recommended by an existing MHS Member or Fellow will be eligible for a reduced introductory rate of $50 for the first year.  The MHS is confident these new members will want to remain involved and help the Society secure a future for our past.

MHS members receive
•    invitations to four Members-only events per year; 
•    admittance to special behind-the-scenes tours;
•    the MHS events calendar;
•    @MHS, the monthly MHS e-newsletter;
•    Miscellany, the Society's semi-annual print newsletter;
•    Massachusetts Historical Review, the Society’s annual journal; and
•    discounts on selected MHS publications.

In addition to the above tangible benefits, members have the knowledge that they are helping the MHS continue to fulfill its 215-year-old mission while remaining at the forefront of its field. Membership at the MHS sustains all of the Society’s programs and services, such as

•    providing unparalleled resources to thousands of researchers each year;
•    encouraging new historical scholarship through fellowships, seminars, and conferences;
•    offering an extensive program of fellowships and workshops for teachers;
•    publishing a range of printed and digital resources—including documentary editions, essay collections, and an annual journal;
•    expanding the impact of its collections through the online display of primary sources;
•    sponsoring an array of thoughtful and engaging public programs—including lectures, booksignings, and discussion series; and
•    presenting captivating public exhibitions of materials from its collections and tours of its beautiful National Historic Landmark building.

By encouraging new members with this special introductory rate, the MHS hopes to further its mission to promote the history of Massachusetts and the nation. The Trustees and staff of the MHS believe that knowledge of the past can enrich our lives and inform our understanding of the problems facing the nation today.  MHS Members help the Society continue to preserve and share this knowledge with others to inform the citizens of tomorrow. Join now.