Season 2, Episode 4: Furnishing Foreign Relations: Benjamin Joy’s Sea Chest

In this episode, we examine an object from the first diplomatic mission between the United States and India. We learn more about an unassuming but truly marvelous piece of furniture that once accompanied the United States’s first consul, Benjamin Joy, back from India. MHS Reading Room Supervisor, Rakashi Chand, joins the conversation to discuss Joy’s role and this unique item.

Episode transcript

Click the images above to view the photos. More information about the collection can be found here.

Episode Special Guest:

Rakashi Chand is a member of the Reference Staff at the Massachusetts Historical Society and oversees the Society’s Reading Room. She served two terms as the President of the United India Association of New England and is a member of Attorney General’s Advisory Council for New Americans representing the Indian Community in Massachusetts. Rakashi takes pride in advocating for her community and promoting Indian culture, heritage and traditions in America.

This episode uses materials from:

Blue Blanket by Podington Bear (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported)
Psychic by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)
Curious Nature by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)

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