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“I Beg your pardon, my dear Sir, for the scribling of this letter, But we are not in a settled situation, and I write you as fast as I can with Bad pens and Bad ink upon the corner of a Bad table.”

—Marquis de Lafayette to William Heath, 11 June 1780

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette

Born into a noble French family, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, commenced his military career in the King's Regiment of Musketeers in 1771. Stirred by the reports of colonial Americans fighting for liberty from oppressive British rule, he seized the opportunity to fulfill his dream of military glory; he bought a ship and sailed for America. His pleasing manner and willingness to learn earned the twenty-year-old an honorary commission as major general in the Continental Army. Lafayette's courage and tenacity on the battlefield and his successful pleas for material aid for the Americans from France established him as a hero.


Commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1790 to be included in his gallery of American heroes, this painting by the French artist Joseph Boze represents Lafayette at the pinnacle of his career, a hero in America and France. View the portrait up close here.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, 19 September

Graduate Student Reception 2023


3:00 PM: Hybrid program geared towards graduate students to learn about the resources the MHS offers to support scholarship.


4:00 PM: In-person reception.


5:00 PM: Hybrid program showcasing projects by scholars who have conducted research at the MHS. All are welcome.


Register to attend in person.


Register to attend online.

Thursday, 21 September

Guardians of the Valley: John Muir & the Friendship That Saved Yosemite


Author Talk by Dean King.


5:30 PM: In-person reception.



6:00 PM: Hybrid program.


Register to attend in person.


Register to attend online.

Tuesday, 26 September, at 6:00 PM: The Boston Desegregation & Busing Initiative: The Segregation of the Boston Public Schools & the Community Organizing & Legal Efforts to Try to Eliminate Segregation & to Secure Educational Justice for Black Students, 1960–1973 with Hubie Jones; Jean McGuire; Zebulon Miletsky; Lyda Peters; Vernita Carter-Weller; Charles Glenn; Gloria Lee; and Jim Vrabel. Location: Roxbury Community College, Media Arts Building.


Wednesday, 27 September, at 6:00 PM: Henry David Thoreau: Thinking Disobediently with author Lawrence Buell.


Tuesday, 3 October, at 5:00 PM: Venture Smith & the Island of Slavery with John Wood Sweet, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with comment by Manisha Sinha, University of Connecticut. This is part of the Pauline Maier Early American History Seminar series.


Wednesday, 4 October, at 5:30 PM: “The Dye is cast”: Interests & Ideals That Motivated the Boston Tea Party Exhibition Reception. This event is open only to Members and invited guests.


Monday, 9 October, 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM: Opening Our Doors. Join us for walking tours of the Fenway neighborhood at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, and explore our latest exhibition.


Tuesday, 10 October, 5:00 PM: El Teatro Campesino as Intellectual Forum: Farmworker-Actors in the Fight for Environmental Justice with Erik Wallenberg, Miami Center for Racial Justice, with comment by Sarah Kanouse, Northeastern University.


See full calendar.

Looking for More?

Registration and Events

 

Visit www.masshist.org/events for more information and to register.


Interested in Past Programs?

 

If you missed a program or would like to revisit the material presented, please visit www.masshist.org/video.


Click below to view the video, American Relics & the Politics of Public Memory, with Matthew Dennis, University of Oregon. Enjoy more videos by subscribing to the MHS YouTube channel after you view the video.

 
Our galleries and library are open Monday and Wednesday through Friday, from 10:00 AM to 4:45 PM, and Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 7:45 PM (the galleries and library open at 12:00 PM the second Tuesday of the month). Please note that the last admission is 45 minutes prior to closing.

Please check our hours and admissions for hours, building closings, and other events.
An advance appointment is strongly encouraged for all researchers. Please visit our Appointment Request Form to select your preferred visit dates.
 
Set up an appointment via Zoom or live chat with a member of our reference staff. 
 
Learn more at www.masshist.org/library.
The MHS Fund and Membership

Our Members make it possible for us to offer an array of complimentary services including admission to our exhibition galleries and library, online access to our collections and digital editions, and onsite and remote reference services for all. Membership begins with a fully tax-deductible contribution of $250 or more to the MHS Fund. All Members enjoy a full year of social, cultural, and educational experiences, including invitations to our annual Holiday Party, FREE program registration, and Member Week perks. Learn more and join today!
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