“Day and Year—My habits have become less industrious as my occupations are more burdensome— I did wish to escort the old year out, and welcome in the new one, but the Muse was coy” —John Quincy Adams Digital Diary, undated but appearing between 31 December 1837 and 1 January 1838.

John Quincy Adams Reflects on the New Year Though life seems to be business as usual for John Quincy Adams as recorded in his diary at the end of 1837, in a summation entry that appears between 31 December 1837 and 1 January 1838, he appears a bit reflective. And at the start of the year, he seemed hopeful. His entry on 1 January 1838 begins “The new year began with one of the most beautiful days that the course of the Seasons ever brought round— A clear-sky—a bright Sun—a calm atmosphere, and all physical Nature moving in harmony, and Peace—” Read the full diary entry and see what Adams has to say in the following days.

MHS News

New Hours for the MHS Starting January 2023, MHS will open at 12:00 PM on the third Tuesday of the month. See the Hours and Admissions page for hours and closings due to holidays and other events.

Beehive Blog   Catch up with the latest blog posts about the MHS collection; what it’s like to work at the MHS by staff members; and historical nuggets about Massachusetts and the world.   Read the latest Beehive blog now.

Upcoming Events

Monday, 9 January | 6:00 PM Democratic Justice: Felix Frankfurter, the Supreme Court, and the Making of the Liberal Establishment Brad Snyder, Georgetown Law. Register to attend in person. Register to attend online. Tuesday, 10 January | 5:00 PM “Physicians advise the use of it”: Chinese Tea in Early America Yiyun Huang, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, comment by Rebecca Tannenbaum, Yale University. Register to attend in person. Register to attend online.

Wednesday, 11 January | 6:00 PM Uniting America: How FDR and Henry Stimson Brought Democrats and Republicans Together to Win World War II Peter Shinkle. Register to attend in person. Register to attend online. Thursday, 12 January | 5:00 PM If Wishes Were Sources: Speculation and the Saga of James Bradley, Oberlin’s “First” Black Student John Frederick Bell, Assumption University, comment by Julie Winch, University of Massachusetts, Boston. Register to attend in person. Register to attend online.

Wednesday, 18 January, at 6:00 PM: No Right to an Honest Living: The Struggles of Boston’s Black Workers in the Civil War Era with Jacqueline Jones, University of Texas at Austin. Tuesday, 24 January, at 5:00 PM: The Witchmaster of the Waxhaws: Joshua Gordon’s “Witch Book” with Roark Atkinson, Ramapo College of New Jersey, and Doulgas Winiarski, University of Richmond, with comment by Kenneth Minkema, Yale University. Wednesday, 25 January, at 6:00 PM: MHS Speakers Fund Featuring Jessie Little Doe Baird. Thursday, 26 January, at 5:00 PM: “To Make or Frame Curious Figures in Wax-Work”: Nostalgia and the Miniature in Eighteenth-Century Women’s Work with Laura Earls, University of Delaware, with comment by Miriam S. Rich, Dartmouth College. Monday, 30 January, at 6:00 PM: Film Discussion: The Last of the Winthrops with Viviane Winthrop. Tuesday, 31 January, at 5:00 PM: The Influences of King Philip’s War on American Political Thought with Daniel Mandell, Truman State University, with comment by Owen Stanwood, Boston College. 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 latest video, MHS Film Club: Good Will Hunting, with Tim Grafft, former deputy director of the Massachusetts Film Office; Carolyn Pickman, Co-Founder, CP Casting Inc.; and Missy Stewart, film production designer, and subscribe to the MHS YouTube channel after you view the video.

Exhibition and Library Hours   Our galleries and library are open Monday and Wednesday through Friday, from 10:00 AM to 4:45 PM, Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 7:45 PM (the galleries and library open at 12:00 PM the third Tuesday of the month), and Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. 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.   Now on display: Our Favorite Things.

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 https://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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