“It has occured to me that it would be eminently desirable for the United States Government to interest itself in this invention (airplane) with a view to utilizing it for war-like purposes.” —Godfrey L. Cabot to Henry Cabot Lodge, 31 December 1903.

Barographic Record of a Flight This is a barographic reading of a training flight, probably made by Frazier Curtis at a French aviation school at Pau, France, early in 1915. A barograph is a recording barometer that reports both the height of a flight, measured by changes in atmospheric pressure, and endurance, recorded by the advance of a clockwork mechanism. Pilots at Pau had to prove that they could attain a height of 6,500 feet (in France measured in meters) and maintain it for an hour before they were ready for active duty. View the record up close here.

MHS News

Award-Winning Series The AASLH 2023 Leadership in History award winners were announced, and we are thrilled that our Disability and the American Past series received an Award of Excellence. The main award in the Leadership in History Awards program, the Award of Excellence recognizes projects including civic engagement, educational programs, and exhibitions, and individual lifetime achievement. View or listen to all the recorded programs in this series on the MHS Youtube channel here.

New Portal1791 Pages Launched Our Reader Services team recently launched the new Portal1791 webpages. The larger fonts, clearer labeling, and improved instructive text are designed to meet web accessibility standards and provide a better user experience. Portal1791 provides appointment scheduling capability that enables researchers to schedule appointments and request materials all within the same space. Sign up for an account here.

Upcoming Events

Monday, 17 July | 6:00 PM Revolutionary Things: Material Culture & Politics in the Late Eighteenth-Century Atlantic World Ashli White, University of Miami. Register to attend in person. Register to attend online. Wednesday, 26 July | 6:30 PM Boston Historical Reception Register to attend in person.

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, The Rough Rider & the Professor: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge & the Friendship that Changed American History, with Laurence Jurdem, Fordham University, in conversation with Peter Drummey, MHS. Enjoy more videos by subscribing 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, and Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 7:45 PM (the galleries and library open at 12:00 PM the third 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!

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Help us improve your experience with the MHS. Adjust your e-mail preferences by updating your profile below, and we will adjust our e-mails to you accordingly.