This Week at the MHS

Memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment

The dedication of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s monumental bronze relief of Col. Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment took place on Decoration Day (now called Memorial Day) 1897. The monument stands on Boston Common facing the Massachusetts State House. The dedication, shown in this photograph, included a procession led by officers and soldiers of the regiment. Sgt. William H. Carney, the flagbearer, became the first Black man to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1900.

View the photograph up close. Explore more items in our collection related to the 54th Regiment.

Upcoming Events

PROGRAM

Tuesday, 28 May | 6:00 PM

Our Voices: AAPI History at the MHS

Rakashi Chand, Reading Room Supervisor, and Peter Drummey, Chief Historian & Stephen T. Riley Librarian

GALA

Thursday, 6 June | 5:30 PM

Making History Gala

Featured guest Doris Kearns Goodwin

Purchase tickets here.

See full calendar.

Upcoming Conference

Conrad E. Wright Research Conference on Citizenship

11–13 July 2024

The centennials of 1924’s Indian Citizenship Act and Immigration Act offer an opportunity to explore the intersection of two subjects that have not always been considered together. The conference brings together scholars to explore the broad themes associated with citizenship and other variations of national belonging reflected in the two pieces of landmark legislation.

The conference and workshop will take place at the MHS and Suffolk University. Registration is open. Learn more at www.masshist.org/research/conferences.

On View

Boston Views: Through the Lens of Arthur A. Shurcliff

Arthur A. Shurcliff (1870–1957), a landscape architect, created a collection of 1,295 glass lantern slides that depict cityscapes and buildings in Boston and other locations during the first decades of the 20th century. View a selection of Boston views reproduced at large scale and learn more about Shurcliff.

Learn more about the collection of glass lantern slides by reading this blog post. Visit our hours and admissions page for gallery hours.

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, Curating Controversy: Exhibiting Difficult Objects in Museums, with Karina Corrigan, Peabody Essex Museum, and Erica Lome, Historic New England, in conversation with Catherine Allgor, MHS President. Enjoy more videos by subscribing to the MHS YouTube channel after you view the video.

An advance appointment is strongly encouraged. Please log in to your Portal1791 account 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.

2024 Making History Gala

Join us for an unforgettable evening on 6 June 2024, with featured speaker Doris Kearns Goodwin at the iconic Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. Visit www.masshist.org/gala to purchase tickets.

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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