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not only the waltz and polka, quadrille—plain and Lancers—but also the Scottische, the Varsovienne, and the Spanish Dance, all graceful and charming. Even more so were the gavotte and the Shawl Dance, attained by specially proficient pupils.

—Laura Richards, recalled attending Lorenzo Papanti’s dance school.

“All good Boston children went to Papanti’s”

In 1827, Italian immigrant Lorenzo Papanti established a dancing school for Boston’s elite, a somewhat tough sell in puritanical Boston, as many in the upper social set felt that dancing was something that should be done only at home. Papantis was the second dancing school in New England.


Fortunately, Papanti found an entrée into Boston’s upper class through the support of Sally Foster Otis, the wealthy widow of Harrison Gray Otis. Through Mrs. Otis’s family and social connections, Papanti was able to establish his school. 


For at least three generations, budding debutantes and their often-unwilling partners from Boston’s Brahmin class learned to waltz and dance the polka and other “fashionable Dances” under Papanti’s tutelage. Lucius Beebe recounted that “all good Boston children went to Papanti’s.”


Read more about Papantis dancing school and see his portrait up close.


Join the MHS for Wednesday’s program Italian Influence on Bostons Culture, Economy & Politics at 6:00 PM. Register to attend.

MHS News

Object of History Podcast Relics, Part 2: One of a Kind, Available 15 April


The Object of History podcast Season 3, Episode 6, Relics, Part 2: One of a Kind examines the specimen of a Blackburnian warbler along with George Washingtons military epaulettes.


This episode releases on Monday, 15 April. Listen to the episode

Upcoming Events

PROGRAM

Wednesday, 10 April | 6:00 PM

Italian Influence on Boston's Culture, Economy & Politics


Lawrence DiCara, civic leader, and James Pasto, historian.


Register to attend in person.


Register to attend online.

SEMINAR

Thursday, 11 April | 5:00 PM

Reconstructing the Artisan Labor Economy in Post-Emancipation South Carolina


Anne E. Kerth, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with comment by Hilary Green, Davidson College.


Register to attend in person.


Register to attend online.

TEACHER EVENT

Tuesday, 16 April | 10:00–11:30 AM

K–12 Teacher Open House


Register to attend in person.

Thursday, 2 May, 5:00 PM: Telling the Untold Stories for Children: Biographies for Kids & Why They Matter with children’s authors Heather Lang, Ray Anthony Shepard, and Mia Wenjen, moderated by Julie Dobrow, Tufts University. This is a seminar.


Monday, 6 May, 6:00 PM: Democracy Awakening: A Conversation with Heather Cox Richardson with Heather Cox Richardson, in conversation with Catherine Allgor, MHS President. MHS Members receive priority registration through 15 April. This is a program.


Tuesday, 7 May, 5:00 PM: Taverns, Entrepreneurial Networking, Self-Improvement & Urban Tendencies in the Early Republican Northeast with Kirsten E. Wood, Florida International University, with comment by Richard D. Brown, University of Connecticut. This is a seminar.


Friday, 10 May, 2:00 PM: The Adams Papers: Leaving a Legacy with Sara Martin, Editor in Chief, The Adams Papers. This is a special Visionary Circle Member event.


Wednesday, 15 May, 6:00 PM: Annual Fiori Lecture: Curating Controversy: Exhibiting Difficult Objects in Museums with Erica Lome, Curator, Historic New England; Karina Corrigan, Associate Director-Collections & H. A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export Art, Peabody Essex Museum; and Jordan Cromwell, Interpretive Planner, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; moderated by Catherine Allgor, MHS President. This is a program.


Tuesday, 28 May, 6:00 PM: Our Voices: AAPI History at the MHS with Rakashi Chand, Reading Room Supervisor, and Peter Drummey, Chief Historian & Stephen T. Riley Librarian. This is a program.


Thursday, 6 June, 5:30 PM: Making History Gala with Doris Kearns Goodwin. This is a special event.


Thursday, 11 July through Friday, 12 July: Conrad E. Wright Research Conference on Citizenship. This is a conference.


See full calendar.

MEMBER WEEK

MHS Members and Fellows are invited to join us for a week of programs, events, and perks. Explore the Member Week calendar here. Not yet a Member? Learn more and join today at www.masshist.org/support/mhsfund.



Tuesday, 30 April, 3:30 PM: History Source Virtual Tour.


Tuesday, 30 April, 5:30 PM: Signed, Sealed, Delivered with Daniel Bottino, PhD Candidate, Rutgers University.


Wednesday, 1 May, 1:00 PM: Among the Adams Papers with Hobson Woodward, Series Editor, Adams Family Correspondence, The Adams Papers.


Thursday, 2 May, 1:00 PM: Treasures Tour with Peter Drummey, Chief Historian & Stephen T. Riley Librarian.


Friday, 3 May, 1:00 PM: Behind the Scenes of Conservation with Samantha Couture, Nora Saltonstall Conservator & Preservation Librarian.


Saturday, 4 May, 10:00 AM: Introduction to the Library.


Saturday, 4 May, 2:00 PM: Ye Olde Tavern Tour Sponsored by the Young Patrons of the MHS with Brooke Barbier, Public Historian.


Additional Perks & Priority Registration for Heather Cox Richardson

Between 29 April and 6 May, Members are invited to stop by the MHS to pick up a free book and other gifts to enjoy at home! Members receive priority registration through 15 April for Democracy Awakening: A Conversation with Heather Cox Richardson on 6 May.

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, Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner, with Natalie Dykstra, 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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