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“Light breezes with several Islands in sight saw several sails. Killers Cowfish & Finbacks & caught a turtle.

—Perry R. Brightman, journal, Saturday, 2 October 1852, page 24

Perry Brightman Journal

The images above are scattered throughout the journal of sailor Perry Brightman, from his time on board the bark George and Mary,1852–1857. The journal describes a whaling voyage on the Atlantic Ocean from Westport Point (now Westport), Mass., to the Bahamas. Entries note weather and sailing conditions, latitude and longitude, ship life, obtaining provisions, and chasing and catching whales. The journal also includes a list of the other crew members and pencil sketches of the ship and various animals.


See the Perry R. Brightman journal up close.

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.

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Visit www.masshist.org/events for information on upcoming events 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.

The MHS Library


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.

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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