This Week at the MHS - 26 February

“It was the mothers (God bless them!) of these little bright-eyed boys and girls, who... accompanied me to the various school-houses, to residences of teachers and committee-men, to see the laws of the Old Bay State applied in good faith.”

— “Triumph of equal schools rights in Boston: proceedings of the presentation meeting held in Boston, Dec. 17, 1855: including addresses by John T. Hilton, Wm. C. Nell, Charles W. Slack, Wendell Phillips, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, Charles Lenox Remond,” Boston, R.F. Wallcut: 1856, Massachusetts Historical Society.

William C. Nell & Boston School Integration

On 3 September 1855, Boston Public Schools officially began to integrate. On 17 December 1855, Black Bostonians met at Southac Street Church to celebrate and to honor William C. Nell (1816–1874) for his leadership on behalf of integration. Many people gave speeches, and Nell was presented with a gold watch engraved with the words, “A tribute to William C. Nell, from the colored citizens of Boston, for his untiring efforts in behalf of equal school rights, Dec. 17, 1855.” Nell also made an address to mark the occasion.

Read more about Nell and see his image up close here.

MHS News

Short-term Fellowship Deadline This Friday

The MHS is accepting short-term fellowship applications through 1 March. Most grants will provide a stipend of $3,000 for four weeks of research at the MHS sometime between 1 July 2024, and 30 June 2025. Short-term fellowships are open to independent scholars, advanced graduate students, and holders of a P.h.D. or equivalent. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the application information provided here. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on Friday, 1 March.

Upcoming Events

SEMINAR

Tuesday, 27 February | 5:00 PM

A Nation at the Table

Lucy E. Salyer, University of New Hampshire, with comment by Paul A. Kramer, Vanderbilt University.

TEACHER WORKSHOP

Wednesday, 28 February | 6:00 PM

Project-Based Learning in the Social Studies Classroom: An Introduction to NHD in Massachusetts.

SEMINAR

Thursday, 29 February | 5:00 PM

Memories of Civil War Childhoods & Possibilities of Freedom at the Close of the Nineteenth Century

Ben Davidson, Saint Michael’s College, with comment by James Marten, Marquette University.

PROGRAM

Monday, 4 March | 6:00 PM

Necessary Trouble: A Conversation with Drew Faust

Drew Faust, in conversation with Catherine Allgor, MHS President.

Thursday, 14 March, 6:00 PM: Wheatley in the 21st Century: A Reading & Book Launch with Danielle Legros Georges, Artress Bethany White, Florence Ladd, and Janice Lowe. This is a program.

Tuesday, 19 March, 5:00 PM: The Disappearance of Sarah Simmons: Escape Notices & the Racial Imperatives of the Carceral State with Micah Khater, University of California, Berkeley, with comment by Cheryl Hicks, University of Delaware. This is a seminar.

Thursday, 21 March, 5:00 PM: Fitting Form to Argument: Developing a Digital Publication for the Complexity of Harlem in Disorder with Stephen Robertson, George Mason University, with comment by Jessica Marie Johnson, Johns Hopkins University. This is a seminar.

Saturday, 23 March, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM: NHD In-Person Feedback Session with Suffolk & Boston University. This is a National History Day event for students.

Thursday, 28 March, 5:00 PM: “The Permanent Prize for Nerve”: Examining Women’s Postwar Battles with the US Veteran’s Bureau with Bridget E. Keown, University of Pittsburgh, with comment by Beth Linker, University of Pennsylvania. This is a seminar.

Monday, 1 April, 6:00 PM: Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner with Natalie Dykstra, in conversation with Catherine Allgor, MHS President. This is a program.

Tuesday, 2 April, 5:00 PM: A Renegades’ History of the Revolutionary Frontier: Contesting Race & Nation on the Borderlands of the New United States with John William Nelson, Texas Tech University, with comment by Colin Calloway, Dartmouth College. This is a Seminar.

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, First Family: George Washington’s Heirs & the Making of America, with Cassandra Good, Marymount University, in conversation with Sara Georgini, MHS. Enjoy more videos by subscribing to the MHS YouTube channel after you view the video.

Exhibition and Library Hours

“The Dye is cast”: Interests & Ideals That Motivated the Boston Tea Party. The exhibition is open through 29 February 2024. Learn more about the exhibition and explore items from our collection related to the Tea Party.

Our galleries and library are open Monday and Wednesday through Friday, from 9:30 AM to 4:45 PM, Tuesday from 9:30 AM to 7:45 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (the galleries and library open at 12:00 PM the second 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. 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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