The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Aiding Tennessee: An Ordeal in Forgery

By Elaine Grublin
Although the actual letter is no longer extant, it is widely accepted that in early May of 1861 Boston businessman Amos A. Lawrence wrote a letter to Senator Andrew Johnson of Tennessee suggesting he might provide “material aid” to Johnson to support Johnson’s [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 30 November, 2011, 10:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Elaine Grublin
If the unseasonably warm weather inspires you to explore the city a bit this week, be sure to wander by the MHS and attend one of our events. Thursday, 1 December, at 6:00 PM we are pleased to offer a free public program featuring William M. Fowler Jr., Northeastern [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 28 November, 2011, 8:00 AM

The Hoosac Tunnel Completed

Series: From Our Collections
By Daniel Hinchen
"…to write a history of the Hoosac Tunnel in all its details would be an almost endless task. The legislative bills and hearings, the reports of committees, remonstrances and private pamphlets on the subject, if stacked up in an orderly pile, would rival the [...] read more

comments: 2 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 27 November, 2011, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Elaine Grublin
It will be a quiet week at the MHS. Please note that the library and exhibition areas will be closed Thursday, 24 November through Saturday, 26 November in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular hours will resume on Monday, 28 November. If you are roaming the city [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 21 November, 2011, 8:00 AM

Isaac Winslow Writes of Pope’s Day, 1765

Series: From Our Collections
By Anna J. Cook
Back in 2009 Jeremy Dibbell brought us an account of colonial Boston’s Pope’s Day celebrations of 1745 as witnessed by Rev. James Freeman, a founding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Little remembered today, Pope’s Day was an annual festival [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Saturday, 5 November, 2011, 8:00 AM

North End Historical Society Visits MHS

Series: Recent Events
By Elaine Grublin
On Tuesday, 2 November, a group of 20 members of the North End Historical Society (NEHS) visited the MHS for a tour and document show and tell. The visit was arranged by Alex Goldfeld, the president of the NEHS and Elaine Grublin, the head of reader services at the MHS.  The [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 4 November, 2011, 10:00 AM