The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Elaine Grublin
If you are in the neighborhood at lunch time on Wednesday, 1 August, plan to attend our brown-bag lunch.Research fellow Justin Clark, University of Southern California, will present "Training the Eyes: Romantic Vision and Class Formation in Boston, 1830-1870." Clark will [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Tuesday, 31 July, 2012, 8:00 AM

The Westland Gate

Series: Around the Neighborhood
By Daniel Hinchen, Reader Services
Walking just a few minutes south down the Fenway from the MHS, one arrives at the main entrance to the Back Bay Fens. At the intersection of the Fenway and Westland Avenue stands the Johnson Gates, more commonly known as the Westland Gate. Erected in 1905, the Westland [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 27 July, 2012, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Elaine Grublin
We are offering a couple of lunch time programs this week. Bring your lunch and join us in the Dowse Library for on of the following. Monday, 23 July at noon listen as Andrew W. Mellon research fellow Benjamin Wright, Rice University, shares his insights into "Conversion [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 23 July, 2012, 8:00 AM

Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch, Post 15

Series: Civil War 
By Elaine Grublin
The following excerpt is from the diary of Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch. Sunday, July 27th, 1862 Public events, which in this trying time, occupy our thoughts greatly, have of late been very saddening in their character. I refer chiefly to the week of battles [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 18 July, 2012, 8:00 AM

Divorce, Colonial Style

Series: From Our Collections
By Susan Martin, Collection Services
The MHS recently acquired a manuscript collection called the Russell-Cutter family papers (Ms. N-2866) that contains one particularly interesting item: a divorce agreement dated 30 April 1735. It reads, in part: Know ye that James Smith of Boston in the County of Suffolk [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 13 July, 2012, 8:00 AM

JQA’s Self-Assessment on His Birthday in 1812

Series: From Our Collections
By Nancy Heywood, Collection Services
On 11 July 1812, John Quincy Adams (JQA) celebrated his 45th birthday.  JQA was living in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he was serving as a diplomat from the United States.  His title was minister plenipotentiary to Russia, a position to which he was appointed [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 11 July, 2012, 1:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Elaine Grublin
The weather man is predicting a lovely week, so plan to escape a bit on your lunch break and head to the MHS for one of our lunchtime programs.  Be sure to check the online calendar for additional details about the events. Monday, 9 July at noon Moira Gillis, University [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 9 July, 2012, 1:00 AM

An Interview with MHS Conservation Technician Oona Beauchard

Series: Around MHS
By Emilie Haertsch, Publications
What does a conservation technician do? My work consists of repairing and cleaning historic documents. I dry clean them by first removing the surface dirt, then testing the ink for solubility, and soaking the pages in purified water. After the soak, I de-acidify the [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 6 July, 2012, 1:00 AM

Massachusetts Goes to Nationals

Series: Around MHS , Education Programs
By Kathleen Barker, Education Department
Early on the morning of June 10, 2012, I found myself standing in a parking lot in Woburn, Mass., with dozens of bleary-eyed middle- and high-school students. Despite the early hour there was a touch of excitement in the air, for these talented young ladies and gentlemen [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 4 July, 2012, 8:00 AM