The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

An Adams New Year’s Reflection

By Emilie Haertsch
As the New Year approaches, many people set aside time to reflect upon their lives. What has transpired over the past 12 months? What were our successes? Where could we have improved? Charles Francis Adams, too, used the end of the year as an opportunity to evaluate his [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 31 December, 2012, 10:00 AM

Commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation

Series: Civil War  , Exhibitions News
By Elaine Grublin
Tuesday, 1 January marks the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.  As part of the Society's ongoing celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War we have staged two related exhibitions, both of which will open on Monday, 1 January [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 30 December, 2012, 12:00 PM

The 1811 Richmond Theater Fire

Series: From Our Collections
By Susan Martin, Collection Services
December 26 is the 201st anniversary of the tragic Richmond Theatre fire in Richmond, Va. The fire broke out during the evening performance when an oil lamp ignited pieces of stage scenery, sending the packed house of 600 running for the exits. But the theater, built [...] read more

comments: 1 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 26 December, 2012, 1:00 AM

Happy Holidays from the MHS

Series: From Our Collections
By Elaine Grublin
Head Quarters Co. H. 13th Regiment Mass Vols.
A Merry Christmas in Camp
December 25th 1862 [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Tuesday, 25 December, 2012, 8:00 AM

Experiments in Historical Libations

Series: From Our Collections
By Emilie Haertsch, Publications
This holiday, would you like to fancy up your cocktail by adding some founding father authenticity? Then the MHS has just the recipe for you in our collections. Ben Franklin sent James Bowdoin his recipe for "Milk Punch" on October 11, 1762. Here is the transcription of [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 21 December, 2012, 8:00 AM

Making History @ MHS

Series: Education Programs , From Our Collections
By Kathleen Barker, Education Department
Pop Quiz! Which bloody seventeenth-century skirmish brought English settlers into conflict with local Wampanoags? The answer, of course, is King Philip’s War, a series of attacks that killed many colonists and Native American in 1675 and 1676, destroyed several New [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 19 December, 2012, 8:00 AM

When Adams Met Lincoln

Series: Civil War  , From Our Collections
By Amanda A. Mathews, Adams Papers
Recent viewers of Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln may be wondering whether an Adams-Lincoln connection exists as the Adamses always seem connected to the major figures of American history. John Quincy Adams and Abraham Lincoln indeed served together in the 30th Congress [...] read more

comments: 1 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 12 December, 2012, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Elaine Grublin
As the holidays draw near, 2012 is winding down here at the MHS.  We have one last week jam packed with quality programs.  If you have not fulfilled last year's resolution of attending a program at the MHS, be sure to visit us this week.  Tuesday, 11 December [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 10 December, 2012, 8:00 AM

Immigrants Not Such a “Problem” in 1914 Report

Series: From Our Collections
By Emilie Haertsch, Publications
In 1914 the Massachusetts Commission on Immigration issued a report titled The Problem of Immigration in Massachusetts (there is a copy in the Society’s collections, and you can also view it here on Google Books), but it is not what you might think. The “problem” [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 5 December, 2012, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Elaine Grublin
The weather this week is predicted to be lovely!  Why not walk down to the MHS to attend a program.  We are offering two evening seminars, two afternoon public talks, and a morning tour -- so there is a bit of something for everyone! And all events this week are [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 3 December, 2012, 8:00 AM