The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Anti-Suffrage Activists Gossip about Emily Balch

Series: From Our Collections
By Anna J. Clutterbuck-Cook, Reader Services
In 1917 Margaret C. Robinson picked up her pen and wrote a note to her friend and fellow anti-suffrage activist Mary Bowditch Forbes. In addition to passing along a pro-suffrage newspaper column a friend had forwarded from Utica, New York, and apprising Mary Forbes about [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 30 October, 2013, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
As the fall chill takes grip and the leaves begin to lose theirs, there are still plenty of reasons to step out and visit the MHS this week. As always, our current exhibition is on view six days per week, 10:00AM-4:00PM, and open to the public. "The Cabinetmaker & the [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 27 October, 2013, 12:00 PM

MHS Hosts Wiki-edit-a-thon

Series: Around MHS
By Andrea Cronin, Reader Services
On Tuesday, 22 October, the MHS held a Wikipedia edit-a-thon as part of the Open Access Week 2013. The goal of the MHS edit-a-thon was to create and/or improve Wikipedia articles related to philanthropy and philanthropists in Massachusetts in the 19th century. The MHS's [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 25 October, 2013, 8:00 AM

Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch, Post 26

Series: Civil War  , From Our Collections
By Elaine Grublin
The following excerpt is from the diary of Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch. Sunday Oct. 4th, 1863 “Of public news, the battle near Chattanooga, & in which my relative Major Sidney Coolidge, and my friend S. Hall’s son Henry were wounded, - The [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 23 October, 2013, 1:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
This week at the Society we have three events for public consumption, consisting of a tour, a seminar, and plenty of furniture. Starting on Wednesday, 23 October, the MHS plays host to another public program that is part of the Massachusetts Furniture Series. Beginning [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 20 October, 2013, 6:08 PM

Wikipedia Edit-a-thon at the MHS

Series: Around MHS
By Anna Clutterbuck-Cook
Have you ever wondered who adds the references to Wikipedia articles? The answer is YOU! Join us on Tuesday, 22 October 2013 from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM for a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon! The MHS is hosting a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon to edit Wikipedia articles using our materials on [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 18 October, 2013, 2:07 PM

Helen Keller in Boston

Series: From Our Collections
By Susan Martin, Collection Services
Those of us who process manuscript collections are always stumbling on interesting and unexpected finds. I was recently working with the MHS’s George E. Ellis papers to improve the arrangement and description of the collection, and one letter immediately caught my [...] read more

comments: 1 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 16 October, 2013, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
Even with a shortened week there is a plethora of public programs going on at the MHS. The Society is closed for business on Monday, 14 October, in observance of the Columbus Day holiday, however, the building will be open to visitors as part of the Fenway Cultural District's [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 13 October, 2013, 7:00 PM

Considering Collation: Decoding the Formula

By Dan Hinchen, Reader Services
In my last post I shared some of the lessons that I learned in July at Rare Book School at the University of Virginia. Now, as promised, I can explain what some of it means. If you remember, I provided a collation formula of a book from the print collection here at the MHS. [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 11 October, 2013, 1:52 PM

A “Painless” Day at the MHS

Series: Education Programs
By Kathleen Barker, Education Department
On Saturday, 5 October, the MHS hosted a fun-filled, hands-on workshop for teachers, students, librarians, and history enthusiasts. Nearly 20 participants braved the beautiful weather (and the Red Sox home game) to spend a day working with documents from the Society’s [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 9 October, 2013, 8:00 AM

Volunteer, the America’s Cup victor—of 1887

Series: From Our Collections
By Peter Drummey, Librarian
The extraordinary come-from-behind victory of Oracle Team USA in the recent America’s Cup competition calls to mind a time when Boston was the center of American yacht racing design and development.  Between 1885 and 1887, the local team of Charles Jackson Paine [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 7 October, 2013, 12:00 PM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
It is another busy week here at the MHS now that public program season is in full swing. On Friday, 4 October, our new exhibition opened to the public. Be sure to come in soon to see "The Cabinetmaker & the Carver: Boston Furniture from Private Collections," on display [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 6 October, 2013, 7:00 PM

Chinese Hanzi Characters in 1801

Series: From Our Collections
By Andrea Cronin, Reader Services
  On 30 July 1801 the snow Pacific Trader bound for Canton floundered in the Pacific Ocean when the vessel took on water in the midst of a violent two-day gale. The winds tore the sails and mangled the rigging so terribly that the ship and its small crew limped into [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 4 October, 2013, 1:00 AM

John Adams and the Bill of Rights

Series: From Our Collections
By Amanda A. Mathews, Adams Papers
On this day in 1789, President George Washington wrote a short letter to each state’s governor, enclosing a copy of twelve proposed amendments to the new United States Constitution for consideration, which Congress had passed on September 25 with the signatures of [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 2 October, 2013, 1:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
It is a busy week here at the Society with a variety of public programs for your enjoyment, so clear your calendar and check out ours! Starting the week off on Tuesday, 1 October, is the first event of the season from our Early American History Seminar series. Join us as [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Tuesday, 1 October, 2013, 7:01 AM