The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Postcards from Japan, 1916

Series: From Our Collections
By Andrea Cronin
During a peace mission in Japan in 1916, American physician Morton Prince sent many postcards to his wife who remained at their home on Beacon Street in Boston. While exploring the cities of Yokohama and Tokyo, the doctor wrote short explanatory notes about the scenes on [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 28 February, 2014, 11:54 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
This week begins with a rare Sunday event. On 23 February, visit the Lawrence Library in Pepperell, Mass., for an author talk with Gary Shattuck, retired federal prosecutor. This talk is called Crossed Swords: Job Shattuck's Blood at the Courthouse Door and is presented [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Saturday, 22 February, 2014, 11:00 PM

Censorship During Wartime

Series: From Our Collections
By Susan Martin
The MHS recently acquired a small collection of Norma A. Krtil papers that includes nine World War II letters from Krtil’s boyfriend, 23-year-old Donald K. Kibbe of Westfield, Mass. Sgt. Kibbe was an American volunteer with the Royal Canadian Air Force serving in England. [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 19 February, 2014, 10:05 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
The MHS is closed on Monday, 17 February, in observance of President's Day. Normal hours resume on Tuesday, 18 February On Wednesday, 19 February, come by at noon for a Brown Bag lunch talk.This week, independent scholar Mary Fuhrer discusses her research project "Consumed [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 16 February, 2014, 12:00 PM

Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch, Post 30

Series: Civil War  , From Our Collections
By Elaine Grublin
The following excerpt is from the diary of Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch. Feb. 2d, 1864 The President has just ordered out 500,000 men. [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 14 February, 2014, 8:00 AM

Our Monuments Man

By Peter Drummey
The release of the new George Clooney film, The Monuments Men, recalls a fascinating talk given at the Historical Society in December 1980, and published as "Remembrance of Things Past: The Protection and Preservation of Monuments, Works of Art, Libraries, and Archives during [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Tuesday, 11 February, 2014, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
On Tuesday, 11 February, join us at 5:15PM for an Environmental History seminar as Brian McCammack of Williams College presents "'A tacit proclamation of achievement by the Race': Landscapes Built With African American Civilian Conservation Corps Labor in the Rural Midwest." [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 9 February, 2014, 12:00 PM

The McKay Stitcher: The Machine That Revolutionized Footwear Production

Series: From Our Collections
By Andrea Cronin
On 7 February 1870, Henry H. Warden, of the Russell & Company trade firm in Shanghai, wrote to colleague John Cunningham. Cunningham served as an agent in Boston for the Walsh, Hall & Company of Nagasaki in the tea trade. In this particular letter, Warden replied [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 7 February, 2014, 1:22 PM

"His intrepidity had well nigh been fatal to him": Dr. John Jeffries

By Amanda A. Mathews
This past Sunday we may have celebrated the day of our national weather-groundhog with Punxsutawney Phil's prediction of another six weeks of winter, but today we celebrate National Weatherperson's Day as recognized by the National Weather Service. This date, 5 February, [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 5 February, 2014, 8:00 AM

Remembering the Ladies with Cokie Roberts

By Kathleen Barker
On 29 January, the Society hosted a special author talk for a very lucky group of middle-school students. The star of the show was none other than Cokie Roberts: MHS Fellow, journalist, political commentator, and author of the new children's book Founding Mothers: Remembering [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 3 February, 2014, 11:14 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
With a new month comes a long period with a lot of public programming here at the Society. Keep your eyes on our events calendar this week and in the weeks to come to see what we have on tap. Kicking things off this week on Tuesday, 4 February, is the next installment of [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 2 February, 2014, 4:04 PM