The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Are We All Created Equal?

Series: Today @MHS
By Kathleen Barker, Education Department
In the introduction to his 1903 book The Souls of Black Folk; Essays and Sketches W.E.B. Dubois argued that “the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line.” Is that problem still with us today, or do twenty-first-century Americans face [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Monday, 31 March, 2014, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
March draws to a close, finally seeming to trade its lions for lambs. As April arrives we have a slew of programs at the Society this week. So, let us waste no time and get right to it. Kicking things off on Tuesday, 1 April, stop by at noon for a special author talk with [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 30 March, 2014, 12:00 PM

"Feat of strength – not of skill": George Preble's Description of Sumo Wrestling in Japan, 1854

By Andrea Cronin
"While we were looking at [150-pound sacks of rice] & I was thinking of getting them off to the ships a procession of fifty athletes filed before us," wrote Lt. George Henry Preble of the U.S.S. Macedonia in a journal of his voyage to China and Japan on 24 March 1854. [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Tuesday, 25 March, 2014, 8:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
As spring struggles to take hold we are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that the potential storm does not interrupt any of the programs on tap this week. First up, on Tuesday, 25 March, is "Boston's Chinatowns and Recent Senior Migration," the next edition of our [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 23 March, 2014, 12:00 PM

"He cannot degrade her": Louisa Catherine Adams on Women’s Natural Equality

Series: From Our Collections
By Amanda A. Mathews
While Abigail Adams is often cast into the role of proto-feminist based on her famous "Remember the Ladies" letter to John Adams in March 1776, Louisa Catherine Adams also expressed strong feelings about the natural equality of women, particularly in regards to their intellectual [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 19 March, 2014, 1:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
The Ides of March have come and gone and life at the MHS continues. This week is a busy one with plenty of public programs to satisfy your craving for history. First up, on Monday, 17 March, beginning at noon is an author talk with Emily Lodge. While the biographies of the [...] read more

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

Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch, Post 31

By Elaine Grublin
The following excerpt is from the diary of Stephen Greenleaf Bulfinch. Tuesday March 1st 1864 We have, I regret to record, news of a defeat in Florida. In other parts of the South, the spring operations appear thus far to be successful. Monday March 7th, [...] read more

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

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
As the days lengthen and start to warm, consider stopping by the MHS this week for a one of our public programs or to peruse our exhibits. Currently on display is "Tell It With Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Shaw Memorial." This exhibition, [...] read more

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

Memoirs of an Adams Transcriber

By Jim Connolly
For three years I worked as a transcriber for the Adams Papers. Future editors, responsible for checking and publishing my transcriptions of the Adams family’s letters, will rue this fact—as my colleagues at the time must have, I’m sure. Oh, those carefree [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 7 March, 2014, 8:00 AM

"Imposed Planning STOPS HERE": Fenway in the 1970s

Series: Around the Neighborhood
By Anna J. Clutterbuck-Cook
My last post for the Beehive explored the creation, destruction, and potential renewal of Charlesgate Park in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. In my continued exploration of the Society’s 20th-century urban history collections, I stumbled across this handmade flyer [...] read more

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

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
It is time again for the roundup of events taking place at the Society in the week ahead. In addition to seminars, brown bags, and tours, be sure to come in anytime Monday - Saturday, 10:00AM-4:00PM, to see our current exhibition, "Tell It With Pride: The 54th Massachusetts [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 2 March, 2014, 12:00 PM