The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Announcing 2016-2017 Research Fellowships

Series: Around MHS
By Elaine Heavey, Reader Services
The MHS is thrilled to receive the list of the incoming research fellows for the 2015-2016 cycle.  Each year our various fellowship programs bring a wide variety of researchers working on a full range of topics into the MHS library. The Reader Services Staff enjoys [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 29 April, 2016, 12:00 AM

Harriet the Spy

Series: From Our Collections
By Susan Martin, Collections Services
Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that Harriet Tubman will be featured on the new $20 bill, becoming simultaneously the first African American and the third woman (after Pocahontas and Martha Washington) to appear on our federal paper currency. An escaped [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 11:11 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
Here are the public programs on-tap for this ultimate week of April: - Tuesday, 26 April, 5:15PM : The next installment in the Immigration and Urban History seminar series, featuring Rebecca Marchiel of the University of Mississippi, is called "Communities Must Be [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 24 April, 2016, 12:00 AM

Margaret Russell's Diary, April 1916

Series: From Our Collections
By Anna Clutterbuck-Cook, Reader Services
Today, we return to the line-a-day diary of Margaret Russell. You can read previous installments here: January. February. March. April of 1916 continues to be cold, with Margaret Russell reporting snow and cold temperatures throughout the month -- although on an April [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 22 April, 2016, 12:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
The Society is CLOSED on Monday, 18 April, in observance of Patriot's Day. But despite a shortened week, we still have these programs on tap: - Tuesday, 19 April, 1:00PM : Looking for something fun to do during school vacation week? Look no further! Join us for "Comic [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 17 April, 2016, 12:00 AM

"Thomas Jefferson Survives": The Last Letters of Jefferson and Adams

Series: From Our Collections
By Amanda Norton, Adams Papers
As we celebrate Thomas Jefferson’s 273rd birthday today, we also celebrate his renowned friendship with John Adams. Revolutionary partners turned bitter political enemies, they reconciled in their retirement, and their final words to each other, written just months [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 13 April, 2016, 12:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
It's that time again. Here are the events coming in the week ahead: - Monday, 11 April, 6:00PM : On Monday evening is a public program featuring former transportation secretary Frederick Salvucci, MIT, who discusses the impact and legacy of the Big Dig. Registration is [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 10 April, 2016, 1:38 PM

Correcting the Record

Series: From Our Collections
By Susan Martin, Collection Services
When searching for MHS material about Cuba to coincide with President Obama’s recent trip, I ended up on the trail of another mystery, this time related to the identification of a photograph. In the Winthrop Murray Crane photographs, I found an image identified as [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 6 April, 2016, 10:39 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
This coming week is a busy one here at the MHS. Please note that the library closes at 1:00PM on Friday, 8 April. Now, here is the weekly round-up of events ahead: - Tuesday, 5 April, 5:15PM : Join us for an Early American History seminar featuring past MHS research [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 3 April, 2016, 12:00 AM

April Fools’ Day, 1864: The Cartoon Antics of Thomas Nast

Series: From Our Collections
By Shelby Wolfe, Reader Services
Happy New Year! …April Fool! Though, according to the Julian calendar developed by Julius Caesar, April 1 was designated the first day of the year. When Pope Gregory XIII instituted a new calendar in 1564 with January 1 as the start of the new year, adherents of [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 1 April, 2016, 12:00 AM