The Beehive: the official blog of the Massachusetts Historical Society

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
Here is what's on tap at the MHS as we enter a new month: - Monday, 27 February, 6:00PM : Self-Evident Truths: Contesting Equal Rights from the Revolution to the Civil War is a new book by Richard Brown of University of Connecticut. This book offers a much-needed exploration [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 26 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

The Tree on Boston Common

Series: From Our Collections
By Grace Wagner, Reader Services
As we begin to move out of February and, hopefully, leave behind the worst of winter, I’d like to reflect back on a historic Boston storm that had a strong impact both on Boston’s landscape and its mythology. February 15, 1876 was a stormy day at the start [...] read more

comments: 3 | permalink | Published: Friday, 24 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
The MHS is CLOSED on Monday, 20 February, for Presidents' Day.  Despite the holiday-shortened week, there is quite a bit of activity at the Society. Here's is what we have the calendar for the final full week of February: - POSTPONED : "Harvest for War: Fruits, [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 19 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

Working with Google to Showcase MHS Content about U. S. Presidents

Series: Collections News
By Nancy Heywood, Digital Projects Coordinator
Selections from MHS’s two most important collections, the Adams Family Papers and the Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts, are now part of the Google Arts & Culture website. This website is administered by the Google Cultural Institute, a non-profit [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 17 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

“We...Intend to Make Things Lively”: Boston’s Black Voters in 1884

Series: From Our Collections
By Susan Martin, Collection Services
The MHS just acquired a fascinating document related to political activism by Boston’s black voters during the 1884 presidential election. This election, only the fourth presidential contest in which black (male) voters could take part, pitted Democrats Grover Cleveland [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 15 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
Coming back after a couple of snow days, we have a quiet week ahead here at the Society. Please be sure to check our website and calendar in the coming weeks to be aware of weather closures.  - Thursday, 16 February, 6:00PM : Of Arms and Artists: The American Revolution [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 12 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

“A Remarkable Deception”: The Cardiff Giant Hoax

Series: From Our Collections
By Shelby Wolfe, Reader Services
In the autumn of 1869 the peaceful valley of Onondaga, in central New York, was in commotion from one end to the other. Strange reports echoed from farm to farm. It was noised abroad that a great stone statue or petrified giant had been dug up near the little hamlet of [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 8 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

This Week @ MHS

Series: Today @MHS
By Dan Hinchen
Here are the events scheduled for the week ahead: - Tuesday, 7 February, 5:15PM : First up this week is a seminar from the Early American History series. "The Coromantee War in Jamaica: Charting the Course of an Atlantic Slave Revolt" is presented by Vincent Brown of Harvard [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Sunday, 5 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

From the Case Notes of Robert Treat Paine: Taxes and Turmoil in Paxton

Series: From Our Collections
By Christina Carrick, Publications
In Paxton, Mass., on 3 February 1783, a riot broke out over a cow. More than a dozen “hearty fellows” from Paxton and nearby Worcester County towns stormed a “vendue” (an auction) and attempted to “rescue” a cow from the auction block. [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Friday, 3 February, 2017, 12:00 AM

“A solid Judiciary”: John Adams and John Marshall

Series: From Our Collections
By Amanda M. Norton, Adams Papers
John Adams’s administration was in its waning days as January 1801 closed. While Thomas Jefferson had not yet been officially elected, Adams knew for certain that he was not going to continue in office and would soon head home. In the meantime, however, there was still [...] read more

comments: 0 | permalink | Published: Wednesday, 1 February, 2017, 12:00 AM