This Week @ MHS

June is arrived, and with it come brown bags and conversations at the MHS. 

On Monday, 1 June, stop by at noon for a Brown Bag lunch talk given by Kristina Garvin of Ohio State University. "The Cultural Work of the Serial in U.S. Literature, 1786-1815" gives an overview of serial ficiton in the early republic and explores its particular uses and features. This program is free and open to the public. 

Wednesday, 3 June, sees another Brown Bag starting at noon, this time given by Jordan Smith of Georgetown University. His project, "The Invention of Rum," investigates the history of rum in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. 

On Wednesday evening, there is a special author talk and conversation facilitated by independent author and activisit Jim Vrabel. "How Community Activism Made the New Boston Better" will focus on the rise in community activism in the 1960s and 1970s as well as the state of activism today. Joining Vrabel are Tom Corrigan, Moe Gillen, Renee Loth, and M. Daniel Richardson, Jr. This event is open to the public with a fee of $10 (no charge for Fellows and Members), and registration is required so please RSVP. A pre-talk reception begins at 5:30PM with the event starting at 6:00PM. 

And on Saturday, 6 June, stop by at 10:00AM for the History and Collections of the MHS. Docent-led and lasting about 90 minutes, this free tour explores the public rooms in our historic building and touches on the art, history, architecture and collections at the Society. Tours are open to the public, free of charge, with no reservation needed for individuals or small groups. Parties of 8 or more should contact the Curator of Art, Anne Bentley, in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org.

Also on Saturday, beginning at 1:00PM, is the third installment of "Begin at the Beginning: Boston's Founding Documents." Led by historian Abby Chandler and the Partnership of Historic Bostons will look at the Massachusetts 1641 Body of Liberties, the first legal code in the English colonies. The talk is free and open to the public, RSVP required. No expertise necessary, just an interest in the history of where we live. 

Finally, don't forget to come in and view our current exhibition: "God Save the People! From the Stamp Act to Bunker Hill." This exhibit is open to the public free of charge, Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-4:00PM.