This Week @ MHS

As September draws to a close, seminar season kicks into gear and with it comes a slew of public programs in the weeks ahead. Here's what's on tap this week:

- Tuesday, September 27, 8:00AM : Local innovators, investors, and influencers share their insights and perspectives on the history and future of innovation in the Boston region, a locale known for breakthroughs and firsts. The History and Future of Mass Innovation addresses such questions as: Why has Boston been the key center of social and technological change? What can community and business leaders and local governments do to nurture the factors that promote innovation? This talk is free and open to the public, though registraiton is required. This program will be held at the Stratton Student Center at MIT - 84 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139.

- Tuesday, September 27, 5:15PM : The first seminar of the fall is part of the newly named Modern American Society and Culture series. Donna Murch of Rutgers University presents "The Color of War: Race, Neoliberalism, and Punishment in Late 20th Century Los Angeles."  Drawing on the recent history of urban rebellions and punishment campaigns stemming from the late 1960s, this presentation will place our current movement for black lives in historical context. Andrew Darien of Salem State University provides comment. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers.

- Wednesday, September 28, 12:00PM : "A Hero of Two Worlds" is a Brown Bag talk presented by Sam Allis which explores a recently published work of historical fiction set in Rome in the early 1860s, when the great fight to unify Italy into a country was raging. The work features a protagonist who hails from Bangor, Maine, as well as a group of Boston expatriates. This event is free and open to the public. 

- Thursday, September 29, 5:30PM : The second seminar of the week is part of the History of Women and Gender series. "Developing Women: Global Poverty, U.S. Foreign Aid, and the Politics of Productivity in the 1970s" emerges from a chapter of a book-in-progress on US involvement campaigns to end global poverty in the 1970s and 1980s. Joanne Meyerowitz of Yale University leads the program with Priya Lal of Boston College providing comment. Seminars are free and open to the public; RSVP required. Subscribe to receive advance copies of the seminar papers. This event takes place at the Schlesinger Library at Harvard University

- Saturday, October 1, 10:00AM : The History and Collections of the MHS is a 90-minute, docent-led walk through the public spaces at the Society's home on Boylston St. The tour is free and open to the public with no need for reservations for individuals or small groups. Larger parties (8 or more) should contact Curator of Art Anne Bentley in advance at 617-646-0508 or abentley@masshist.org. While you're here you will also have the opportunity to view our current exhibition: Turning Points in American History.

- Saturday, October 1, 1:00PM : Join us for a public discussion of Puritan writings to discover just how fervently they loved in marriage and in faith, contrary to popular belief. "Sweet Talk - The Passion of Puritans in LEtters, Diaries, and Sermons" is part of the Begin at the Beginning series sponsored by the Partnership of Historic Bostons. Lori Stokes and Sarah Stewart guide the conversation. This program is open to the public free of charge, though registration is required.