One of the things that I am looking forward to with my upcoming move to Boston is the opportunity to meet new people and join new organizations. I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of historical institutions in the Boston area as well as the wide range of programs and workshops that are available to the general public. I’ve already joined the Massachusetts Historical Society and I can’t wait to dive into their incredibly rich archival collection and attend some of their programs. Over the past few weeks I’ve been scrambling to read as much Massachusetts history as possible. I am currently reading Richard D. Brown’s, Massachusetts: A Concise History, T.H. Breen’s, American Insurgents, American Patriots: The Revolution of the People
I am also hoping to set up as many speaking engagements as my calendar will permit, which should also give me the chance to meet some new people. With that in mind I ask that you consider me for a presentation to your Civil War Roundtable, historical society seminar, and especially teaching workshops. I’ve set up a page with additional information. I look forward to hearing from some of you.
We take our students out for an end of the year outing to George’s Island. So avoid June 10th. The harbor islands, their use, abuse and reuse, is quite a story both historically and ecologically.
I forgot to mention this on your earlier post about moving north, but you might consider taking the ferry out to Georges Island to see Fort Warren this summer. As you may know, its a pre-CW vintage fort that was a drill ground for some of the first MA regiments and then a POW camp throughout the war. Some interesting characters passed through its gates.
Thanks for the tip.
Don’t forget Paul Revere’s Ride, by Fischer.
That’s another book that I am going to have to revisit. Back in the early 1990s I wrote an M.A. thesis in the area of Philosophy of History. It was what you might describe as an empirical approach to the subject and couched in a detailed analysis of the historiography of the American Revolution. Although I wrote it in the Philosophy Department I did prepare by taking a class with Ronald Hoffman in the History Department. As a result I have a pretty good grasp of the literature for this period. Thanks again, John. Nice to hear from you.
The MHS will not disappoint. For a more recent look at Boston, I suggest “Common Ground” about the busing crisis.
Thanks Matt. I was looking for something that would begin to fill in Boston’s more recent past.
Jill LaPore, David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard, and of course Drew Faust are both connections (or reconnections) worth making. LaPore’s The Name of War is a particularly significant work of regional history and relations between Puritans and Native Americans at the time of King Phillip’s War. The Boston Athenaeum and the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester are also fantastic resources.
I read LePore’s book back when it was originally published, but I may have to read it again. I also want to re-read Bernard Bailyn’s masterful biography of Thomas Hutchinson.
Kevin:
You’ll love the Boston Public Library as well. A very impressive (and I think much overlooked) CW manuscript collection there. And a magnificent reading room in which to look things over.
Thanks Terry. I’ve spent some time on their website as well.