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March 2019
Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence
The Royall House and Slave Quarters welcomes historian Kellie Carter Jackson for a talk on her forthcoming book, "Force and Freedom." From its origins in the 1750s, the white-led American abolitionist movement adhered to principles of "moral suasion" and nonviolent resistance as both religious tenet and political strategy. But by the 1850s, the population of enslaved Americans had increased exponentially, and such legislative efforts as the Fugitive Slave Act and the Supreme Court's 1857 ruling in the Dred Scott case…
Find out more »Massachusetts in the Women’s Suffrage Movement
This year marks the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. It was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919, and adopted on August 18, 1920. It was a long road from the founding of our country until 1919. The Women's Rights Movement was initiated in Massachusetts, with the first convention held in Worcester. Join historian Barbara Berenson for a talk about the role that Massachusetts and some of its citizens…
Find out more »Jeremy Eichler on the Babi Yar Symphony
After the Second World War, the Soviet Union suppressed the memory of the Jewish massacre at Babi Yar and attempted to erase the site itself from the landscape. In this program, Jeremy Eichler, Public Scholar at the National Endowment for the Humanities and Classical Music Critic of The Boston Globe, charts both the earliest attempts at forced amnesia as well as the highly fraught creation of Shostakovich’s Thirteenth Symphony, a "musical monument" that broke the official silence. This event is…
Find out more »April 2019
Author Talk: Charles E. Heller – In Advance of Fate
The “portrait” in the book title "In Advance of Fate: Portrait of an Abolitionist" is of George Luther Stearns (1809–1867), a leading industrialist and abolitionist in his time. His Medford property was located on land that is now Tufts University. Among his many contributions was the recruitment of the first black troops for the Union Army, including, the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantries. In his book, Charles E. Heller creates a carefully researched picture of the life and times of…
Find out more »Author Talk: Stephen Puleo – Dark Tide
On January 15, 1919, the North End in Boston was the site of a very real and very unusual disaster. Imagine a massive molasses tank, 50 feet tall and 90 feet wide, containing more than 2 million gallons, collapsing. The tsunami of molasses injured and destroyed everything in its wake in the heavily populated North End. It was reported that 50 people were killed, 150 injured, and buildings leveled. The lawsuit that followed laid the foundation for workplace safety. Author…
Find out more »May 2019
Walking Tour: Through the Hallowells’ Neighborhood
In conjunction with the Medford Historical Society & Museum's exhibit "Stearns, Shaw, and the Hallowells," historian Dee Morris will conduct a walking tour, "Through the Hallowells' Neighborhood on Lower Mystic Street." Get a glimpse of the domestic world of the Hallowell families, whose stories reveal an array of independent thinkers who loved their children, neighbors and pets. Nicknamed "The Colony," the Hallowell households infused creative energy into the Medford community. The MHSM exhibit features items from its Civil War Collections, drawing attention…
Find out more »Royall House Tours Opening Day
The Royall House & Slave Quarters opens its guided tour season today. The site will be open on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) from May 18 through October 27. Tours are on the hour at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Admission for guided tours of the mansion is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; $5 for students; $2 for EBT or WIC cardholders; and free for children age 12 and under. Admission to the Slave Quarters, which also houses the archaeological exhibit,…
Find out more »June 2019
Medford Slavery Memorial Dedication
Walking past the Salem Street Burying Ground in Medford Square, one might think that it is a normal cemetery. Few people know that there are more than 50 slaves buried there from the late 17th century to the late 19th century without a grave marker. Medford Public School students Jenny Lu, Joe Schmidt, Jasmine Hagbourne and Liam Brady set out to increase awareness of this part of Medford history, and have been working with the City of Medford to erect a slavery memorial in the Burying Ground.…
Find out more »Royall House Community Open House
The Royall House & Slave Quarters' Community Open House is a drop-in event that provides an opportunity for neighbors to view the building interiors, hear a bit of the site's history, and — the organization hopes — be sufficiently interested to return for a full guided tour. This year’s Community Open House is scheduled right after the 10:30 a.m. Medford Slavery Memorial dedication ceremony at the Salem Street Burying Ground in nearby Medford Square. Free admission. Light refreshments will be provided.…
Find out more »Rediscovering the Calhoun Plantation Songs
In conjunction with the exhibit "Stearns, Shaw, and the Hallowells," the Medford Historical Society & Museum presents "Music from the Heart: Rediscovering the Calhoun Plantation Songs." The concert will feature a performance of spirituals compiled by West Medford's Emily Hallowell, daughter of Edward Hallowell, when she taught in Alabama's Calhoun Colored School in the 1890s. A live performance by Medford vocalist Stacy Clayton will re-create these sacred folks songs after historian Dee Morris highlights Emily's life-changing adventure. Kyna Hamill and…
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