Lydia Maria Child is well known in Medford as having lived in the city and authored “Over the River and Through the Wood.” In the 1830s, she found her voice as a strong champion of abolitionism, women’s rights, and the rights of Native Americans, and her publications at the time planted a seed that led many others to join the cause. In this event, Jane Sciacca, curator of the Wayland Historical Society, will speak about Mrs. Child’s accomplishments and the…

The Medford Public Library presents local historian Dee Morris for the talk "Rooted in History: Medford's Fascination with Trees." Morris will share the important role trees have played in Medford’s history using specific trees and landscapes as examples. For instance, for decades the Usher Elm on High Street was a landmark because it was thriving in 1775 when Paul Revere galloped by to warn the town about the approaching British. A row of gigantic trees ones lined much of Salem Street.…

As part of its exhibit "Lydia Maria Child: Author & Abolitionist," the Medford Historical Society & Museum presents the walking tour "Lydia Maria Child's Medford." The tour, led by MHSM Programs Committee member Nancy White, covers Medford during the period of Lydia Maria’s birth (1802), the people who were influential in her education, religious and social development, and the institutions that were present in Medford Square during the early nineteenth century. Meet at the Riverside Avenue Plaza at the corner of…

The Medford Historical Society & Museum presents a talk by the Reverend Hank Peirce on the importance of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford in the life and history of the community. Rev. Peirce will focus on three often overlooked individuals who made a lasting impact on the church congregations, our city and our nation. His talk will be on the lives and legacies of Lucy Osgood, George Luther Stearns, and Judge Lawrence Brooks. Rev. Peirce is the minister of the…

Like many northern commercial institutions, Brooks Brothers — celebrating its bicentennial this year — benefited from the institution of slavery. The storied clothier’s livery department provided garments for coachmen, footmen, and chauffeurs in wealthy American households, including those in the antebellum South. In an illustrated talk, Jonathan Michael Square, a writer and historian specializing in the fashion and visual culture of the African Diaspora, will explore this intriguing connection. Dr. Square is currently a lecturer on history and literature at…