The Medford Historical Society & Museum presents a talk at the library with historian Stephen Puleo about his new book, "The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union," the story of one of the most influential non-presidents in American history. In the tempestuous mid-19th century, as slavery consumed congressional debate and America careened toward civil war and split apart — when the very future of the nation hung in the balance — Charles Sumner’s voice…

You may know them as the Two Nerdy History Girls – authors Loretta Chase and Susan Holloway Scott, the originators of the infamous blog by that name. Tonight, the Medford Public Library presents the bestselling authors via Zoom. They address such questions as how do they find interesting tidbits of historical lore, which libraries of the world have they visited, and how do they avoid the inescapable “rabbit hole”? It promises to be a fascinating and entertaining conversation between these…

Medford historian Dee Morris's summer walking tour this year will feature the Wellington neighborhood. Tonight at the library Dee provides an overview of this most eastern part of Medford, which honors the Wellington brothers who farmed the land in 1819. Over time, the pair transformed the fields into a neat grid of numbered streets. These new house lots attracted craftsmen, business types and educators who enjoyed being close to Boston. The Wellington Gun Club offered shooting contests on fertile marshes…

Medford historian Dee Morris's summer walking tour for 2024 focuses on the history of the Wellington area in East Medford. On this lively and informative tour you will learn about the farmers, craftsmen and business people who helped to shape this residential neighborhood. Meet at the intersection of Riverside Avenue and Middlesex Avenue across from 5th Street. This walking tour also will be presented at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, and Saturday, September 28. In addition, Morris will give…

The Royall House and Slave Quarters presents it second annual Reading Frederick Douglass Together program on the museum grounds. Community members are invited to gather on the lawn in front of the historic Slave Quarters building to read/listen to Douglass's "What, To The Slave, is the Fourth of July?" to honor the long history of Black activism, critique, and abolition. Scholar/activist David Harris will launch the reading, then invite community members to read sections of the speech. A drum circle…

As part of a statewide initiative and in partnership with Mass Humanities and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the West Medford Community Center is participating in this year's series of public readings commemorating Frederick Douglass' landmark address, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" A gifted orator and prescient writer, Douglass forces us to reckon with the legacy of slavery and the promises of democracy. Each participant will read a full paragraph aloud of an abridged version of Douglass'…

Medford historian Dee Morris's summer walking tour for 2024 focuses on the history of the Wellington area in East Medford. On this lively and informative tour you will learn about the farmers, craftsmen and business people who helped to shape this residential neighborhood. Meet at the intersection of Riverside Avenue and Middlesex Avenue across from 5th Street. Dee will also lead this walking tour at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 28.