This Week @MHS

FEATURED ITEM

Log of the Ship Polly

This page from the ship Polly’s log records a voyage (August 1800–May 1802) from Boston to the American Northwest Coast, to Canton (Guangzhou, China), and back to Boston. The entries record a harbor log, weather and navigational readings, an encounter with pirates, and brief notes on the fur trade with Native Americans on the Northwest Coast. Brief stops include Rio de Janeiro, Oahu, Hawaii, Macao, and the Sunda Strait.

The entry for 2 December 1800 notes: “Begins Moderate Breeze + Clear... Latter Light winds + Rough Sea.”

View this page and the rest of the log up close.

Tuesday, 10 December, 5:00 PM: The Atlantic Manor: A Comparative Perspective on the Manor in Colonial New York with BJ Lillis, Princeton University, with comment by Allan Greer, McGill University. This is a seminar.

Wednesday, 11 December, 5:00 PM: Criminal Justice Reform & Resistance in the Civil Rights Era & Beyond - A Panel Discussion, with Kenneth Alyass, Harvard University, and Say Burgin, Dickinson College, with comment by Simon Balto, University of Wisconsin-Madison. This is a seminar.

Thursday, 12 December, 5:30 PM: Members & Honorary Fellows Holiday Party. This is a Member event.

See full calendar.

Boston Views: Through the Lens of Arthur A. Shurcliff

Arthur A. Shurcliff (1870–1957), a landscape architect, created a collection of 1,295 glass lantern slides that depict cityscapes and buildings in Boston and other locations during the first decades of the 20th century. View a selection of Boston scenes reproduced at large scale and learn more about Shurcliff.

Learn more about the collection of glass lantern slides by reading this blog post. Visit our hours and admissions page for gallery hours.

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Our Members Are a Vital Resource

Support from MHS Members makes it possible for us to fulfill our mission and expand access to historical knowledge. Thanks to our Members, we offer free admission to our research library and exhibitions; provide history and civics education resources to students and teachers; support leading historical research fellowships and publications; and more. Membership begins with a fully tax-deductible contribution of $250 or more to the MHS Fund. All Members enjoy a full year of social, cultural, and educational experiences, including invitations to our annual Holiday Party, FREE program registration, and Member Week perks. Learn more and join today!

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