Featured Item from the MHS Collection: Massachusetts Pine Tree penny, designed and engraved by Paul Revere (1776.) It was discovered in Boston’s North End during an excavation in the early 19th century. It is the only known original Massachusetts Pine Tree penny. Click here to see the item. Upcoming Online Events: On Wednesday, 1 July, at …
June 2020 archive
Jun 23
Berkshire Museum Summer
This summer, the Berkshire Museum has several different events and exhibitions you can attend in the comfort of your own home. There are currently 7 programs: “Visual Voice: Portfolios from Pittsfield High School”, “W.E.B. Du Bois”, “Snap, Scute, and Swim: The Life and Times of the Common Snapping Turtle”, “Pride Trivia”, “Camp@Home”, “Art of the …
Jun 18
Juneteenth Celebration: An Event in Support of the Movement for Black Lives
This Friday, 6/19, at 5:30 pm, The Williamstown Congregational Church invites community members to join them for a moment of music, movement, resistance, and joy, led by Otha Day. All are welcome, and the event is free. Immediately after the BLM vigil, we will celebrate Juneteenth together at Field Park. Juneteenth is a day that …
Jun 16
Conversations on the Commons invites you to: Reopening, engaging, or both?
Friday, June 19 from 1:00-2:30 PM, join Penni Martorell (Curator and City Historian at Wistariahurst) and Gloria Greis (Executive Director at the Needham History Center & Museum) for a follow-up discussion on the reopening process. The event will be live-streamed with questions and comments being monitored. Some questions to consider are: What are your reopening …
Jun 16
Connecticut League of History Organizations Presents: Summer School; Donor Stewardship, Getting Viral and Vocal
Wednesday, June 17 from 1:00-2:00 PM, join Megan Olver (Manager of Membership & Annual Fund at Hill-Stead Museum), John Avignone (Development Consultant at Bristol’s American Clock & Watch Museum), and Nick Foster (Associate Curator & Museum Administrator at the Wilton Historical Society) for a Summer School session to discuss fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic. In …
Jun 10
Connecticut League of History Organizations Presents a Special Edition Colleague Circle: Reopening
The State of Connecticut has published reopening guidelines for museums. Given the unfamiliar ground inherent in the reopening process, you may be wondering how to decide if and when your organization will be ready to reopen. Liz Shapiro, Director of Arts, Preservation, and Museums at the Connecticut Office of the Arts and State Historic Preservation Office, …
Jun 02
Historic “gems” lie in wait to be discovered–one student’s story
You never know what sort of historical treasures lie right under your nose. I was cleaning up one of the barns at my family’s farm when I stumbled across a large stack of documents. Upon closer inspection, the documents turned out to be pages of an herbarium (i.e., a collection of pressed plants) that was …
Jun 01
Conversations on the Commons: Reopening in an Unprecedented Era
On Friday, June 5, from 1:00-2:30 PM, join Ken Turino (manager of Community Partnerships and Resource Development at Historic New England), Pleun Bouricius (curator of the Plainfield Historical Society and President of the Mass. History Alliance), and moderator Margo Shea (Assistant Professor of History at Salem State University) for a discussion on the reopening process. …