This week on The Historians Podcast, environmental educator Anita Sanchez has history stories from the War of 1812 (the invasion of Sandy Bay, Massachusetts) and the Civil War (President Lincoln and the Shakers). Malta historian Paul Perreault tells the tale of a missing metal eagle. And history authors are interviewed at the 2016 Chronicle Book Fair in Glens Falls. [Read more…] about War of 1812: The Invasion of Sandy Bay (Podcast)
Massachusetts
Heritage, Archaeology, and Tourism: MA Historic Preservation Conference
The Massachusetts Historic Preservation Conference was held in Plymouth, MA, on September 20th. This one-day conference was one I really would have liked to be able to attend but I just wasn’t able to work it into my schedule. Part of the attraction was the location itself plus the work underway to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrims.
“This year’s theme, ‘Untold Stories in Preservation’ serves as a springboard for discussion, case studies and model preservation projects that reflect on and engage people in histories that have not been as widely acknowledged as others,” the welcome letter said. “Plymouth will be a touchstone for how different stories and legacies are represented and how historic preservation can play a role in presenting them.” [Read more…] about Heritage, Archaeology, and Tourism: MA Historic Preservation Conference
The Money Question in Early America
We read and hear a lot about money. We read and hear about fluctuations in the value of the Dollar, Pound, and Euro, interest rates and who can and can’t get access to credit, and we also read and hear about new virtual currencies like Bitcoin and Facebook’s Libra.
We talk a lot about money. But where did the idea of money come from?
Did early Americans think about money a lot too? [Read more…] about The Money Question in Early America
A 17th-Century Native American Life
What does early America look like if we view it through Native American eyes?
Jenny Hale Pulsipher, author of Swindler Sachem: The American Indian Who Sold His Birthright, Dropped Out of Harvard, and Conned the King of England (Yale University Press, 2018) and Associate Professor of History at Brigham Young University, is a scholar who enjoys investigating the many answers to this question. In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World: A Podcast About Early American History, she introduces us to a Nipmuc Indian named John Wompas and how he experienced a critical time in early American history, the period between the 1650s and 1680s. [Read more…] about A 17th-Century Native American Life
Mass History Alliance Advocates for State, Local History
On June 4, 2018, I attended the annual Massachusetts History Conference. For the second year in row, the event was hosted by the Massachusetts History Alliance. This new and still-forming group drew my attention because of its mission: to advocate on behalf of state and local history.
To read about the efforts of this group go to Who Advocates for State and Local History?: The Massachusetts History Alliance Experience.
Tis’ Death to Counterfeit: New England Counterfeiters in NY
While an ongoing border dispute took place between the governments of New York and Massachusetts, Ichabod Miller eked out a living on his farm in West Stockbridge, Mass. On December 20, 1772, his pastoral life was turned upside down.
Miller was awoken to the commotion of an angry mob at his door. In a moment they had broken in the door and he faced the business end of a loaded musket. He was accused of counterfeiting. This crime could be heart stopping. If proven, the sentence was death.
Counterfeiting was fairly prevalent in the colonies at this time. It was relatively easy to do, it was extremely profitable, hard to discover, and even harder to prosecute. [Read more…] about Tis’ Death to Counterfeit: New England Counterfeiters in NY
A Tale of Two Bostons in the 17th Century
The City Upon a Hill. The Athens of America. The Cradle of Liberty.
Boston has many names because it has played important roles in the history of North America. But how did Boston, or “The Hub,” come to be?
Why did the Puritans who sailed from England in 1630, choose to settle in Massachusetts Bay on the Shawmut Peninsula?
What were their early days like?
In this episode of the Ben Franklin’s World podcast, we explore answers to those questions by exploring the history of the two Bostons—Boston, England & Boston, New England— during the 17th century with Rose Doherty, President of the Partnership of Historic Bostons. You can listen to the podcast here: www.benfranklinsworld.com/095
[Read more…] about A Tale of Two Bostons in the 17th Century
General Electric’s Legacy in Pittsfield
This week on “The Historians” podcast Radio Boston news producer Jamie Bologna of WBUR-FM interviews Bob Cudmore about Cudmore’s years as a radio reporter in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, when GE was starting to downsize there. Listen to the podcast here. Listen to WBUR’s finished reports on the story here. [Read more…] about General Electric’s Legacy in Pittsfield
Understanding Shays’ Rebellion
After achieving independence from Great Britain, the new United States and its member states had to pay war debts. As the national government lacked the power to tax its citizens, the problem of paying war debts fell to the states.
Many states tried to solve the post-war debt problem by paying state debts before national debts. But Massachusetts tried to pay both. Its strategy created hardship for many Bay Staters and ultimately sparked a rebellion.
In this episode of the Ben Franklin’s World podcast, Sean Condon, a Professor of History at Merrimack College, joins us to investigate the rebellion, which we remember today as Shays’ Rebellion. You can listen to the podcast here: www.benfranklinsworld.com/087
How Archives Work: Massachusetts Historical Society
Historians research history in archives.
But how do you gain access to one? And how do you use an archive once you find that it likely contains the information you seek?
In this episode of the Ben Franklin’s World podcast, we investigate how archives work with Peter Drummey, an archivist and the Stephen T. Riley Librarian at the Massachusetts Historical Society. You can listen to the podcast here: www.benfranklinsworld.com/075
[Read more…] about How Archives Work: Massachusetts Historical Society