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The Nation He Built
What legacy will President Obama leave behind? Our fall forum takes a look.
The roster for our fall forum is filled with presidential scholars and journalists, those who know best what history tends to make of those we elect to the Oval Office. Join us to weigh in on the Obama legacy at the Boston Public Library on November 6th.
SAVE YOUR SEAT »
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Champion Humanists
Announcing the 2016 Governor’s Awards in the Humanities.
Each year, at our benefit dinner, Mass Humanities recognizes leaders who have used the humanities to improve civic life in Massachusetts. This year’s honorees are Frieda Garcia, Atul Gawande, and Lia Poorvu. Seats are still available for the dinner and ceremony, which immediately following our fall forum. Please join us!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AWARDEES »
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National Accolades
Massachusetts projects awarded over $1.5 million in NEH grants this year.
Many past Mass Humanities grantees can be found on the lists of the National Endowment for the Humanities recent grant recipients. Among them is The Price of Survival: A Documentary Film About Pauli Murray, which received pre-production support from us.
MEET THE MOST RECENT RECIPIENTS »
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Well-Earned Recognition
Robert Forrant awarded title of UMass Lowell’s 2016 University Professor
Mass Humanities friend and scholar Robert Forrant has been presented with the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s highest faculty honor for his outstanding scholarship, teaching, and community service. It is the first such honor to go to a humanities scholar. Forrant, who won Mass Humanities’ 2016 Massachusetts History Commendation, has participated in many Mass Humanities-funded projects (many of them pro bono), is a longtime participant in the Mass History Conference, and advises our staff in its efforts to support the field.
READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT »
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Clemente Classics
Five titles everyone should read, handpicked from our Clemente Course.
There is no clearer example of how the humanities transform lives than our Clemente Course. Join this fall’s cohort in reading the five titles that each student will receive, and read about why the instructors chose each book. No matter your background, these books are sure to leave their mark on you.
SEE WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE READING »
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Coming Home
How do we define the city we call home amidst rapid changes?
Study after study finds Boston is one of the most expensive places to live in the country. The city’s housing market propels the cost of living ever upward. In the midst of this frenzy, Cambridge Historical Society takes a step back to examine the past, present, and future of affordable housing in Cambridge. The first of their 3-part symposium, funded by Mass Humanities, will be held on October 13th.
JOIN THE FIRST CONVERSATION »
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Art Crimes
Can the painter in The Bakelite Masterpiece prove that the work he sold to the Nazis was his own forgery and not a piece by one of the Dutch masters? WAM Theatre's production this fall will allow you to find out. We funded the post-show conversations, which you'll also not want to miss.
CATCH THE SHOW »
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The Sense of Wonder
The Mass Humanities funded Earthcare Festival explored the human relationship to Nature in a time of ecological crisis, as experienced and envisioned by scholars, writers, and artists. Director David Perkins talked with WAMC about reimagining the Chautauqua in a digital age.
LISTEN TO IDEAS MATTER »
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Up, Up, and Away
Roads around the airport were jammed for miles around Worcester Airport on this day in 1927 as nearly 30,000 flocked to the opening. The fun didn’t stand the test of time, however, and despite the city’s best attempts, the days of passenger air service to and from Worcester were numbered.
READ THE HISTORY»
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Frederick, Filched?
A nearly life-size portrait of Frederick Douglass that was given to Fisk University by W.E.B. Du Bois is missing. The school’s attempts to recover it have been complicated by the shadows of history.
READ AND DISCUSS ON FACEBOOK »
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Singular ‘They’
Emily Dickinson (and many before and after her) used the singular 'they' to describe someone whose gender is unknown. The term's use to refer to someone of nonbinary gender is more recent, but still dates back more than a half-century.
READ AND DISCUSS ON TWITTER »
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Humanities Calendar
We list the best humanities programming in the Commonwealth on our event calendar. See what is happening this month at Mass Humanities.
FIND EVENTS»
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