Past Grants Awarded

Inventory and creation of a finding aid for recently obtained records from the Chester Square Area Neighborhood Association.

Inventory and creation of a searchable catalog of the Society's Photographic Collection.

Inventory and processing of the Fruitlands Shaker Collection of journals, church membership logs, sermons, and financial records.
(project website)

Necessary re-processing of a portion of the Denton Family Collection.

A four-part discussion series on influental works by Ella Baker, Lucy Stone, Dolores Huerta, and Ida B. Wells.

A moderated discussion on Leigh Fought's recently published "Women in the World of Frederick Douglass", as well as Lynn's annual Reading Frederick Douglass event.

A five-part lecture and discussion series on Pittsfield local history.

A six-week reading and discussion series for children and their caregivers intended to provoke conversations on immigration.

A public discussion, moderated by popular scholar and speaker Donovan Livingston, on the media's role in how equity and diversity are understood and addressed in schools.

A book group focused on Anna Douglass, in addition to New Bedford's annual "Reading Frederick Douglass" event.

Plainfield's third annual "Reading Frederick Douglass" event in July as well as an October reading of (parts of) "The Constitution of the United States followed by moderated discussion.

Brockton's annual "Reading Frederick Douglass" event offered in twelve languages this year.

A series of eleven discussion on "forgotten" episodes in women's history.

Research and planning for an exhibition on religious institutions and groups in Somerville, with the intention of tackling issues of immigration, religious tradition and history, and religious practices, and contemporary religious communities.

The implementation of an online user interface to promote distribution of the film that will allow organizations and individuals to host screenings and to download a screening guide (with historical context and discussion questions).

The creation of a film trailer to raise funds for a visitors film-supported by input from historians and legal scholars-for the John Adams Courthouse.

A film distribution project, including the creation of an interactive website and curriculum guide-both focused on constitutional law, ethics, and the history of conflict in the United States-as well as a large, public Massachusetts screening and discussion (preceding the film's broadcast on WGBY).

A public event with graphic novelist and scholar John Jennings and other scholars of black comics, which will push audiences to consider questions about the history of black comics, Afro-futurism, colonialism, civil rights, and the future of publishing.

The development of new mini-courses-regarding the radical social reformers who settled in Florence in the 1840s, and what their stories teach about contemporary issues-for visiting school groups, which will be brought to teachers in a professional development workshop.

Research and planning for a permanent exhibit about the events based in Arlington on the first day of the American Revolution: April 19, 1775.

The design and production of a walking-tour brochure of Boston's Chinatown, intended to complement the city's other self-guided walking tours, including the Freedom Trail, Black Heritage Trail, and Women's Trail.

The introduction of already-successful humanities-based programs to adults in the Boston area; the organization's programs-originally created for teens and young adults-are based on songs and stories of the sea that include the oft-ignored experiences of African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, young people, and women.

The implementation of permanent exhibitions "Stories of Westford" and "History of Westford Academy," which will engage audiences in the history of Westford Academy-the state's oldest standing coeducational secondary school building-and Westford's beginnings.
(project website)

A series of public programs based on the influence and legacy of Nathaniel Hawthorne to take place during the celebratory summer of 2018, which marks the 350th-anniversary of the House's founding.

A photography-and-cultural-studies project with recently arrived immigrants in ESOL classes; adult students will find opportunities to document, reflect on, and share their own stories and experiences, while also learning from their classmates and from humanities-based texts and photographs.

An environmental history project for Auburn Public School students that is led by a humanities scholar and includes lessons, a photography project, an exhibit, and a tour.

Distribution of the documentary film "9 to 5" by means of community screenings and discussions-with a prepared discussion guide-in partnership with community organizations, unions, labor schools, and scholars in Boston and Western Massachusetts.

Development of new public humanities programs to complement an upcoming exhibition by Taryn Simon, whose art revolves around Russian culture and Russo-American relations.

A one-day symposium on the history and future of public health in Lawrence.

A community dialogue and multimedia interactive presentation on women's history in downtown Springfield, followed by a public display on Bay Path's campus.

An oral history project documenting the stories of families living in the Dudley Street neighborhood.

A series of humanities exhibits and events, held throughout North Central Massachusetts, about LGBTQ issues, rights, and histories.

A monthly series of humanities discussions and cultural programs aimed toward-and developed with-Waltham's large African immigrant community.

Permanent outdoor local history interpretive panels on the US Coast Guard presence in Hull.

A three-part performance-and-discussion series on the veteran experience designed to attract and engage both veterans and civilians.

An out-of-school literature and theatre project for youth leaders to explore themes of immigration, cultural assimilation, and belonging in relationship to Boston immigrant communities.

Implementation funds for eight local history organizations to implement capacity-building projects after completing six intensive workshops on best practices.

An exhibition of eight historic neon road signs of Massachusetts businesses, c. 1927-1970, related research and accompanying panels, and a moderated panel discussion.

An audience immersion pilot program for about 100 community residents to explore how historical theater is produced-through lenses of dramaturgy, cultural studies, and history.

Scholarly consulting, the creation of informative playbills, and a post-performance discussion of a student production of Peter Pan.