Mass Historical Society Open House for Graduate Students

Each year the Massachusetts Historical Society hosts an evening open house for graduate students in history programs in New England. I went to the first one two years ago, which involved a behind the scenes tour of the entire building. That was very cool. I missed last year b/c I was sick, but made it back again this year.

They changed the format somewhat. Instead of a tour of the entire building, they focus on key aspects of the collection and society they want us to know about: the reading room and research, education programs, and the Adams papers and general publishing. We divide into 3 groups and visit each of the aspects. It is more informative and logistically do-able than seeing the entire building, but I'm so glad I got to see the whole building as well the first time.

It's always a great opportunity to meet other graduate students.

They showed a couple of key documents from their collections that I thought were very interesting. One was one of the original signed versions of the treaty ending the Revolutionary War. I didn't have my camera but took with my cell phone, which is why it's not so great.

The other is a journal of John Adams (I think) opened to his account of meeting King George III for the first time. I didn't get a chance to read it, but am looking forward to when it will be in print in 2014 or so with annotations.