BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Mass History Commons - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Mass History Commons X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://masshistorycommons.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Mass History Commons REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20190310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20191103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20200308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20201101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20210314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20211107T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20220313T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20221106T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210622T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210622T200000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210415T172104Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210615T015450Z UID:3884-1624384800-1624392000@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Class on the Commons: Taking STEPS Together DESCRIPTION:TAKING STEPS TOGETHER: EXPLORING HOW REGIONAL GROUPS OF SMALL MUSEUMS CAN WORK TOGETHER ON DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTH AND SUSTAINABILITY \nWith Bethany Hawkins\, Cliff McCarthy\, Dennis D. Picard\, and Katherine Stevens\n \nA group of small and mid-sized history organizations in the Pioneer Valley History Network (PVHN) built on the Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations (STEPS) developed by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) to assess their organizations’ policies and practices\, identify strengths\, and plan for improvements. Doing it together seemed to have worked well. Inspired by that project\, this 2-hour\, hands-on workshop includes self-assessment activities to assess your organization against STEPS audience standards. In addition\, we will brainstorm and network possible collaborations\, resources\, and funding sources when forming a STEPs cohort. Representatives from PVHN and AASLH will provide context and case study examples to guide participant engagement. Participants will leave the workshop with the connections and tools to form and/or join a regional STEPS effort. \nAdmittance to this event is included in the 2021 Mass History Conference registration fee. If you did not register for the Mass History Conference\, you can register here for $5. \nQuestions? Contact registration@masshistoryalliance.org. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/class-on-the-commons-taking-steps-together/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Classes on the Commons ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/MHA-email-graphic1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210618T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210618T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210415T172031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210617T010715Z UID:3874-1624021200-1624026600@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Cafe on the Commons: Working with History DESCRIPTION:Do you miss chatting with your colleagues and friends as you walked from session to session during our conference? Do you miss exchanging ideas about best practices\, new programs\, or how to stop a leak with only duct tape? Did you attend a specific session that blew your mind during our 2021 program and want to delve further into a topic? \nJoin us for Cafe on the Commons: Working with History to chat about all things related to working with history! \nThis session will be moderated by Laura B. Roberts\, former executive director of the New England Museum Association. As a consultant\, Laura Roberts works with cultural nonprofits on strategic planning\, assessment\, staff and board training\, and organizational development. She teaches museum management at Harvard University and Bank Street College of Education. She was executive director of the New England Museum Association and director of education at three history museums in New England. Laura is the chair of the board of Central Square Theater in Cambridge\, MA\, and a board member at History Cambridge\, where she chairs the program committee. She is former chair of the Tufts Art Gallery advisory board and Mass Humanities. Laura holds an M.B.A. from Boston University and an M.A. from the Cooperstown Graduate Program. \nThis networking session may be of interest to museum professionals and volunteers\, historical society members and volunteers\, and all public history practitioners who regularly work with history in its many representations. \nAdmittance to this event is included in the 2021 Mass History Conference registration fee. To claim your free registration\, use your promo code to register in Eventbrite. If you did not register for the Mass History Conference\, you can register here for $5. \nQuestions? Contact registration@masshistoryalliance.org. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/cafe-on-the-commons-working-with-history/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Cafes on the Commons ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/placeholder_cafe_green.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210615T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210615T200000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210415T171859Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210615T015455Z UID:3878-1623780000-1623787200@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Class on the Commons: Mass Humanities Grants\, Workshops\, and Resources for Small History Organizations DESCRIPTION:MASS HUMANITIES PRESENTS: GRANTS\, WORKSHOPS\, AND RESOURCES FOR SMALL HISTORY ORGANIZATIONS \nPresented by Mass Humanities\, with Nichole Besseghir\, Alex Collins\, Jen Hale\, and Katherine Stevens \nThis workshop is an opportunity for small- and medium-sized history organizations to hear from institutions that serve them and for attendees to share their needs and challenges with panelists. Presentations will cover Mass Humanities grants program; the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) webinars\, online courses\, and in-person capacity building workshops; New England Archivists educational offerings\, focused on low-cost\, introductory workshops for small and/or under-resourced organizations\, and its New England Archivists Mentoring Program. Presentations from panelists will be followed by a structured workshop discussion focused on attendees’ resource needs\, reducing barriers to access\, and opportunities to build greater capacity among small- and medium-sized history organizations. \nAdmittance to this event is included in the 2021 Mass History Conference registration fee. If you did not register for the Mass History Conference\, you can register here for $5. \nQuestions? Contact registration@masshistoryalliance.org. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/class-on-the-commons-mass-humanities-grants-workshops-and-resources-for-small-history-organizations/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Classes on the Commons ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210611T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210611T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210415T171832Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210611T133358Z UID:3871-1623416400-1623421800@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Cafe on the Commons: Teaching History DESCRIPTION:Do you miss chatting with your colleagues and friends as you walked from session to session during our conference? Do you miss exchanging ideas about best practices\, new programs\, or how to stop a leak with only duct tape? Did you attend a specific session that blew your mind during our 2021 program and want to delve further into a topic? \nJoin us for Cafe on the Commons: Teaching History to chat about all things related to teaching history! \nThis session will be moderated by Margo Shea\, Associate Professor of History at Salem State University. \nThis networking session may be of interest to teachers\, archivists and librarians\, docents and demonstrators\, and all public history practitioners who engage with audiences for the purposes of teaching. \nAdmittance to this event is included in the 2021 Mass History Conference registration fee. To claim your free registration\, use your promo code to register in Eventbrite. If you did not register for the Mass History Conference\, you can register here for $5. \nQuestions? Contact registration@masshistoryalliance.org. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/cafe-on-the-commons-teaching-history/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Cafes on the Commons ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210607 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210608 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210422T234028Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210422T234028Z UID:3981-1623024000-1623110399@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:2021 Mass History Conference DESCRIPTION:The 2021 MASS HISTORY CONFERENCE will be held online on June 7\, 2021\, with additional workshops and networking events on the Mass History Commons on six other dates in June. \nEngaging public history\, including local history activities\, is crucial to the civic well-being of our communities\, our Commonwealth\, and our nation. The conference will focus on history as a community activity\, with more than fifteen sessions and workshops\, a plenary by community history scholar Diana Becerra\, a Commons area with tabling\, and plenty of opportunities to meet and greet\, network\, exchange ideas and hatch plans and collaborations. Due to ongoing concerns about Covid-19\, this year’s conference will be held online. But as soon as we can\, we will return to meeting each other face to face! \nREGISTER HERE! URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/2021-mass-history-conference/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Mass History Alliance ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/MHA-email-graphic1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210514T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210514T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210411T161645Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210429T230255Z UID:3814-1620997200-1621002600@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Does it spark joy? DESCRIPTION:Does It Spark Joy?\n \nMay 14\, 2021\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nDoes it spark joy? Historical organizations’ priorities change\, and storage is overflowing. How do we clean up without getting rid of that which the future will find necessary to know and see? Have you held a spring cleaning? Swept with new brooms? Created collecting policies and found ways to make them stick? Done a project to deaccession and donate or sell items that were previously in your collection? What about paying the fees on those endless gigabytes of digital storage? Join us for a conversation with Stacen Goldman\, Curator at the Framingham History Center\, and Elly Kalfus\, oral historian and founder of Organizing with empathy\, about the challenges and satisfactions of using the broom. \nRegistration is free. REGISTER HERE!\n \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stacen Goldman has worked in local history for ten years\, and has been the Curator at the Framingham History Center for the past six. Her work is focused on democratizing historical collections and imagining creative ways of engaging with history through material culture. The goal of her work is to make people feel immersed\, empowered\, and emotionally invested in community history. Stacen holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Bard College and a Master of Arts in History with a certificate in Historical Agencies and Administration from Northeastern University. She was previously the director of the South End Historical Society in Boston.\n \n \n \n \n \n elly kalfus is a personal organizer\, oral historian and prison abolitionist. elly studied English at Brandeis University (2013)\, received a master of arts in oral history at Columbia University (2018). In 2019\, elly discovered how she could use her organizational skills and empathy to support individuals and organizations in deciding what they want to keep in their lives\, what they want to ethically get rid of\, and how to ensure their decisionmaking systems are serving them. elly founded Organizing with empathy (organizingempathy.com) and continues to do historical archiving and interviewing with incarcerated people through the Emancipation Initiative\, focused on amplifying incarcerated people’s voices in government.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-does-it-spark-joy/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/COTC-514.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210430T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210430T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210411T161235Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210422T225523Z UID:3810-1619787600-1619793000@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: See You Online! DESCRIPTION:See You Online! Acing the virtual conference\n \nApril 30\, 2021\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nConferences and meetings are in full virtual swing! Here at the Mass History Alliance\, we’re in the midst of making sure this year’s Mass History Conference on June 7th will be a smashing success. Join MHA’s IT pundit Matt Friedman and Susan Grabski\, executive director of the Lawrence History Center (Virtual Community Symposium: Public Safety in Lawrence on MAY 1!) for a chat about the do’s and don’ts of virtual conferencing. We’ll have a look behind the scenes as we share what we’re working on and how we’re meeting the opportunities and challenges of organizing an interactive virtual event. \nHave you attended or organized a virtual conference? What worked\, and what didn’t? Share your experiences\, questions\, and observations as we discuss the fun (and occasionally frustrating!) features of virtual conferencing\, for the benefit of us all! \nRegistration is free. REGISTER HERE! \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n In addition to being the MHA’s technology guy\, Matthew Friedman is the editor of The Typescript\, as well as a writer\, filmmaker\, and a historian of modernism and of Diaspora Jewish life. He has taught at Rutgers University\, Dominican University\, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Friedman is currently at work on a study of the relationship between the State of Israel and the Jewish Diaspora since 1948. He has worked as a journalist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation\, the Montreal Gazette\, The National Post\, Wired News\, and InternetWeek.\n \n \n \n \n \n Susan Grabski\, M.Ed.\, has been executive director of the Lawrence History Center (LHC) since 2011. She serves as a member of the MA State Historical Records Advisory Board\, as a member of the Friends of the Lawrence Heritage State Park Board\, and is a Commissioner for the Essex National Heritage Area. In 2013\, she co-authored Lawrence\, Massachusetts and the 1912 Bread & Roses Strike with UMass Lowell History Professor Robert Forrant and co-curated the LHC online exhibition\, Bread and Roses Strike of 1912: Two Months in Lawrence\, Massachusetts\, that Changed Labor History\, which is included among other stories of national significance on the Digital Public Library of America.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-virtual-conferencing/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/featured_cotc_20210430.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210416T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210416T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210227T181157Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210409T013515Z UID:3621-1618578000-1618583400@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Take it outside! DESCRIPTION:Take it Outside: Summer 2021 and outdoor programming \nApril 16\, 2021\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nA conversation with Kate Bibeau\, Engagement Manager\, The Trustees \, and Thom Roach\, Director of Interpretation and Programs\, Gore Place \nTake it outside! 2021 is the year of the garden as many cultural institutions try to adjust their programming and exhibitions to provide safe and engaging experiences to their patrons. What outdoor activities are you planning this summer? How are you adjusting your usual programming to COVID-19? What exciting new things are you planning? Walking tours\, bike tours\, gardens\, outdoor exhibits\, fire pits…tell us when you’re going outside and what you’re going to do there. Join moderator Penni Martorell\, curator of collections at Wistariahurst Museum\, and colleagues from across the state to share your challenges and successes. \nRegistration is free. REGISTER NOW! \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Penni Martorell is curator of collections at Wistariahurst Museum and Holyoke’s City Historian. Martorell’s work at Wistariahurst includes managing and preserving collections and archive\, organizing history exhibits and lectures; providing opportunities for community organizations\, college classes\, school groups and the public to engage with local history through presentations and workshops. She lectures on Holyoke’s industrial history\, local textile and paper industries\, and women history makers. She has lead workshops on preserving heirlooms\, basic textile preservation and is an oral history trainer. Martorell served 5 years on the State Historic Records Advisory Board and has served 6 years as Vice President of The Pioneer Valley History Network. Her passion is book and printing history.\n \n \n \n \n \n Thom Roach has worked at Gore Place\, the historic house museum and estate in Waltham\, Massachusetts\, for more than twenty-five years\, where he serves as Director of Interpretation and Programs.\n \n \n \n \n \n Kate Bibeau manages public programming and events for The Trustees at their properties in the Merrimack Valley\, including Ward Reservation\, Weir Hill\, Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens and newly added last year\, Mary Cummings Park. Her love of everything outdoors combined with a BA in History from Providence College and an MA in Museum Studies from Harvard Extension School led to this role of Engagement Manager\, allowing her to be a perpetual student and teacher at the intersection of nature and culture. Before working for The Trustees\, Kate ran public programming for the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester. On days off you’ll find her outside with her husband and dog\, probably at another Trustees property or the beach.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-outdoor-summer/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cotc-featured-20210416.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210402T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210402T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210227T180941Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210403T220806Z UID:3619-1617368400-1617373800@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: 12 months and counting of COVID DESCRIPTION:Twelve Months and Counting of COVID-19\n \nApril 2\, 2021\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nA conversation with Natalie Richards\, Adult Education Coordinator at Storrowtown Village Museum\, and Kate Boylan\, the Director of Archives and Digital Initiatives at Wheaton College \nIt’s been one long year of ups and downs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are still wearing our masks and social distancing while anxiously awaiting vaccines and wondering about a “new normal.” After all this time\, how are you doing? How is it affecting your organization? Are you open? What are you planning for the summer? What are your challenges in staffing\, engaging visitors\, and the bottom line? Join us for a peer to peer conversation about COVID-19 and the public and local history field in Massachusetts. This conversation will be moderated by Brianne Zulkiewicz\, Visitor Services and Administrative Coordinator at Wistariahurst Museum. \nRegistration is free. REGISTER HERE! \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Natalie Richards is the Adult Education Coordinator at Storrowton Village Museum. She has previously worked as a Collections Intern and the Archivist & Historian prior to this role. Natalie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in the History of Art & Architecture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst\, and has worked in Collections\, Curation\, Education\, and Visitor Services at numerous museums throughout the Pioneer Valley including the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art\, the University Museum of Contemporary Art\, and the Springfield Museums.\n \n \n \n \n \n Kate Boylan is director of archives and digital initiatives in Wheaton’s Madeleine Clark Wallace Library. She oversees the library’s strategic development\, maintenance\, preservation and curation of historical\, special\, and digital collections. Boylan partners with faculty\, students and staff to identify materials to cultivate internal and external interdisciplinary partnerships for resource acquisition and sharing\, as well as for collaborative scholarship and teaching. Boylan serves as the administrator of the Wheaton College Digital Repository\, and JSTOR Forum collections\, serving as liaison and support staff for many academic and institutional digital initiatives. She was previously the digital archivist at Facing History and Ourselves\, Inc. in Brookline\, Mass. She holds an MLIS from Simmons College\, and is also a Wheaton College alumna.\n \n \n \n \n \n Brianne Zulkiewicz is the Visitor Services and Administrative Coordinator at Wistariahurst Museum and serves as an associate board member for Pioneer Valley History Network. She is on track to graduate with her master’s in Public History at Central Connecticut State University in May 2021.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-12-months-and-counting/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/COTC-April-2.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210319T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210319T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210106T224629Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210315T235025Z UID:3374-1616158800-1616164200@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Merchandising history DESCRIPTION:Selling History: Let’s talk about making money on merchandising our holdings\n\nFebruary 19\, 2021\, 1:00pm – 2:30pm \nA conversation with Amy Consalvi\, Director of Education and Visitor Services at the Museum of Russian Icons\, and Erica McAvoy\, Executive Director of the Lexington Historical Society \nFrom bake sales to the annual calendar\, most historical organizations occasionally sell something to raise funds. Many have also hosted someone’s event\, upon occasion. But what does it take to make this a regular part of  your income?  What’s involved in having a shop\, merchandising your collections\, or running an event or wedding venue? Have you tried it? Where do you have things printed or made? What are some questions you have? Do you stock 200 logo tees or work with print on demand suppliers? How are you doing at creating income? \nRegistration is free. REGISTER NOW! \nThis Conversation will be LIVESTREAMED. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Amy Consalvi is the Director of Education & Visitor Services at the Museum of Russian Icons. As an experienced educator that specializes in visitor-centered and object-based learning\, she develops engaging programming for a wide variety of audiences and looks for new and exciting way to connect audiences to the Museum’s collection. She received her M.A. in Museum Education from Tufts University\, and her B.A. in American Studies from the University of Massachusetts\, Lowell. She previously held positions at the Concord Museum and the Lowell National Historical Park.\n \n \n \n \n \n Erica is the executive director of Lexington Historical Society in Lexington\, MA. She holds a BA in history from Salem State and an MA in history from UMass Boston. She manages a staff of eight people and her organization operates three historic house museums. In addition to the museums\, Lexington Historical Society holds programs and events geared toward both locals and visitors from around the world.\n \n \n\n  \nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-merchandising/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/merch-cotc-image.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210305T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210305T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210128T232454Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210226T145543Z UID:3517-1614949200-1614954600@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Show and tell! DESCRIPTION:The first in a quarterly series of Conversations on the Commons: Show and Tell edition!\n \nMarch 5\, 2021\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nCommons Show and Tell! Share with us the best or most intriguing object or archival piece in your collection. Do you have a white elephant? An item around which you have been dying to build an entire exhibit? Or maybe you have done so?  Something that is so cool or so weird you find yourself telling people about it again and again? Something that is rare and valuable and you need advice preserving it?  Share it with us! Bring and show it\, post a picture\, brag\, ask for help interpreting\, share what you have done with it. Join us for the first of a quarterly series of Conversations on the Commons that will focus on items in our collections and what we do with them. Bring an item (or a picture of your item!) and be ready to give a 1-2 minute spiel about why you brought it! This conversation will be moderated by Gloria Greis\, Executive Director of the Needham History Center & Museum. \nRegistration is free. REGISTER NOW. \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gloria Polizzotti Greis been Executive Director of the Needham History Center & Museum since June 2002. She has worked in museums since 1985. She has also taught both Anthropology and Museums Studies at the college level\, and had experience teaching in a museum setting with high school and elementary school classes. Dr Greis is a Needham resident. She holds a PhD in Anthropology\, specializing in the archaeology of prehistoric Europe. She is the author of two books on archaeology; a book and three films on local history; several articles on history\, archaeology and various other topics; and writes a weekly local history blog. She is Chair of the Needham Historical Commission\, sits on several municipal committees and nonprofit boards\, and is an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-show-and-tell-your-best-thing/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/COTC-3.5.21.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210219T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210219T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210128T232320Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210217T133810Z UID:3515-1613739600-1613745000@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Getting Preservation Done! DESCRIPTION:“Get up\, Stand up”: Preserving history from the ground up \nFebruary 19\, 2021\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nAdvocacy for history starts in our neighborhoods and community centers\, when we commit ourselves to a cause and communicate our passion to friends and associates. In a world of explosive issues and headline grabbers\, how do we make a compelling case for history work? How can we craft an effective proposal and build the momentum to make a difference? Join panelists Dan Everton\, Project Lead and Community Archivist at New Bedford LGBTQ+ Archive\, and Diane Pursley\, Chair of the Turning Mill Association\, for a conversation about advocacy success stories and what we can learn from them. Bring your questions and reflections! \nThe session will be moderated by Eric Peterson\, Executive Director of Metropolitan Waterworks Museum. Registration is free. \nREGISTER NOW \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Eric Peterson is the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill\, MA. He has a Masters in Museum Studies from Harvard’s Extension School and a BA in History from Vassar College. Previously he served in the Peace Corps in Gabon Africa and worked in San Francisco for 20 years before returning home with his young family. Peterson is Vice President of the Mass History Alliance and the Chair of its Advocacy Committee.\n \n \n \n \n \n Dan W. Everton’s work revolves around community based projects\, public history/humanities/archaeology\, and historical research. Dan’s projects include the New Bedford LGBTQ+ Archive\, a community-based archive in partnership with the South Coast LGBT+ Network and the Special Collections & Archives in the Claire T. Carney Library at UMass Dartmouth\, as well as work with the Benjamin Franklin print block project with Dr. Jessica Linker and The Library Company of Philadelphia. He has a BA in History from UMass Dartmouth and was recently admitted to Brown University for the Masters in Public Humanities program. \n \n \n \n \n \n Diane Pursley serves on the Lexington Historical Commission\, the Turning Mill Neighborhood Conservation District\, the Lexington Green Teams and the Lexington Waste Reduction Task Force. Formerly\, she was Co-president of the PTO and race director for the neighborhood 5K\, the Run of the Mill and worked on a three-year initiative to establish a Neighborhood Conservation District to protect over 150 mid-century historically important homes. The unifying theme of her advocacy is respecting and preserving our connections to the past\, to nature and the environment to improve our overall health and quality of life.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-advocacy/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Emmeline-Pankhurst-Trafalgar-Square-1913.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210205T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210205T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210106T224324Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210129T162016Z UID:3371-1612530000-1612535400@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Archives’ Hour with the State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) DESCRIPTION:Archives’ Hour with the State Historical Records Advisory Board \nA conversation with Alejandra Dean\, Digital Archivist at the Massachusetts Archives\, and Evan Knight\, Preservation Specialist for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC). \nFebruary 5\, 2021\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nJoin us for an informal conversation with members of the State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB). Alejandra Dean\, Digital Archivist at the Massachusetts Archives\, will provide information about this year’s round of Veterans Heritage Grants (due April 9\, 2021)\, and Evan Knight will lead a conversation about climate control in your archives. What are the challenges you face in creating a climate-controlled archives? Have a success story to tell? Plus\, you can always ask any other questions about what SHRAB can do for you of course! The session will be moderated by Joan Ilacqua\, Executive Director of The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston.  Have your stories and questions ready! \nRegistration is free. REGISTER NOW. \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Alejandra Dean is the Digital Archivist at the Massachusetts Archives. She joined the Massachusetts Archives as the Assistant Digital Archivist in 2017. Alejandra holds an M.S. in Archives Management from the Simmons School of Library and Information Science and a B.A. in History of Art and Architecture from Harvard College. She is a member of the State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB)\, co-chair of Coordinated Statewide Preparedness in Massachusetts (COSTEP MA)\, co-chair of the New England Archivists (NEA) Preservica Roundtable\, and co-chair of the Council of State Archivists (CoSA) State Electronic Records Initiative (SERI) Steering Committee.\n \n \n \n \n \n Joan Ilacqua is Executive Director of The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston. Previously\, Ilacqua served as Co-Chair of The History Project’s board of directors and as Harvard Medical School’s Archivist for Diversity and Inclusion. She is a former member of the New England Archivists’ Inclusion and Diversity Committee\, and has a background in advocacy and oral history. She is a graduate of UMass Boston’s Public History master’s program\, holds a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Harvard University\, and earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Puget Sound.\n \n \n \n \n \n Evan Knight is Preservation Specialist for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Previous to this administrative position\, Evan had ten years of conservation experience treating bound and unbound works on paper at the Boston Athenaeum\, Northeast Document Conservation Center\, the Library of Congress (as the 2010 Harper-Inglis Fellow)\, the Benson Latin American Collection at the University of Texas\, and the Municipal Archives of New York City. He received a Master’s of Science in Information Studies\, with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Library and Archive Conservation\, from the University of Texas at Austin\, and Bachelor’s of Science from Washington University in St Louis.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-shrab2/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/archives-hour-draft-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210122T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210122T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20210106T223629Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210115T165100Z UID:3369-1611320400-1611325800@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Researching and discussing slavery in Massachusetts DESCRIPTION:Researching and Discussing Slavery in Massachusetts \nA conversation with Kristin Gallas\, principal at Interpreting Slavery\, and Meadow Dibble\, Director of Atlantic Black Box \nJanuary 22\, 2021\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nJoin us for a conversation on researching and interpreting slavery and the slave trade in Massachusetts. Kristin Gallas and Meadow Dibble will discuss opportunities for opening up discussion both in schools and historical organizations about Massachusetts’ role in the Atlantic world slave economy and will review sources and research methods for locating free and enslaved Black and Indigenous community members in the archive. Are you interested in starting a conversation on the history of enslavement in your local community? Thinking about how to frame the conversation? Have you done research on slavery in your town? Investigated your community’s participation in various aspects of the slave trade and economy?  When people ask\, do you know where to send them?  If we do not have artifacts or documents\, what else can we do? What do you do if your town is largely white? Are you curious what sources to consult? What local materials teachers might be able to use?  Tell us about your successes and obstacles you’ve met. Bring your insights and questions to the Conversation! \nRegistration is free. REGISTER NOW. \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kristin Gallas is a principal at Interpreting Slavery. She facilitates workshops for museums and historic sites on developing comprehensive and conscientious interpretation of slavery and speaks regularly at public history and museum conferences. She is the co-editor\, with James DeWolf Perry\, of “Interpreting Slavery at Museums and Historic Sites” (Rowman & Littlefield\, January 2015)\, and author of the forthcoming “Interpreting Slavery with Children and Teens” (Rowman and Littlefield\, September 2021). She developed the Tracing Center on Histories and Legacies of Slavery’s public history efforts and oversaw the design of workshops for educators. Kristin holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary history education from the University of Vermont and a master of arts in museum education from George Washington University. She has led the education and/or interpretation departments at the Montana Historical Society\, the USS Constitution Museum\, and currently at the Tsongas Industrial History Center.\n \n \n \n \n \n Meadow Dibble is the Founding Director of Atlantic Black Box\, a public history project devoted to researching and reckoning with New England’s role in the slave trade and the economy of enslavement. Currently a Visiting Scholar at Brown University’s Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice\, she received her PhD from Brown’s Department of French with a focus on Postcolonial Studies and taught Francophone African literature at Colby College from 2005–08. Originally from Cape Cod\, Meadow lived for six years on Senegal’s Cape Verde peninsula prior to pursuing her graduate studies; there she published a cultural magazine and coordinated foreign study programs. In collaboration with the team that produces Teaching Hard History\, the Southern Poverty Law Center’s flagship podcast\, she is currently producing “The Diseased Ship Podcast” with support from the Maine Humanities Council.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-researching-and-discussing-slavery-in-massachusetts/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/COTC-January-22-2021.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201218T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201218T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20201025T194841Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201214T184734Z UID:2847-1608296400-1608301800@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Baking with Historians DESCRIPTION:Baking with Historians\n \nDecember 18\, 2020\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nJoin Margo Shea and Noah Berman as they prepare holiday treats\, share historical recipes and cookbooks\, and offer tips for busy cooks during the festive season.  Margo Shea\, editor at Historians Cooking the Past\,  whose philanthropic virtual bake sales have raised thousands of dollars in 2020\, will offer guidance and tools for organizing and implementing a flash virtual bake sale to support nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. \nRegistration is free. REGISTER HERE! \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Margo Shea is Associate Professor of History at Salem State University\, where she teaches public history\, Irish history and world history\, oversees a public history certificate program and supervises internships for History majors. She is the author of Derry City: Memory and Political Struggle in Northern Ireland and several articles and chapters in anthologies on heritage\, memory and collaborative practice. Her expertise lies in planning\, implementing\, and evaluating crowdsourced projects and in decoding thoughts\, feelings\, opinions\, hopes and fears of historical actors who left few written and archived records behind. At the heart of her work is a commitment to sharing the tools of public history in ways that center listening in our explorations of the past and do not ignore the larger structures around which memory and identity take and change shape. \n \n \n \n \n \n Noah has spent the last 15 plus years living a very nomadic life\, living in many unique places around the world. During this time he worked his way up in restaurants becoming a chef and helped open many restaurants in the US\, Caribbean and Mediterranean regions. These travels allowed him to pursue his love of history\, learning not just the local foods but their stories as well. Most recently he returned to the US after the hurricanes of 2017 which made Noah and his dog climate refugees. He is now a graduate student at Salem State working towards becoming a history teacher and sharing the stories and histories of all the wonderful places he has had the benefit of experiencing.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \n\nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-holiday-cooking-show/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/featured_COTC_2202012182.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201113T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201113T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20201025T194541Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201105T011315Z UID:2843-1605272400-1605277800@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Six Months and Counting DESCRIPTION:Six Months and Counting of COVID: What are you doing? \nNovember 13\, 2020\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nA conversation with Nina Zannieri\, Executive Director of the Paul Revere Memorial Association\, and Katie MacDonald\, Executive Director of Old Colony History Museum \nSix months into the COVID pandemic\, we’re settling into new routines. Many organizations are implementing new versions of what it means to interpret and teach history as a public history organization. Where are you now? How do you see the coming year\, the future? What technologies are you adopting? How are you adapting them to provide quality historical experiences\, create AHA!-moments\, gain participation\, and supplant the “hands-on” experiences that are the strong suit of public history? Are you mixing and matching in-person and virtual experiences? What is going well? What is not? Join us for a conversation about the value and challenges of our transitions\, sharing our successes and also our failures so that we may\, as a field\, continue to bring indispensable history education to the public. \nRegistration is free. REGISTER HERE. \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Katie has been the Executive Director of the Old Colony History Museum in Taunton\, Massachusetts since 2013. In this role\, she leads a team of five in all aspects of the museum’s mission. Under her leadership\, the museum has rebranded\, created an education department\, renovated public gallery spaces\, and enhanced its standing in the local community. Katie holds an undergraduate degree in history from UMass Amherst and an M.A. in History and Museum Studies from Tufts University.\n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Director of the Paul Revere Memorial Association in Boston\, MA since 1986. Previously\, she was Curator at the Rhode Island Historical Society. Vice Chair of the AAM from 2002-2003 and on the board from 1999 – 2003. President of the NEMA from 1998 – 2002 after many years of service on the Board. AASLH Council from 2004-2008. She sits on the board of the Freedom Trail Foundation and is also involved with several North End community groups. Ms. Zannieri is on the Advisory Committee for the Museum Studies Program at Harvard and the Public History Program at Suffolk. Recent Publications: an entry on house museums in Inclusive Historians Handbook and a chapter in Reimagining Historic House Museums: New Approaches and Proven Solutions. 2015 New England Museum Association Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 Finalist\, Commonwealth Award. BA in history from Boston College MA in Anthropology/Museum Studies from Brown University.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-six-months-and-counting/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Featured_COTC_20201113.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201106T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201106T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20201018T210405Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201106T235618Z UID:2759-1604667600-1604673000@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: History Funding from Local Cultural Councils DESCRIPTION:History Funding from Local Cultural Councils: Talking through and workshopping LCC grant applications\n \nNovember 6\, 2020\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nA Conversation with Ymelda Laxton\, Assistant Curator at Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library\, and Heather Kowalski\, Executive Director of the Bidwell House Museum.\nSPECIAL GUEST: Lisa Simmons\, Manager of the Local Cultural Council Program\, Massachusetts Cultural Council. \nOutside of Boston\, Local Cultural Councils are a good source of funding for programming for history organizations. Applications are due on November 16. **Update: The deadline has been extended to December 14th.** What should you apply for? What makes an application likely to get funded? Join us for a conversation on cultural councils and their preferences. Plus\, we’ll be workshopping applications! Bring your draft application as well as any priorities statements by your Local Cultural Council. (Check out online application information here!) \nThe conversation will be moderated by Penni Martorell\, curator of collections at Wistariahurst Museum and Holyoke’s City Historian. Registration is free. \nREGISTER HERE \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Heather Kowalski joined the Bidwell House Museum staff in the fall of 2015 after moving to the Berkshires with her husband and two children. She became Executive Director in 2017. Prior to working at the Bidwell House Museum\, Heather served as Registrar for the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh for 11 years and before that she spent six year as Assistant Registrar at the Carnegie Museum of Art\, also in Pittsburgh. Heather grew up in nearby Niskayuna\, NY and holds a BA in Art History from Penn State University.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Penni Martorell is curator of collections at Wistariahurst Museum and Holyoke’s City Historian. Martorell’s work at Wistariahurst includes managing and preserving collections and archive\, organizing history exhibits and lectures; providing opportunities for community organizations\, college classes\, school groups and the public to engage with local history through presentations and workshops. She lectures on Holyoke’s industrial history\, local textile and paper industries\, and women history makers. She has lead workshops on preserving heirlooms\, basic textile preservation and is an oral history trainer. Martorell served 5 years on the State Historic Records Advisory Board and has served 6 years as Vice President of The Pioneer Valley History Network. Her passion is book and printing history.\n \n \n \n \n \n Lisa Simmons is the Program Manager for the Community Initiative at the Mass Cultural Council which includes the Local Cultural Council Program. The Community Initiative works with 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts to support arts and culture in every community. In addition\, Ms. Simmons was the former deputy director of the Mass Office of Travel & Tourism. She is the Artistic Director and Producer of the Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm)\, now in its 23rd year whose mission it is to support filmmakers\, and present films and film programs that celebrate people of color around the world.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-history-funding-lcc/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/featured_COTC_20201030.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201023T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201023T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200913T230808Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201019T215844Z UID:2540-1603458000-1603463400@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: 400 Years and Beyond DESCRIPTION:400 Years and Beyond: Commemorating historic events in the twenty-first century\n \nOctober 23\, 2020\, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. \nA Conversation with Linda Coombs\, board member of Plymouth 400 and chair of the Wampanoag Advisory Committee\, Desiree Mobed\, Director at the Alden House Historic Site\, and Michelle Pecoraro\, Executive Director of Plymouth 400\n \nAfter 400 years of colonization of Massachusetts by Europeans\, we enter a period of town anniversaries. How can we use them as an occasion to start addressing that “settlement” in Massachusetts also meant “displacement”\, the beginning of attenuated conflict\, and the “disappearing” of Native American presence and history\, often in plain sight? As some leading organizations change their identities to be more inclusive\, how are you approaching these events in your own towns and institutions? Do you have celebrations coming up? What can we do to bring residents together and start telling these complex stories? Are you working on this? Are you wondering how to move forward\, and thinking about how to mark significant anniversaries without celebrating conflict and dispossession? Bring your questions\, observations\, and experiences\, as well as your obstacles and successes in reframing narratives and using your collections in a new way. \nThe conversation will be moderated by Gloria Greis\, Executive Director at the Needham History Center & Museum. Registration is free. \nREGISTER HERE \nThis Conversation will be livestreamed. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Linda Coombs’ background is in museum work\, focusing on history\, analysis of historical and Native American representation in museums. I have worked at the Boston Children’s Museum\, Wampanoag Indigenous Program of Plimoth Plantation\, and the Aquinnah Cultural Center. I also consult with museums\, and provide public presentations and workshops on Wampanoag and Native history and culture.\n \n \n \n \n \n Desiree Mobed has been the executive director of the Alden House Historic Site since 2016. Before going to Duxbury\, she served as the museum director for the Harwich Historical Society on Cape Cod\, the museum administrator for the Nathan Hale Homestead in Connecticut\, and as a museum educator for several historic sites around the country. \n \n \n \n \n \n Michele Pecoraro brings 25+ years of leadership experience to the helm of Plymouth 400\, Inc. Michele’s education and business background\, knowledge of tourism and connections with industry leaders and legislators have helped her increase awareness and engagement for Plymouth 400 regionally\, nationally\, and internationally. Much has changed since joining Plymouth 400 in Spring 2014. In the throes of a pandemic\, Michele led the Plymouth 400 team in transforming the work accomplished over seven years into virtual programs reaching thousands. Ms. Pecoraro is the architect of Massachusetts 400\, a concept to sustain the momentum of the Plymouth Colony commemoration for 10 years as MA communities reach significant anniversaries. Formerly\, Ms. Pecoraro worked at the Cape Cod Chamber for seven years as the Vice President of Operations and International engagement.\n \n \n \n \n \n Gloria Polizzotti Greis been Executive Director of the Needham History Center & Museum since June 2002. She has worked in museums since 1985. She has also taught both Anthropology and Museums Studies at the college level\, and had experience teaching in a museum setting with high school and elementary school classes. Dr Greis is a Needham resident. She holds a PhD in Anthropology\, specializing in the archaeology of prehistoric Europe. She is the author of two books on archaeology; a book and three films on local history; several articles on history\, archaeology and various other topics; and writes a weekly local history blog. She is Chair of the Needham Historical Commission\, sits on several municipal committees and nonprofit boards\, and is an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-400-years-and-beyond/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/400YearsandBeyond.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201009T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201009T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200913T232854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201009T142406Z UID:2538-1602248400-1602253800@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Preserving COVID-19 and other digital collections DESCRIPTION:Archiving Your Gigabytes: Preserving COVID-19 and other digital collections \nOctober 9\, 2020\, 1:00pm – 2:30pm \nA Conversation with Veronica Martzahl\, Digital Records Archivist at the Massachusetts Archives\, Kathie Gow\, Curator of the Hatfield Historical Museum\, and Vanessa Formato\, archivist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear\n \nCovid-diaries\, Zoom events\, oral histories\, social media. Under the COVID regime\, online activity is sending our digital footprints into the stratosphere. Not to mention everything else we already had and are developing. How do we archive and preserve it? How can we do it without breaking the bank and boggling the mind? Do you have a protocol? Do you collect and preserve Facebook posts\, web specials\, and so forth? What are best practices and what can you make happen? What solutions have you found? What hurdles overcome? What are some of your questions and problems?  \nThe conversation will be moderated by Pleun Bouricius. Registration is free. \nREGISTER HERE \nThis Conversation will be LIVESTREAMED. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kathie Gow has been Curator of the Hatfield Historical Museum (which is owned by the Town of Hatfield and managed by the Hatfield Historical Society)\, for 10 years\, and is also on the board of the Hatfield Historical Society. She served on the board of the Pioneer Valley History Network for six years (2013-2019)\, where she started the “rap session” program of local history organizations sharing tips and expertise. Prior to working in museums\, Kathie worked in publishing and as a producer of digital stories. She is a graduate of Colgate University.\n \n \n \n \n \n Veronica Martzahl is the Digital Records Archivist at the Massachusetts Archives. In this role\, she provides advice and recommendations on digital preservation and records management activities for state agencies and municipalities\, and oversees the digital preservation program at the Massachusetts Archives. She is a member of the Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board and COSTEP MA. Additionally\, she is active in the Council of State Archivists and their State Electronic Records Initiative (SERI). She has served on the SAA Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) education sub-committee from 2012 through 2015. Veronica holds a Master of Library and Information Science with a concentration in Archives and a Master of History from Simmons College.\n \n \n \n \n \n Vanessa Formato is an archivist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear\, where she does everything from writing policies to preserving rare medical instruments. She is an active member of the Massachusetts Health Sciences Library Network and New England Archivists\, where she serves as Session Reports Editor for the Newsletter. Prior to becoming an archivist\, Vanessa was a journalist and publishing professional. She is a graduate of Clark University and Simmons University. \n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-preserving-covid-19-digital-collections/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/tesource_guide_digital_preservation_image-e1593011197237.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200925T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200925T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200913T232835Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200917T004133Z UID:2535-1601038800-1601044200@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Tips\, Tricks and Tools from Veteran Advocates DESCRIPTION:Standing Up For What Matters: Tips\, Tricks and Tools from Veteran Advocates \nSeptember 25\, 2020\, 1:00pm – 2:30pm \nA Conversation with Peter Feinman and Alison Frazee \nActivists vs. Advocates: What’s the difference? Both involve trying to effect change\, but activists are action-oriented\, often working outside the system\, while advocates are people-oriented and work within the system to represent the concerns of others. Join us as we meet two experienced advocates. Learn how they have helped others to challenge unfair institutional systems and what inspires them to keep going. We’ll discuss: \n\nHow do you define advocacy? Who do you advocate for?\nWhat methods of advocacy do you find to be most effective?\nWhat are common obstacles to your advocacy efforts?\nWhat tools do you use to strengthen your advocacy efforts?\nHow can individuals and small organizations transform ideas into realities?\n\n\nPeer panelists will be Peter Feinman\, President of the Institute of History\, Archaeology\, and Education\, and Alison Frazee\, Assistant Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance. The conversation will be moderated by Erik Peterson\, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum. Registration is free. \nREGISTER HERE \nThis Conversation will be LIVESTREAMED. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Peter Feinman received his B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania\, a M.Ed. from New York University\, an MBA from New York University\, and an Ed. D. from Columbia University. He is the founder of the Institute of History\, Archaeology\, and Education (IHARE). His interests cross disciplinary boundaries including American history\, ancient civilizations\, biblical history\, and New York history. He is the president of the Westchester Society of the Archaeological Institute of America. He advocates for the importance of local and state history in the curriculum\, community\, and tourism and is the author of a blogs on The State of State History and The State of American Civics. He is a contributor to the forthcoming book Five Views of the Exodus and is writing a book The Exodus: An Egyptian Story.\n \n \n \n \n \n Alison Frazee works alongside the Executive Director in advocacy efforts across all of Boston’s neighborhoods. She joined the Alliance in 2013. Alison was active in Yes for Better Boston\, a campaign to fund historic preservation\, affordable housing\, and parks and green spaces through the Community Preservation Act. Since 2017\, she has served as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for Yes for a Better Boston and provides technical assistance to the community. Alison was appointed by Mayor Walsh to serve on the Advisory Group for PLAN: Downtown. In 2018\, Alison was awarded the Paul & Niki Tsongas Award for the Next Generation by Preservation Massachusetts. In addition to her role as vocal proponent for citywide planning and historic preservation\, Alison is known for being an even-handed negotiator for competing stakeholders and a frequent speaker on preservation issues. She holds a Master of Historic Preservation from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington.\n \n \n \n \n \n Eric Peterson has a BA in History from Vassar College. In 2009\, while earning a Masters in Museum Studies from Harvard’s Extension School\, he volunteered at the newly created Metropolitan Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill\, MA and has worked there ever since. For the past 5 years\, he has served as the Executive Director of the Waterworks Museum. Committed to strengthening public awareness of the vital importance of history by helping to protect the sites\, artifacts and organizations that bring the past into the present\, Mr. Peterson currently serves as Vice President & Treasurer of the Massachusetts History Alliance. He is also a co-founder of Industrial History New England.\n \n \n\nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-advocating-for-your-organization-advocating-for-history/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/1280px-George_Caleb_Bingham_-_Stump_Speaking.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200911T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200911T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200903T210500Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200911T004308Z UID:2530-1599829200-1599834600@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Civics\, Politics\, and History Organizations DESCRIPTION:Civics\, Politics\, and History organizations: History as neutral ground?\n\nSeptember 11\, 2020\, 1:00pm – 2:30pm \nA Conversation with Erin McGough and Nat Sheidley. \nWomen’s Suffrage\, the Census\, Black Lives Matter\, the Election: How do you engage the question of politics in your organization? Engaging audiences without being partisan? How do board members feel about these issues? Where do we draw the line between history and the current political moment? How do we create/encourage conversations that transcend the ruts of what passes for contemporary political dialogue? \nPeer panelists will be Erin McGough\, Executive Director of the Duxbury Rural & Historical Society and Nat Sheidley\, President & CEO of Revolutionary Spaces. \nREGISTER HERE \nThis Conversation will be LIVESTREAMED. We will do our best to monitor your questions and comments during the livestream. A recording will be publicly available in the Conversations on the Commons Archive. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Executive Director with 20 years of experience in nonprofit work. Dynamic\, visionary\, and collaborative approach in making nonprofits vibrant\, engaging the public\, and building relationships. Lifelong supporter of the arts\, museums and historical societies\, theater\, music\, and education\, with a strong belief that these organizations are vital to our communities. \n \n \n \n \n \n Nathaniel Sheidley is the first President and CEO of Revolutionary Spaces\, a new cultural organization dedicated to connecting people to the history and continuing practice of democracy through an encounter with two of the nation’s most important Revolutionary sites. Previously Nat taught at Wellesley College and served as the Bostonian Society’s Director of Public History. He has curated and provided creative direction for numerous exhibitions and programs.\n \n \n \n\n  \nQuestions? Be in touch with Caroline Littlewood: commons@masshistoryalliance.org \nConversations on the Commons \nWhere people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-civics-politics-and-history-organizations/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/vote.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200724T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200724T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200715T015549Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200717T185922Z UID:2411-1595595600-1595601000@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Reopening\, part III: Planning for the Fall DESCRIPTION:Join us July 24th for our third conversation about reopening\, as Massachusetts proceeds through Phase III. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-reopening-part-iii/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/featured_COTC_20200724_Opening.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200720T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200720T160000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200626T155549Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200717T190048Z UID:2256-1595253600-1595260800@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:MHA Annual Meeting DESCRIPTION:Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts History Alliance. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/mha-annual-meeting/ LOCATION:MA CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events),Mass History Alliance ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200710T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200710T143000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200707T143616Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200707T224414Z UID:2342-1594386000-1594391400@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Black Lives Matter and history organizations DESCRIPTION:Join us July 10th for a conversation on the responsibilities of historical organizations in light of recent widespread protests and growing acknowledgment that things have to change — that historically white organizations have a duty to challenge white privilege. But how? Share your experience\, questions\, and reflections\, as our panelists will share theirs. Join Marieke Van Damme of the Cambridge Historical Society and Judith Monachina of the Housatonic Heritage Oral History Center for an informal discussion. Learn more here. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/2342/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Boston_George_Floyd_Protest_Boston_Common_5-e1594161769884.png ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200626T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200626T153000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200626T155213Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200626T155213Z UID:2251-1593180000-1593185400@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Launch of the Mass History Commons DESCRIPTION:Let’s throw a virtual party to celebrate the opening of a real resource\n \nThe Commons is an interactive website where people from Massachusetts history organizations can gather\, network\, share tools and resources\, and build the profile of their organizations and institutions — a place where all historical organizations and groups can hang out a shingle and be seen as part of a much larger whole. What’s a Commons for? See what it’s about! \nThe Mass History Commons brings us together!  \nJoin the MHA Board\, Commons logistics coordinator Caroline Littlewood\,  and esteemed guests as we take a tour of the Commons and explore its possibilities. \nREGISTER HERE \nThe annual Mass History Conference brings together a diverse community of local and community historians\, museum and historical society staff and volunteers\, archivists\, librarians\, researchers and educators.  This year — not so much. The Mass History Commons\, built over the past six weeks\,  is more than a substitute for the cancelled 2020 conference.  It is a permanent resource that extends the conversation and creates a space to share\, collaborate\, learn\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good. Perhaps you’ve enjoyed the Conversations on the Commons\, now you will see the rest! \nRegistration is free. After you register\, we’ll send you a link to the meeting.\nZoom participation is limited to 60. The event will be live-streamed on the Commons — we will monitor your questions and comments there as well. Check back here for the link. \nMHA Board members are Pleun Bouricius (Plainfield Historical Society)\, Stacia Caplanson (Preservation Massachusetts)\, Shana Dumont Garr (Fruitlands)\, Jon Green (Stonehill College)\, Gavin Kleespies (Massachusetts Historical Society)\, Katie MacDonald (Old Colony History Museum)\, Eric Peterson (Waterworks Museum)\, Sonia Pacheco (UMass Dartmouth)\, Mike Potaski (Uxbridge Historical Commission)\,  Margo Shea (Salem State University)\, Earl Taylor (Dorchester Historical Society) \n\nCONVERSATIONS ON THE COMMONS Where people from Massachusetts history organizations get to vent\, empathize\, laugh\, complain\, think\, collaborate\, brainstorm\, plan\, and in general be up to no good.  URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/launch-of-the-mass-history-commons/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States CATEGORIES:Conversations on the Commons (events) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Salem-State-1-e1593186559425.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200619T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200619T133000 DTSTAMP:20260423T121349 CREATED:20200616T202921Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200616T173022Z UID:1182-1592568000-1592573400@masshistorycommons.org SUMMARY:Conversations on the Commons: Reopening\, Engaging\, or Both? DESCRIPTION:Check-in: How are we doing on planning for reopening?\nFollowing up from our conversation two weeks ago\, we’ll talk through the reopening process for our institutions\, small to large. Some are opening outdoor spaces. Others are focusing on distance engagement or doing much-needed work in their buildings or on their collections. What does the landscape look like now? How is the process going? Join Penni Martorell of Wistariahurst (Holyoke) and Gloria Greis of the Needham Historical Society for an informal discussion. \nWhat are your reopening plans? What is at the top of your list of worries?  How are you managing financially? Are volunteers interested in participating in public programs when the time comes? Is your board helpful? What do you wish you had? What are you hoping for? \nREGISTER HERE \nRegistration is free. After you register\, we’ll send you a link to the meeting. Register now! \nZoom participation is limited to 40. The event will be live-streamed — we will monitor your questions and comments as well. Stay tuned for details on that. Questions? Contact Caroline Littlewood at conference@masshistoryalliance.org. \nPenni Martorell is Curator and City Historian at Wistariahurst and Gloria Greis is Executive Director at the Needham History Center & Museum. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Penni Martorell is curator of collections at Wistariahurst Museum and Holyoke’s City Historian. Martorell’s work at Wistariahurst includes managing and preserving collections and archive\, organizing history exhibits and lectures; providing opportunities for community organizations\, college classes\, school groups and the public to engage with local history through presentations and workshops. She lectures on Holyoke’s industrial history\, local textile and paper industries\, and women history makers. She has lead workshops on preserving heirlooms\, basic textile preservation and is an oral history trainer. Martorell served 5 years on the State Historic Records Advisory Board and has served 6 years as Vice President of The Pioneer Valley History Network. Her passion is book and printing history.\n \n \n \n \n \n Gloria Polizzotti Greis been Executive Director of the Needham History Center & Museum since June 2002. She has worked in museums since 1985. She has also taught both Anthropology and Museums Studies at the college level\, and had experience teaching in a museum setting with high school and elementary school classes. Dr Greis is a Needham resident. She holds a PhD in Anthropology\, specializing in the archaeology of prehistoric Europe. She is the author of two books on archaeology; a book and three films on local history; several articles on history\, archaeology and various other topics; and writes a weekly local history blog. She is Chair of the Needham Historical Commission\, sits on several municipal committees and nonprofit boards\, and is an elected Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society. URL:https://masshistorycommons.org/event/conversations-on-the-commons-reopening-engaging-or-both/ LOCATION:Online\, MA\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://masshistorycommons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/https___cdn.evbuc_.com_images_103503292_450224864386_1_original1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Mass History Alliance":MAILTO:commons@masshistoryalliance.org END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR