The 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?

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.

Join us July 24th for our third conversation about reopening, as Massachusetts proceeds through Phase III.

Women’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?Join Nat Sheidley and Erin McGough for a lively conversation on September 11.

Activists 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.

Archiving Your Gigabytes: Preserving COVID-19 and other digital collections October 9, 2020, 1:00pm - 2:30pm A 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 Covid-diaries, Zoom events, oral histories, social media. Under the COVID […]