SALEM HISTORY SOCIETY, Inc. -- Salem, Massachusetts

The Salem History Society will hold its monthly meeting at 7 PM on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at the Cornerstone Bookstore in Salem, MA.

The Salem History Society is truly honored to present Abaigeal Duda, a highly-respected scholar and talented museum educator.

Her topic will be "A Little Salem Ship in a Large National Context: Salem¹s Connection to the Gold Rush,"
which is based on her dissertation research at Boston University.
Duda is a PhD candidate at B.U.,
awarded an A.B.D. in American Studies (American Art).

Her many credits include organizing and conducting museum projects,
such as the 2004-2006 "Salem in History" program;
serving as instructor in Art History at Berklee College of Music;
and as an exhibition organizer at the Museum of Fine Arts.
She is currently project director for a new documentary film
produced by the PEM's Museum Action Corps. program.

We are excited to announce that SHS Board member and local historian Robert Booth will
grace us with a presentation at the January Salem History Society meeting,
scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, at Cornerstone Books, 45 Lafayette Street, Salem.

The subject of his talk will be "Mutiny in the Lower End: Sailors vs. Merchants and The Making of Salem¹s East Parish."

In 1710 or so certain leaders of the seafaring people of Salem's "Lower End"
who were the marine employees
of the great merchant ship owners who resided uptown,
began to contend for power in Salem.
These men challenged their merchant masters in every aspect of town life:
religious, social, political, and economic.

A few merchants supported them,
enough so they were able to break away from the First Church
and form their own church;
the East Church in East Parish.
The success and failures of this movement will be examined in Booth's talk.

WHAT: NEW ENGLAND HISTORY FESTIVAL
WHEN: Saturday, November 24th, 2007
TIME: 6:00 PM 10: 00PM

WHERE: Hibernian Hall
151 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA 02472

DIRECTIONS TO: THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORY FESTIVAL
TOMORROW; SATURDAY, NOV. 24, 2007 6-10 p.m.
151 Watertown Street Watertown, MA 02472
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&ad... or try these directions. http://www.aohdiv14.com/hibo_directions.htm
The hall is on Route 16 in Watertown.

The Salem History Society will have an info table at this event...
when you go to the door for admission,
identify yourself as a SHS member to receive your free ticket!
We've emailed ahead, to to notify John H. of members
who already reserved their ticket.

I have invited every historical society, historical structure, re- enactment group, stamp collector, anitque collector, coin collector, genealogist and historical commission in New England. I can only hope that it turns into a decent outing. I'm willing to let in folks associated with your organization at no charge, provided they mention your name at the door...

We've had great publicity through the Boston Globe, Herald, Metro and Phoenix, Improper Bostonian and NEHGS magazine, just to name a few....

....The doors will open to the public at 5:30 PM.....We are expecting over 35 exhibitors, groups, reenactors and vendors. ....

Please keep in mind that patrons will be walking by your tables before the speakers commence with their presentations at 6:00 and during the intermission at 8:00 PM. ...

MOST OF ALL - HAVE FUN!!! THE PAST IS A BLAST!!! We are all fans of American History in some way, shape or form. We are all brothers and sisters together for the same cause - the preservation of history!

We've already secured Saturday, November 15th, 2008 as the date for next year's event (at the same location) and we are always welcome to suggestions on improving the event for next year.

5:30 PM Doors open
6:00 PM Welcome
6:05 Steve Puleo "Molasses Flood"
7:00 Mike Tougias "Fatal Forecast"
8:00 Intermission
8:25 Trivia
8:30 "New England's Dark Day" presentation
8:40 Bill Rose "Salt Water and the American Revolution"
9:30 Closing Ceremonies
9:45 - 10:15 Breakdown / Clear Out

Any questions? Please call me or write to me.
Provide ample time to get lost on your way to the hall.

To here:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&ad..

. or try these directions. http://www.aohdiv14.com/hibo_directions.htm The hall is on Route 16 in Watertown.

Our next in-person meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007 at Cornerstone Books, Salem. It is free and open to the public (and remember, membership in the SHS is also free; come, join us, share and expand our pride in our regional and town history).

We are proud to present Alan Denton that evening in a program sure to delight and fascinate: "Privateering: Piracy by Another Name?"

Come and explore with us as Mr. Denton pilots us on a voyage through the entire process of "becoming a privateer," an activity which was of great importance in Salem's development. Mr. Denton will give us a brief history of the legal aspects of English privateering and then take us through the experience as it developed in the colonies and young U.S.

Mr. Denton holds an MA in History from Salem State College, and is preparing for a teaching career in history.

We will have a brief meeting followed by Mr. Denton's presentation, and he will be present to answer questions and spark discussion after his talk.

SHS members are invited to attend NEW ENGLAND HISTORY FESTIVAL with free tickets provided to members. Sign up by Nov. 15, 2007.

The Inaugural New England History Festival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 24, 6 - 10 p.m. at Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown Street, Watertown, MA.

Come and enjoy a series of slide shows and lectures dedicated to great moments in New England history. The Salem History Society will have an information table at the festival, and SHS members can reserve a free ticket by emailing your request to us.

Admission: $10.00 for the general public and $5.00 for students, senior citizens and historical society members

Trivia, exhibits, concessions, prizes, souvenirs ~ Topics: Lost at Sea, Boston Molasses Flood, Naval Battles of the Revolution, New England¹s Dark Day, the history of New England Radio

There are opportunities for presentations and projects! Contact us at salemhistory@salemhistorysociety.org for information.

WANTED! MOVIE REVIEWERS! WIN FREE CINEMASALEM MOVIE TICKETS! Did you see the recent showings at CinemaSalem of the documentary WITCH CITY, by Salem's own filmmaker Joe Cultrera (and co-director Henry Ferrini)?

Are you going to see "STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME"? What do you think of Ken Burns' and Lynn Novick's latest opus, on PBS, THE WAR - an "intimate history of World War II"?

Anyone see the drama ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, and what did you think of it, how did it compare to the first movie, ELIZABETH, how did it stack up in terms of historical accuracy?

Review movies recently-released, or coming up, with a historical story, theme, or documentary purpose! The review which sparks the most discussion each month on the Salem History Common online discussion boards will win a...

CinemaSalem will donate a pair of tickets to our winning "Review of the Month" !

Everyone loves prizes...and most people love movies...and all of us here love history...what a combo!

Visit the Salem History Common...join the Salem History Society...and play along.

Registering in the Salem History Common online community constitutes membership in the Society. OR you can sign up for the email announcement list, at salemhistory@salemhistorysociety.org

Membership in the Salem History Society is free and is open to anyone, anywhere, with an interest in Salem and Essex County, Massachusetts, history.

Our eventual goal is a worldwide society of Salem and Essex County history-lovers!

Our 'Library Crawl" tours (for 2007) have concluded with a truly terrific guided tour of the Peabody Essex Museum's Phillips Library's beautiful facility and rich variety of primary sources.

More than 25 people signed up to take the tour, -- SHS members and nonmembers alike.

Thank you so much to the absolutely terrific, irreplaceable staff at the Phillips for a memorable evening. Visit the Library Website.

A Special Note: Please visit the library. Lots of folks are still unaware of how marvelous this gem of Salem truly is.

And your visit will mean, eventually, extended hours for all of us to enjoy the amazing treasure that is the Phillips. All patrons count, and the hours of visits add up in our efforts to secure extended public hours -- which are very much needed.

Here you will find resources on maritime history and art, New England life and culture, American decorative arts, Asian art and culture, Native American history and art, the art and culture of Oceania, natural history and genealogy, deeds, maps, diaries, vital records, census records, probate and tax records, account books and broadsides. Not to mention America's largest collection of ship's logs.

Thanks again to board member Anne Sterling for her untiring enthusiasm and expert coordination of these tours.
And thanks to all who joined us in this terrific experience.

PS: Members are also discussing exploring resources in Danvers, Beverly and Peabody for 2008.

INVITING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS We are especially welcoming to students of all ages, and teachers of any subject, in the Salem History Society.
There are opportunities for presentations and projects!

Contact us at salemhistory@salemhistorysociety.org for information.

Ok folks, here's your chance to be the next Roger Ebert!
Review movies recently-released, or coming up, with a "historical" story, theme, or purpose!

Semi-fabulous prize awarded to the reviewer who elicits the most discussion after their review -- one per month...ah, got you, eh?

UPDATE! CINEMASALEM WILL AWARD A PASS
GOOD FOR TWO FREE TICKETS TO THE MOVIE THEATER AS A PRIZE!
SO NOW IT IS, OFFICIALLY, A FABULOUS PRIZE!

Everyone loves prizes...and most people love movies...and all of us here love history...what a combo!

Visit the Salem History Common...join the Salem History Society...and play along.

The Salem Historical Resources Directory is live and online! (but still very much under construction). Download the application here.

We have been receiving a number of inquiries from potential visitors to Salem, students researching papers, the general public etc.
Most questions are posted in the Salem History Common Online Community, and that's a great place to spark conversation and get help.

We¹re getting new members all the time...now at more than 70 members -- and counting -- registered on the Salem History Common -- and even more folks who are newsletter recipients.

Our scheduled August 7th meeting, the Sunset Schooner Fame cruise,
having been fogged-in,
was conducted instead onboard ship the following Thursday.
Several members of the SHS enjoyed a perfect summertime cruise on board Fame.

Our August 15 Law Libraries tours were a great success;
we had a very good turnout of membership
for this third installment in our Library Crawls.
Many thanks go to Anne Sterling,
who did a wonderful job
arranging for our membership to take these tours;
and to our three able and engaging tour guides at the sites.

We visited the Salem Registry of Probate,
where we saw original wills and deeds from the 17th century,
and a tour of the old courtrooms.
Thanks to our delightful and friendly tour guide, Pamela Casey O¹Brien.

Next up, we drank in the rich atmosphere
and marveled at the resources of the Essex Law Library.

Richard Adamo, Head Law Librarian,
provided a highly informative and thorough tour
of this awesome facility.

Finally, we were shown around the Essex County Registry of Deeds,
where not only did we get to view
some of the oldest maps and deeds of our town --
and elsewhere in Essex County
including Haverhill, Newburyport, and Salisbury --
but we were also treated to an exclusive preview
of the new online resource
that the Registry is unveiling soon.
Check the website http://salemdeeds.com for info.
We were guided enthusiastically through our experience
here by Robin Harvey.

PS: In the fall, look for explorations
of the Phillips Library of the Peabody Essex Museum,
and members are also discussing exploring resources
in Danvers, Beverly and Peabody.

We are especially welcoming to students of all ages,
and teachers of any subject, in the Salem History Society.
There are opportunities for presentations and projects!
Contact us at salemhistory@salemhistorysociety.org for information.

Chicago has its "History Pub Crawls" -- Ireland has its "Dublin Literary Pub Crawl" and "James Joyce pub crawls" --
Minneapolis has its "Pirate Pub Crawl" -- Savannah has its "Haunted Pub Crawl" --
and Australia has its "Labour History Pub Crawl."

So, with such good global company to encourage us,
we announce the first-ever "Salem History Society's Library Crawl" --
let's share an evening of lifting our glasses (well, ok, our EYEglasses, maybe!)
to the great sources of research and information
which intoxicate Salem minds and lift our spirits in the hunt for knowledge, fun, and facts!

Our very first Library Crawl
is scheduled for Tuesday night, June 26h at the Salem Public Library
where we will be given an overview of the Salem Room.
(In this fascinating room are some very important resources for those interested in Salem's history.)

Then it is on to some time spent on the databases and in the stacks.
Reservations are limited to 10 guests.

Please sign up at the upcoming open membership MEETING
on Tuesday, June 5th, at Cornerstone Books in Salem.

We plan to follow this up with a tour and introduction
to the Salem Athenaeum in July.
We are planning other library tours in the future.

We will have all-member meetings on First Tuesdays through the Summer of 2007 at Cornerstone Books.

In the Fall, we will be switching to a less frequent schedule for larger meetings.

Special-interest groups should be established by then
and they can have smaller meetings at whatever frequency is desired,
and of course, all members can and should meet online in the Salem History Common!

Please take note of the new Salem History Society column, which will be published twice a month in the Salem Gazette!