The Weymouth Historical Commission and Weymouth Public Libraries will co-sponsor 3 events
Weymouth, MA -- Building on the successful launch of the Weymouth History Lecture Series last fall, the Weymouth Historical Commission and Weymouth Public Libraries will sponsor three additional talks on Weymouth history in the spring of 2022.
On Thursday, May 12th at 7:00 p.m. at The First Church in Weymouth (17 Church Street), Timothy Orwig will discuss the preservation and restoration of the Abigail Adams birthplace. Dr. Orwig teaches art and architectural history at Boston College and Lesley University. He earned an MA in historic preservation studies and a PhD in American and New England studies from Boston University. Dr. Orwig researches the history of Massachusetts buildings and has nominated over two-dozen properties to the National Register of Historic Places. His publications include articles in Historic New England magazine and books on Boston history and the Cape Cod Canal.
On Thursday, May 26th at 7:00 p.m. at Tufts Library (46 Broad Street), Michael Murphy will tell the story of Company H of the 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, which included many soldiers from Weymouth, and their engagements during the Civil War. A lifelong resident of the Town of Weymouth, Dr. Murphy has taught as a history teacher in the Weymouth Public Schools for 27 years and as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in History and Secondary Education, a Master's Degree in History with a concentration in the American Civil War, and a Doctorate in Education. Dr. Murphy is an appointed Historical Commissioner for the Weymouth Historical Commission and a member of the Weymouth Historical Society. He has written two books, James L. Bates: A Biography and Webster's Regiment: The Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment.
On Thursday, June 9th at 7:00 p.m. at Tufts Library (46 Broad Street), Michelle Coughlin will speak about "The Complex Worlds of Colonial Women." Ms. Coughlin is a historian and author whose research interests include early American social history, women's history, Black history, material culture, and public history. She serves on the board of the Abigail Adams Birthplace and as Museum Administrator of Boston's Gibson House Museum, and is currently a guest scholar for New England Beginnings, a partnership that promotes the exploration of the cultures that shaped early New England. She holds graduate degrees in history from Tufts University and English and American Literature from Harvard University Extension School, as well as a graduate-level certificate in museum studies. Ms. Coughlin has written two books, One Colonial Woman's World: The Life and Writings of Mehetabel Chandler Coit, and Penelope Winslow, Plymouth Colony First Lady: Re-Imagining a Life.
“The response to the initial Weymouth History lectures was very positive, and the Weymouth Historical Commission is excited to continue our partnership with the Weymouth Public Libraries,” said Commission Chair James Clarke.
“Weymouth Public Libraries is looking forward to working with the Weymouth Historical Commission to share our Town's vibrant history with the community,” said Robert MacLean, Director of Library Services.
Registration is required for each event. To register, and for more information about events at the Weymouth Public Libraries, visit the Libraries’ online calendar at weymouth.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/.
The Weymouth History Lecture Series is co-sponsored by the Weymouth Public Libraries and the Weymouth Historical Commission. Supporting partners include Weymouth 400, the Abigail Adams Historical Society, and Weymouth Historical Society. The series began with three events in the fall of 2021, including the launch of Colonial Weymouth, a book by local resident Mark Schneider published by Weymouth Public Libraries.
Weymouth Public Libraries celebrates and sustains the growth of community, collaboration, and culture through traditions of reading, learning, and sharing. In October 2020, library operations commenced in the newly constructed Tufts Library building, a 50,000 square-foot community hub supporting active, flexible, exciting new programs and services for the Weymouth community. For more information, see the Weymouth Public Libraries website at www.weymouth.ma.us/library.
The Weymouth Historical Commission is a Town agency that acts for the preservation, promotion, and development of the historical assets of the Town of Weymouth. Composed of seven members, the Commission researches and supports certification of historically and archaeologically significant sites, as well as collecting and sharing information relevant to this work. For more information, see the Historical Commission’s website at www.weymouth.ma.us/historical-commission.
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