Number 102 / Spring 2012 MHS Miscellany WAR OF 1812 COMES ALIVE During the War of 1812, the United States Navy, Society’s collections, a log book from the Consti- which was less than 40 years old, took on the most tution will be on display, showing the entries that powerful maritime power in the world, Great Brit- Midshipman Frederick Baury made, describing ain, and something strange happened. They start- the ship’s actions early in the war. ed winning. The USS Constitution defeated two Pres. James Madison declared war against British frigates, HMS Guerriere and Java, within Great Britain on June 18, 1812, in response to a span of five months. Nobody expected this. British and French interference with American trade and British impressments of U.S. sailors. This exhibition explores the political life of Mas- sachusetts just before the war, when the Bay State was bitterly divided due to tensions between the Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans. The strife within the Commonwealth included the development of the still controver- sial political strategy of gerrymandering, which will be showcased in Mr. Madison’s War with a political cartoon featuring the salamander- shaped Essex County voting district attributed to Elbridge Gerry, the Massachusetts governor who redistricted the state to benefit his Democratic- Republican Party—but still lost reelection. The cartoon includes Gerry’s disguised profile and features the voting district transformed into a winged monster. The declaration of war led to contentious debate throughout the United States. In New England and New York many opposed the war, which had a profound effect on the local region’s Capt. William Bainbridge of the USS Constitution, which cap- maritime economy. Massachusetts seaports had tured the HMS Java during the War of 1812. suffered through a financially disastrous trade embargo from 1807 to 1809 during Thomas Jef- This spring, the MHS is commemorating the ferson’s presidency, and now the party of Jef- bicentennial of the War of 1812 with an exhibi- ferson had created a war with the world’s most tion entitled Mr. Madison’s War: The Controver- powerful navy. The exhibition contains evidence sial War of 1812, prepared by the Society’s own of this public sentiment, including a ticket from Katherine Griffin, Nora Saltonstall Preservation the 1814 election in Massachusetts, when many Librarian, and Peter Drummey, Stephen T. Riley anti-war candidates gained office, including Librarian. Among the many treasures from the then-president of the MHS Christopher Gore. Periodical newsletter of the Massachusetts Historical Society MHS Miscellany 2 In 1814, in an effort to establish peace, both the Unit- Fro the P resident ed States and Great Britain sent representatives to Bel- gium to work on a resolution. The resulting Treaty of In any issue of the Miscella- Ghent, once ratified by each government, would bring ny, the wide range of articles an end to the War of 1812. John Quincy Adams attend- speaks to the breadth and ed as an American representative, and the letters he sent variety of activities at the home included observations about the events taking MHS as we pursue a better place. Visitors to the exhibition this summer will be able understanding of our coun- to examine letters that Adams wrote to his mother and try’s and state’s history. They father, including a letter to Abigail from Ghent, written highlight our publications, on Christmas Eve in 1814, when the preliminary peace research projects, exhibitions, treaty was signed. and public programs. Too Mr. Madison’s War opens June 18 and runs through rarely do they provide insight August. It also will be available for preview at the Soci- into what lies behind the scenes, the processing, cata- ety’s Annual Open House on Saturday, June 1. Visitors loging, encoding, editing, and preservation that make are invited to participate in tours, listen to gallery talks, all this activity possible. More than half of our staff is enjoy refreshments, and learn more about the Society’s engaged in such work. collections, programs, and services. It certainly is not evident to the visitor. They expe- The MHS is offering additional programming on rience a venerable institution in a timelessly beautiful the War of 1812, including a workshop for teachers in structure filled with some of the greatest documents and August. On October 1, in collaboration with the USS artifacts from America’s past. Most visitors have no idea Constitution Museum, Christian G. Samito will present that behind our classic public spaces lies a modern infra- “The War of 1812 and the Making of Modern America,” structure utilizing the latest technology to preserve and examining the political, economic, and social changes present our incomparable collection. that resulted from the war. More details on all MHS This issue’s article on restoring volume 4 of Har- events are available at www.masshist.org. bottle Dorr’s annotated Revolutionary-era newspapers provides that rare glimpse into the complexity of these *** inner workings. In a photo essay we take you through The Massachusetts Historical Society is an independent research library that collects, preserves, makes accessible, and communicates manuscripts and other materials that promote the study of the history of Massachusetts and the nation—a mission it has pursued since 1791. The Officers & Board of Trustees of the MHS Miscellany, no. 102 Hours: Massachusetts Historical Society Periodical Newsletter of the The MHS reading room Massachusetts Historical is open to the public free Chair Trustees Life Trustees Society of charge, 9 to 4:4 William C. Clendaniel Benjamin C. Adams Leo Leroy Beranek Mondays, Wednesdays, Co-Vice Chairs Frederick D. Ballou Henry Lee Masthead illustration: Thurdays, and Fridays; 9 Nancy S. Anthony Levin H. Campbell Trustees Emeriti “Plan & Elevation of the Ton- to 7:4 on Tuesdays; and tine Crescent, now erecting in Charles C. Ames Joyce E. Chaplin Bernard Bailyn 9 to 4 on Saturdays. Herbert P. Dane Boston.” From the Massachusetts Secretary Nancy R. Coolidge Magazine, 1794. All images Amalie M. Kass John F. Moffitt Arthur C. Hodges are from the MHS collections For more information: Pauline Maier Treasurer James M. Storey unless otherwise credited. The Please call ahead or check Sheila D. Perry William R. Cotter John L. Thorndike MHS occupied the Tontine the website for directions, Frederick G. Pfannenstiehl President Crescent from 1794 until 18. information about collec- Lia G. Poorvu Dennis Fiori tions, reading room policies, Byron Rushing Address: 114 Boylston St. holiday hours, and special G. West Saltonstall events. Paul W. Sandman Boston MA 0221 L. Dennis Shapiro 17--108 Joseph Peter Spang www.masshist.org Judith Bryant Wittenberg Hiller B. Zobel 3 Spring 2012 / no. 102 the steps involved in conserving this highly important pletes a master’s degree from Simmons College. Having recent acquisition. Conservation Technician Oona interned in web development with our neighbor Berklee Beauchard is employing the latest techniques and mate- College of Music, and with relevant experience gained rials and the best practices to conserve these newspa- in independent study, Travis has a broad skill set that pers. This is true for all of our conservation projects. will assist the MHS in many of its online projects. Conservation, especially a project as complex as Har- The MHS is confident that these new staff members bottle Dorr, is a rigorous, time-consuming process. It will further the Society’s ongoing goal of bringing the will take months for volume 4 to complete conserva- wonders of its collections to more members of the public. tion in the lab. With over 12 million manuscripts and * * * documents in our collection, all in need of some level of preservation, the challenge is staggering. Fortunate- Reserch Fellowshis ly, the bulk of our collection is best preserved through A Banner Year the more holistic approach of a stable environment, fire The definition of marriage, the nature of communal protection, security, integrated pest control, and a well- society, the meaning of relics, and coming to terms with maintained building. These are our highest priorities an American tragedy—these are some of the important and I am pleased to say we have provided for them well. topics that scholars will be investigating with fellowship Look for future issues of the Miscellany to highlight support at the MHS over the coming year. the behind-the-scenes activities of the MHS as we seek For the fourth consecutive year, the Society’s program to help you better understand the complexity of the of research fellowships has attracted more than 200 Society’s operations. Our aim is to make sure the valu- applications. In order to promote scholarship in its areas able documents of America’s and Massachusetts’s past of interest, each year for the past quarter-century the are preserved for the ages while making their content Society has appointed a cohort of research fellows. They available to the widest public. bring vitality to the life of the Society and keep us in —Dennis Fiori touch with the latest, most interesting scholarship. Most * * * research fellows make brown-bag presentations while Outrech Efforts Expand they are in residence at the MHS. Many also take part The last few issues of this newsletter have reported in our conferences and seminars, as well as contribute to on new outreach initiatives at the MHS, including a our publications. refreshed style for exhibitions; Cocktails with Clio, our Today the Society runs four annual research fellow- new annual fundraiser; a kiosk in front of the build- ship competitions, including two in collaboration with ing promoting exhibitions and upcoming events; and sister institutions. All told, we appoint more than fel- underwriting spots on Greater Boston’s National Pub- lows each year.