Public Programs

Public Program - March 21, 2012 - 7:30 p.m. - Free

Boston's North End: an Historic Tour

Historian Alex Goldfeld

Historian Alex Goldfeld, takes us on a three-century tour of Boston's fabled North End. Learn about the neighborhood inherited and preserved by the Italian-American community, including: the Irish era of John F. Fitzgerald; the Jewish community that lived near the local "Gates of Jerusalem;" the Zealous Puritans; the earliest African-American settlement in Boston; as well as hometown hero Paul Revere.

Alex Goldfeld is a well-known public historian in Boston who works to make history accessible, interesting, and relevant. He combines rigorous standards for research and analysis set by academics, with the use of popular writing, historic sites, and innovative presentations.

Admission is free and seating is limited (donations are gratefully accepted). Doors open at 7:00 p.m. for the Shop and archaeological exhibit. Refreshments are served.

Parking is on George Street or around the corner on Main Street or College Avenue.

For more information, please call (781) 396-9032, or send an e-mail to Cloaking .

Archaeological Exhibit

Parallel Lives, Common Landscape:
Artifacts from the Royall House and Slave Quarters

Open during Public Programs and by appointment

At the Royall House and Slave Quarters, 15 George Street, Medford, MA (just off Main Street).

Details: From 1999-2001 a full-scale archaeological dig was conducted by Ricardo Elia, Ph. D. (1999-2000) and Alexandra Chan, Ph. D., (2000-2001) on the grounds of the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford, Massachusetts. This huge effort revealed thousands of artifacts from the Royall period (1732-1775), that help illuminate "the meanings of freedom and independence ... in the context of a household of wealthy Loyalists and enslaved Africans." (from our Mission Statement).

This new Exhibit features a selection of compelling objects, including rare physical evidence of the lives of those held in bondage by the Royalls. Dr. Chan has curated the Exhibit and provided text for the explanatory panels. Produced under a permit from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, with major support from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation.

A new book - The Curator of the Exhibit, Alexandra Chan, Ph. D., has published a new book about the archeological dig and its meaning - Slavery in the Age of Reason: Archaeology at a New England Farm (U. of Tennessee Press).

For more information, go to: http://utpress.org/a/searchdetails.php?jobno=T01197&authorsm=Chan,%20Alexandra%20A.

The book is available for sale from the Royall House Association. Download a printable pdf order form.