The Royall House and Slave Quarters
Medford, Massachusetts
Volunteer
Like all community organizations, we rely a great deal on the energies of our volunteers. We need your talent and we need your help! Volunteer.
Meeting Space, Event Facility
Our beautiful grounds are available for rental. Have your special event at the Royall House. Rental information.
Getting There
The Royall House and Slave Quarters are located at 15 George Street in Medford, Massachusetts. Detailed Map.
Events and Programs
New Archaeological Exhibit
Parallel Lives, Common Landscape:
Artifacts from the Royall House and Slave Quarters
Open during Public Programs and by appointment
A few of the fascinating artifacts in the new archeological exhibit.
Akan-derived amulet; Royall chocolate cup;
gaming pieces
Photos by Alexandra Chan
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.
Fall Program – November 17, 2010 - 7:30 p.m. – Free
Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party and the Making of America
Professor Benjamin Carp, Tufts University
Professor Carp is a longtime friend of the Royall House and Slave Quarters and an expert on eighteenth century American history. He is the author of the book, Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party and the Making of America, published in October, 2010. Professor Carp will talk about the Boston Tea Party and its wider meaning in American history, and relate the topic to the Royall House and Slave Quarters.
Benjamin L. Carp is Associate Professor of Early American History at Tufts University. In addition to the book under discussion, he is the author of Rebels Rising: Cities and the American Revolution, published by Oxford University Press in 2007.
Free and open to the public. Donations are most welcome. The program starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and seating is limited. For more information, please call (781) 396-9032 or e-mail Cloaking .