About Us

Podcasts

Public Programs

John Hench presents Random Notes from a Book History Bureaucrat
November 16, 2010

This talk by John Hench, retired vice president for collections and programs at AAS, combines elements of memoir, reflections on the development and influence of the Society's Program in the History of the Book in American Culture, and notes on some of the themes in his recent scholarship on publishing in the World War II era. It was the twenty-seventh annual James Russell Wiggins Lecture in the Program in the History of the Book in American Culture.

Ilyon Woo presents Discovering the Great Divorce
September 28, 2010

In 1814, Eunice Chapman's estranged husband stole away her three children and took them to live among the Shakers. At a time when wives and mothers had few rights to speak of, Eunice Chapman waged a colossal campaign for her children's return, lobbying the New York legislature year after year, courting politicians, penning thrilling narratives about Shaker captivity, and finally rallying a mob to bring her children home. In the process she drew the attention of such luminaries as Thomas Jefferson and Martin Van Buren and won unprecedented rights as a wife and mother. Drawing on her newly published book The Great Divorce, Ilyon Woo discusses this sensational story and the key historical evidence she found at AAS.

K-12 Programs

The Patriot Printer

The Patriot Printer video is a dramatic recreation of Isaiah Thomas publishing the May 3, 1775, issue of The Massachusetts Spy. Although the video seeks to be as historically accurate as possible, including incorporating some of Thomas's actual own words in the spoken dialogue, the production does take some liberties for the sake of dramatic license.

The Patriot Printer was filmed in the printing office at Historic Deerfield, in Deerfield, Massachusetts in the autumn of 2005. When Thomas smuggled his press out of Boston in the spring of 1775, he set it up in the basement of Timothy Bigelow's home in Worcester. That structure no longer exists. The filmmakers chose Historic Deerfield to show the type of equipment that a Colonial printer would have used and to give some indication of how an eighteenth century printing press operated.

The opening sequence with Thomas holding a pistol and speaking of the need for paper and gun powder is the invention of the filmmakers. Although it is possible, there is no evidence that Thomas owned a gun or kept one in his work space. However, he was frequently threatened by the Royal Authorities and his printing press was threatened with destruction. He himself does describe being present at Lexington and Concord but he does not specifically mention taking up arms and fighting. The Massachusetts countryside certainly was alarmed throughout the spring of 1775, with many residents concerned about a retaliatory attack from the King's troops. Thomas was clearly a firebrand as is evident by his words and his actions as a printer. This opening sequence reflects the spirit of both Thomas and this particular moment in American history.

About AAS

Exploring the American Antiquarian Society

Produced by Worcester's Telegram & Gazette, this video explores the American Antiquarian Society. Narrated by James David Moran, Director of Outreach.

Antebellum American Newspapers

This short video features Vincent Golden, Curator of Newspapers and Periodicals at the American Antiquarian Society who describes the history and characteristics of Antebellum American newspapers. Filmed in the newspapers workroom at the Society, the video features examples of various newspapers and illustrated magazines from the Society's collection.

Introduction to AAS (1987 version)

Walter Cronkite (1916-2009) speaks about the value of the American Antiquarian Society. This video was produced for the Society's 175th anniversary, celebrated in 1987.

About AAS

K-12 Programs

Public Programs