The Object of History

This is part two out of a three-part look at the geography, characters, and events that shaped the first years of the American Revolution. In this episode, we discuss Revolutionary-era Maine and the burning of Falmouth in 1775. We visited the Maine Historical Society to discuss the bombardment of present-day Portland by Captain Henry Mowat and the Royal Navy as well as how residents viewed the conflict. We are joined by Tiffany Link, Collections Curator at the Maine Historical Society and co-host of the Mainely History podcast. We also examine two documents in the Massachusetts Historical Society's collections relating to the Revolution in Maine. This episode was produced in collaboration with Mainely History, the podcast hosted by Ian Saxine and Tiffany Link. We encourage you to listen to their upcoming episode featuring items from the Massachusetts Historical Society's collections. Learn more here. Pathways to Freedom: Maine Stories of the American Revolution, which features the Burning of Falmouth as well as other major events, is currently on view at the Maine Historical Society until December 31, 2026. (Please note that the MeHS copy of the Dunlap Declaration of Independence will be on display until July 4, 2026 when it will begin a tour around Maine.) Learn more about episode objects here: https://www.masshist.org/podcast/season-5-episode-4-Revolutionary-Maine Episode Special Guest: Tiffany Link is the Collections Curator for Maine Historical Society (MeHS). Formerly, Tiffany worked for ten years as the MeHS research librarian, developing an intimate knowledge of the collection and appreciation for researchers' needs. As Collections Curator, she handles all collection donations and researches existing collections to enhance their stories. She also assists with, and sometimes curates, MeHS exhibits. She holds B.A. in History and a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree. She grew up in Missouri and now lives in Gorham, ME with her husband and two (adorable) dogs. She enjoys reading, hiking, true crime, and traveling to historic sites. This episode uses materials from: Cloudbank by Podington Bear (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported) Psychic by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk) Curious Nature by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)

On this episode of The Object of History, we begin a three-part narrative about the geography, characters, and events that shaped the first years of the American Revolution. Part one starts in May of 1775 at Fort Ticonderoga, New York, on the banks of Lake Champlain. We are joined by Fort Ticonderoga's Curator Dr. Matthew Keagle to discuss the capture of the fort, the colonists' dire need for artillery to break the siege at Boston, and how the Canadian campaign developed in the summer and fall of that year. We also speak with Samantha Couture, Nora Saltonstall Conservator & Preservation Librarian at the MHS, to talk about the diary of Henry Knox. Learn more about episode objects here: https://www.masshist.org/podcast/season-5-episode-3-knox-diary Email us at [email protected]. Episode Special Guests: Dr. Matthew Keagle is the Curator at Fort Ticonderoga, where he oversees one of the largest collections of 18th-century military material culture in North America. He holds a PhD from the Bard Graduate Center, and his research focuses on the American Revolution and the material world of 18th-century warfare. Samantha Couture is the Nora Saltonstall Conservator & Preservation Librarian at the Massachusetts Historical Society. This episode uses materials from: Cloudbank by Podington Bear (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported) Psychic by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk) Curious Nature by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)

In this episode, we look at the origins of smallpox inoculation in the colonies, discuss the experiences of the Adams family, and consider how the disease entered into debates about a general inoculation of the troops in the Continental Army. We call on the talents of MHS staff to bring John and Abigail Adams to life. Reference Librarian Daniel Hinchen portrays John Adams and Sarah Hume, an Editorial Assistant in the Adams Papers Project, portrays Abigail Adams. We also speak with Andrew M. Wehrman, a professor of history at Central Michigan University, an expert on the topic and author of The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution. Learn more about episode objects here: https://www.masshist.org/podcast/season-5-episode-2-king-of-terrors Email us at [email protected]. Episode Special Guests: Daniel Hinchen is a Reference Librarian at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Sarah Hume is an Editorial Assistant in the Adams Papers Project at the MHS. Andrew Wehrman is a professor of history at Central Michigan University and author of The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution which won the Peter J. Gomes Memorial Book Prize from the Massachusetts Historical Society. This episode uses materials from: Cloudbank by Podington Bear (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported) Psychic by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk) Curious Nature by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)

Season 5 of The Object of History is dedicated to topics related to the American Revolution. On this first episode, we ask several historians for their thoughts on why Boston helped light the spark of the American Revolution. Was there something unique about Boston's community or geography that made it prone to a rebellious spirit? We sit down with J. L. Bell, Historian of the Revolutionary Era in Massachusetts, Garrett Dash Nelson, President & Head Curator at the Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library, and Kathryn Lasdow, Assistant Professor of History and Director of Public History at Suffolk University, to answer this question. Learn more about episode objects here: https://www.masshist.org/podcast/season-5-episode-1-the-spark Email us at [email protected]. Episode Special Guests: J. L. Bell is the author of The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War and proprietor of the Boston 1775 blog. An MHS Fellow, he helped to design the society's online exhibit "Thomas Nast: A Life in Cartoons." Katy Lasdow is Assistant Professor of History and Director of Public History at Suffolk University. She recently served as a curatorial fellow for the Leventhal Map and Education Center at the Boston Public Library where she co-curated Terrains of Independence. Garrett Dash Nelson is a historical geographer who currently serves as President & Head Curator at the Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library. This episode uses materials from: Cloudbank by Podington Bear (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported) Psychic by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk) Curious Nature by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)

Earlier this season, we visited the Ether Dome at the Massachusetts General Hospital to learn about the first public use of an anesthetic in surgery. On this bonus episode of The Object of History, we return to Mass General to visit the Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation. MHS Podcast Producer Sam Hurwitz joins the Director of the Museum, Sarah Alger, for a tour where they examine some of the museum's most significant items related to the history of medicine. Learn more about episode objects here: https://www.masshist.org/podcast/season-4-bonus-episode-Russell-Museum Email us at [email protected]. Listen to Episode 3 Episode Special Guest: Sarah Alger is the George and Nancy Putnam Director of Mass General Hospital's Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation. She was a founding editor of Proto, a thought leadership publication that was sponsored by MGH for 17 years. This episode uses materials from: The Bond (Instrumental) by Chad Crouch (Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International) Psychic by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk) Curious Nature by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)