Last updated: 11/30/2013
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Street Address
159 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Mailing Address
Cambridge, MA 02138

Staff

Richard (Tod) Beaty
phone: 617-547-4252
e-mail:
Description

We are Cambridge history. We inspire interest in and enthusiasm for the Cambridge experience; its changing landscapes and neighborhoods; its workers and thinkers; its daily life and innovative contributions to the nation. We are a resource for everyone who wants to know about Cambridge and its history. We collect and preserve Cambridge history in many forms and seek to make it widely available through exhibits; online communities; access to our archives and collections; vibrant public programs; and publications.

Renting the HLN House

The Hooper-Lee-Nichols House is one of the oldest houses in Cambridge, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1685 and transformed into a Georgian mansion in the 1730s, the house is an architectural and social history treasure. The Cambridge Historical Society makes the house available for rental on a limited basis in order to raise money for its upkeep, and to further introduce people to its history. We hope you will appreciate the Society’s need to keep rental activities within certain parameters, in order to preserve the Hooper-Lee- Nichols House for the future.

Mission

The Cambridge Historical Society has been a repository of history and culture for over 100 years. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting an interest in all aspects of the history and heritage of Cambridge.

History

Founded in 1905 by a group of historians, the Historical Society initially met in private homes and presented lectures on Cambridge history. Beginning in 1906, these lectures were published as The Proceedings. A short time later the Society began collecting books, documents, significant papers and photographs.

Since 1957 the Cambridge Historical Society has been headquartered at the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House at 159 Brattle Street. Many activities take place there. We invite you to become a member of the Society and join us in preserving Cambridge's history and heritage.

Library
The Brinkler Research Library

The Brinkler Research Library's archival holdings include books, maps, newspapers, periodicals, broad sheets, published and unpublished documents, a photo archive and drawings. The library also contains published family and town histories, city directories and published town reports.

The Cambridge Historical Society acts as a living repository for Cambridge's tradition and history. It maintains any property entrusted to it and collects, preserves, and interprets items of historical and antiquarian significance.

The Historical Society encourages research and involvement in these efforts by its members and the community at large. In doing so it promotes a better understanding of history as an important factor in the everyday affairs of the City and its residents.

The Brinkler Library is open to researchers by appointment. Please call 617 547-4252 to schedule your visit. For questions about collections, donations, and requests for reproduction from the collection, send email to archives@cambridgehistory.org

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: True

Services
Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Event Rental
Group Tours
Exhibitions
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DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

Tuesday, March 11 - Friday, March 14, 2025

Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hosted by: Tennessee Association of Museums

Tennessee museums are full of hope. But how are they turning hope into reality

With the Semiquincentennial quickly approaching in 2026, the state's museum community if approaching a turning point, and is now a great time to take stock and develop a vision for the future

The Tennessee Association of Museums' 64th Annual Conference in Knoxville will challenge the state's museums to think ahead and share their hopes, the best practices and strategies for turning those hoes into realities, and the rewards that come from aspirational thinking

The 2025 TAM Annual Conference will take place at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, please call 615-495-3354 or email hawkins@aaslh.org.

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Athens, Ohio

Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosted by: North Carolina Museums Council

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.

By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day

The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.

The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.

For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

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