Charles Shaw shares the compelling story of James A. Butler, his maternal great, great grandfather who migrated as a young man from the Province of Nova Scotia to Boston in the mid-19th century in search of opportunity. A boat builder by trade and a likely descendant of the Black loyalist evacuation of New York in 1783, Butler arrived in the U.S. with youthful confidence and verve, only to encounter the dark side of the pursuit for the American dream.
The Logbooks
In the news | The amateur archivists racing to save US history in national parks against Trump administration censorship
The GuardianBy Amy Qin with graphics by Flávio PessoaFri 7 Aug 2026 08.00 EDT Save Our Signs aims to document every sign in the more than 400 national parks and historic sites across the country before the Trump administration removes them Jenny McBurney was among hundreds of people around the world who sprang into action last year … Continue reading In the news | The amateur archivists racing to save US history in national parks against Trump administration censorship
✮ Introducing Interco(a)stal ✮
Interco(a)stal: Reading Between the Ribs of Maine's Maritime History is a yearlong collaboration bringing together artists, historians, Black and Wabanaki community members, knowledge keepers, archivists, researchers, museum professionals, students, and local residents to examine Maine's maritime history through the intertwined legacies of enslavement, colonization, labor, migration, ecology, and resistance, asking how these stories might reshape our relationship to one of New England's most iconic monuments, to the past, and to one another.
Voices of Independence: Marblehead in the Revolution
June 1 – December 24, 2026 On Display at the Carolyn Lynch Education Center, 170 Washington Street The museum is celebrating the 250th anniversary of America with its newest exhibit, Voices of Independence: Marblehead in Revolution. See how Marbleheaders resisted tyranny and helped form a nation. Check out the video below for an exhibit preview.
Slavery North Conference | Rebellion, Resistance, and Refuge: Slavery and Border Crossing During the American Revolution 7/12/26
Thursday, July 9 - Sunday, July 12, 2026UMass Amherst LEARN MORE & REGISTER Marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this conferenceassembles scholars and graduate students who will present papers that examine the cultures,events, and experiences of the American Revolutionary War across the liminal borders (regionaland proto-national) of British North … Continue reading Slavery North Conference | Rebellion, Resistance, and Refuge: Slavery and Border Crossing During the American Revolution 7/12/26
Prince Project Event | Uncovering Free and Enslaved Blacks from Maine Who Served in the American Revolution on 5/3/26 and 5/19/26
The Prince Project’s Vana Carmona and Kathy Ostrander Roberts will offer two in-person presentations in May: Shoulder to Shoulder: Uncovering Free and Enslaved Blacks from Maine Who Served in the American Revolution Scarborough Historical SocietyMay 3, 2026 at 2:00 pmParish Hall, behind the First Congregational Church167 Black Point Rd.Scarborough, Maine 04074 & Buxton Hollis Historical SocietyMay … Continue reading Prince Project Event | Uncovering Free and Enslaved Blacks from Maine Who Served in the American Revolution on 5/3/26 and 5/19/26
Partnership of Historic Bostons Event | Erasure: History, Memory and King Philip’s War on 4/23/26
On April 23, 2026, Tricia Peone will discuss the overlooked history of King Philip's War, highlighting Indigenous erasure through white narratives. The event, as part of the Metacom's Resistance series, features a new online resource by the Congregational Library & Archives, showcasing primary sources that reshape understanding of this pivotal historical event.
Brown University Event | Reconsidering Port Cities: Critical Commemoration of Slavery, and Transatlantic Legacies on 4/23-24
A conference exploring memory, representation, and reconciliation around slavery and transatlantic legacies. April 23 & 24, 2026 The Debra Lee Keynote Panel on Day One and Sessions on Day Two will be available both in person and online. If you plan to join us in person, please register by the end of the day Tuesday, April … Continue reading Brown University Event | Reconsidering Port Cities: Critical Commemoration of Slavery, and Transatlantic Legacies on 4/23-24
Join the Upstander Academy: Professional Learning for Educators
LEARN MORE AND APPLY Taking place June 27 - July 3, 2026The Upstander Academy is a seven-day professional learning program designed to give up to 25 teachers, curriculum designers, and public historians, grades 3 through 12, an immersive and experiential understanding of Native American history and contemporary realities in the Dawnland, present-day New England. In … Continue reading Join the Upstander Academy: Professional Learning for Educators
Call for Proposals: African American History Seminar 2026-2027
Hosted by the Massachusetts Historical Society Call for ProposalsDeadline: 15 April 2026 LEARN MORE & APPLY The African American History Seminar invites proposals for sessions in its 2026-2027 series. The Seminar involves discussion of pre-circulated works in progress, especially article or chapter-length papers (20-30 pages), focusing on any aspect of African American history and culture from the … Continue reading Call for Proposals: African American History Seminar 2026-2027
Slave Legacy History Coalition Event | Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging with Tara Roberts on 8/8/26
Apr 08, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EDT on Zoom REGISTER HERE Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging by Tara Roberts is a memoir about her journey as a National Geographic Explorer to find and document the shipwrecks of slave ships, connecting this maritime history to her own identity as … Continue reading Slave Legacy History Coalition Event | Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home, and Belonging with Tara Roberts on 8/8/26
In the News | U.S. Rejects Vote to Recognize Slavery as a ‘Crime Against Humanity’
By Ruth Maclean, New York Times The United States voted against a United Nations resolution this week to formally recognize the trans-Atlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity.” The resolution, which was led by Ghana, urged U.N. member states to apologize for the slave trade and to contribute to a reparations fund. On Tuesday, … Continue reading In the News | U.S. Rejects Vote to Recognize Slavery as a ‘Crime Against Humanity’
Event | International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
On Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 10:00 a.m. EDT, the United Nations General Assembly will convene its annual plenary meeting to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Speakers will include the President of the 80th Session of the General Assembly, Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock; the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres; a keynote address from … Continue reading Event | International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
POSTPONED: The Malaga Ship performance & panel
With care for everyone’s safety and travel conditions, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel today’s Malaga Ship performance and panel at Maine Maritime Museum due to the storm. We were so looking forward to gathering with you and sharing this powerful work. It’s disappointing not to be together today, but we know … Continue reading POSTPONED: The Malaga Ship performance & panel
Maine Philanthropy Center Event | Launching the History of Philanthropic Wealth in Maine Report on 4/7/26
The Maine Philanthropy Center is hosting an event on April 7 to launch "The History of Philanthropic Wealth in Maine," a report exploring wealth origins and their impact on communities. Attendees will engage in discussions on equitable philanthropy and actionable frameworks for community-centered giving, featuring reflections from experts and opportunities for dialogue.
In the News | ‘Owning Our History’ exhibit explores First Unitarian Church of Providence’s history of slavery
By Kelly DingSenior Staff Writer | The Brown Daily HeraldMarch 3, 2026 | 3:36am EST The exhibit is on display at the R.I. State House until March 22 On display at the Rhode Island State House through March 22, the “Owning Our History” exhibit focused on the history of slavery at the First Unitarian Church of … Continue reading In the News | ‘Owning Our History’ exhibit explores First Unitarian Church of Providence’s history of slavery
Slavery North Event | “Called to Care: Black Women in Epidemic Philadelphia” with Fellow Olivia Haynes on 3/12/26
Olivia Haynes, a PhD candidate in Afro-American Studies, will present her research on Black women's labor during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia at a Fellow Talk on March 12, 2026. The event, hosted by Slavery North, is open to all and will take place both in-person and online via Zoom.
Research Fellowship at Maine Historical Society, deadline 4/15/26
The Maine Historical Society announces the P.D. Merrill Research Fellowship for the 2026-2027 cycle, offering a $3,000 stipend for research on Maine's economic history. Open to Ph.D. candidates and independent scholars, applications are due by April 15, 2026, requiring a cover letter, CV, reference letter, and project proposal.
Partnership of Historic Bostons Event | The Unknown War: King Philip’s War, 1675-1678 on 3/11/26
Hosted by Partnership of Historic Bostons Part of the Metacom's Resistance: Retelling King Philip's War collection Wednesday, March 11 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm EDT REGISTER HERE King Philip’s War (1675-1678) has rightly been described as a watershed moment for the Native and Puritan inhabitants of New England. The history of this forgotten conflict is most … Continue reading Partnership of Historic Bostons Event | The Unknown War: King Philip’s War, 1675-1678 on 3/11/26
Slave Legacy History Coalition Event | Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in U.S. History on 3/11/26
Hosted by the Slave Legacy History Coalition With Dr. Linford Fisher Wednesday, March 11, 202610:30-11:30 AM ET Online REGISTER HERE Indigenous enslavement was a colossal phenomenon of almost unimaginable consequences that ensnared nearly 600,000 Native Americans in North America. In a saga that predates 1619, this double–stealing of Indigenous people and their lands upends virtually … Continue reading Slave Legacy History Coalition Event | Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Slavery in U.S. History on 3/11/26
Indigo Arts Alliance Event | Art in the Wake II: Repairing, Healing and Memory | live from Brazil, today!
Saturday, February 28, 2026starting at 8:00 am EST Art in the Wake II: Repairing, Healing and Memory is the second symposium in Indigo Arts Alliance’s multiyear partnership with the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s (NMAAHC) Center for the Study of Global Slavery (CSGS). Building on the 2023 inaugural program, Art in the Wake: Reckoning and Re-membering, our continued collaboration … Continue reading Indigo Arts Alliance Event | Art in the Wake II: Repairing, Healing and Memory | live from Brazil, today!