Calendar of Upcoming Events

2011 - 2012 Program

Tuesday evening lectures begin at 7:30 p.m. at Arlington Heights Nursery School (formerly St. James School) 10 Acton St. (off Appleton Street). Entrance is at the rear, on the ground floor. Google Maps link.

Finding Your Roots -- Detective Work in Geneology

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Patsy L. Kraemer, Vice President-Program
Jeanne Meister, Clerk of the Society

Learn how to find your family's immigrant origins using local resources, along with an introduction to on-line research tools. Discoveries about the Tappan, DeCaprio, and Olmsted families will be shared.

The italian Immigrant Experience and Its Music

Pasquale Tassone, Performing Arts Director at Arlington High School

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Italy did not become a unified country until 1861, so the music that accompanied Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries reflected distinct regional heritages, such as Neapolitan and Sicilian. Enjoy an evening with Pat Tassone that combines learning and musical performance.

Migrant Experiences: Refugee Camps in Kenya to New Beginnings in Arlington

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Moses Ajou and Peter Chambang, Sudanese Education Fund

Arlington has been host to the "Lost Boys" of Sudan and to the Sudanese Education Fund. Hear a captivating account of trauma, immigration and cculturation struggles, successful adaptation, and triumphant homecomings.

Vignettes of Roman Catholic History in Arlington

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Richard A. Duffy, Author and Historian

The Roman Catholic Church was the first "immigrant" religion to formally establish itselfin Arlington, taking its place among four decidedly Yankee Protestant churches. It would grow to become the town's predominant faith group. Discover little-understood aspects of its integration into Arlington's life, in ways that are likely to challenge old assumptions.

A Special Event

Boston's North End: an Historic Tour

Sunday April 22 at 7:00 PM at the Smith Museum, 7 Jason St. Arlington MA

Alex Goldfeld

Historian Alex Goldfeld, takes us on a three-century tour of Boston's fabled North End. Learn about the neighborhood inherited and preserved by the Italian-American community, including: the Irish era of John F. Fitzgerald; the Jewish community that lived near the local "Gates of Jerusalem;" the Zealous Puritans; the earliest African-American settlement in Boston; and, of course, hometown hero Paul Revere.

Alex Goldfeld is a well-known public historian in Boston who works to make history accessible, interesting, and relevant. He combines rigorous standards for research and analysis set by academics, with the use of popular writing, historic sites, and innovative presentations.

Admission is free and seating is limited (donations are gratefully accepted). Event begins at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Handicapped Accessible. Directions.

Winter Wednesdays

Come join us as members of the Society present talks on topics of their choosing, as we endure the last month of winter. We'll have coffee and donuts at 10 a.m. in the Smith Museum and each talk will be followed by discussion. No homework is required, just an informal gathering of our members as we await spring.

This is the second year for this program, and despite last February's heavy snows, the attendance was remarkable! Please join us!

Building the Middlesex Canal in the 21st Century

Feb. 1, 2012. Howard Winkler will present a talk on this 1803 canal, and will try to answer the often-asked question on what it would cost to build it today.

Mount Auburn Cemetery: An Outdoor Museum

Feb. 8 2012. Rosemarie Smurzynski, a docent of the cemetery will guide us around this 1831 cemetery, which is a model for garden cemeteries around the world.

In Haste, Julia, book by Mary E. Keenan

Feb. 15, 2012. Carol Mahoney will introduce the lively Julia Robbins Barrett, who was an abolitionist, suffragist, and artist, 1819-1900. The author is a retired Lexington history teacher and historian.

How The Bike Path Came To Be

Feb. 22, 2012. Pete Howard has researched for us the history of the popular Rail to Trail in our town.

Letters of Joseph Burrage

Feb. 29, 2012. Linda Cohn introduces Mr. Burrage, living in our town, through letters from his son, a Harvard graduate who died in the Civil War, and from his sister whose letters were from Turkey where she was a missionary.

Sunday Stories Book Club

2:00-3:30 p.m. At the Smith Museum, 7 Jason Street. Handicap accessible.

Lexington-Concord Battle Road, Concord Chamber of Commerce

April 15, 2012. Slides and discussion by Colleen Cunningham and Stuart Brorson.

Sargent's Daughters: The Biography of a Painting, Erica E. Hirschler.

May 6, 2012. Slides and Discussion by Doris Birmingham.

Sunday Stories is a book discussion group, free for Arlington Historical Society Members. Please call 781-648-4300 to reserve a spot. For more information and directions see our Events Page.

Of course you may come even if you haven't read the book! And, this year we're adding a new feature: slides! So come, look at pictures, drink a cup of coffee and learn about these fascinating subjects. Books are available at the library, may be ordered from bookstores, or try websites for bargains.

* Ms. Douhan's paper, Buried Secrets of Menotomy's, Slaves is available as PDF by e-mailing: Cloaking .

Sign up for our newsletter

We announce our events in our electronic newsletter. If you'd like to be added to our electronic newsletter mailing list, please send us an email at Cloaking . You can opt out at any time.