Category Archives: Collections

Posts about our collections.

“a cruel unnecessarry, unnatural monstrosity”

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From the University Archives Collections: here is a 1935 request to the Mass. Catholic Order of Foresters to support a proposal from the “Headquarters for the Repeal of the Daylight Saving Law.”  The handwriting on the typescript letter indicates that the request was rejected by the MCOF (click on image to view enlarged document.)

Transcription:

Headquarters for the Repeal of the Daylight Saving Law
275 Tremont Street, Boston

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee on Resolutions: M.C.O.F. Convention. We have the honor to present to you for your consideration, the subject of repeal of the “Daylight Saving” Law. This law was intended only for the purpose of war: to let it continue in these days when great economic changes have come so fast upon us and when leisure is in abundance on all sides, and will increase, is but to inflict cruelty on those whom we love best, and to whom we we owe every consideration. It is a cruel unnecessarry (sic), unnatural monstrosity; a vicious dislocation of home life, and we look to such great social orders as the M.C.O.F. to encourage us with their moral support, in our petition to the next general court.

Therefore be it resolved; that the Daylight Saving law, be repealed.

Respt. Yours,
[Signature]
Frank E. Bentley, Sec.

May 21, [19]35

 

UASC Collection: Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters. See also: https://blogs.umb.edu/archives/collections/foresters/

Irish Stories and Tunes Enliven the Archives on March 14th

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Along with exhibits, refreshments and illustrated lectures, the UASC gala “Calling the Heart Back Home: Irish-American Stories from the Archives” will feature storyteller Norah Dooley and harpist Susan Miron in a modern re-working of the bardic tradition, combining music and stories to wonderful effect.

The duo is called “The Bard’s Feast” and describes its performances in this way:

In ancient times the bards were not female and not a duo but together we are the The Bard’s Feast. Inspired by the tradition, we are “bringing ‘bardic’ back”, to paraphrase Justin Timberlake.

A Bard’s Feast program combines Irish tunes, many from the repertoire of 18th century blind harper, Turlough O’Carolan, with legend, myth and folktales from the vast store of Irish whimsy and tradition. Stories are timeless and living things. Our nontraditional versions of these tales are more products of the storyteller’s seething brain than staid scholarly research.  Leprechauns, the sidhe (fairy people) common folk, heroes and star crossed lovers manifest in the glory of spoken word, entrancing harp and enchanting words.

For the March 14 event at UMass Boston, The Bard’s Feast will present two lively stories: Egg Girl and the Leprechaun, drawn from the traditional repertoire, and Transported – Driving with the Ancestors, more recently minted from Norah’s personal and family history.

Visit The Bard’s Feast website for more information about the bardic tradition, harps, storytelling and more.  And do plan to join us on Wednesday evening, March 14th at UMass Boston.

Topping Out the ISC

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Topping Off – Signing the Beam

The topping out of a construction project is a ceremonial event long observed by ironworkers and others in the construction trades marking the end of steel construction by putting into place a final, signed beam.

On February 16, 2012, hundreds of UMass Boston faculty, staff, students, construction workers and local dignitaries signed the beam to mark this milestone in the construction phase of the $155 million Integrated Science Complex.

Everyone who signed the beam also signed a list that will be preserved in the University Archives.

Faculty Research in ScholarWorks

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In January 2012, ScholarWorks at UMass Boston had 5,627 full-text downloads, with 123 new submissions to the site.

And what were the most popular papers of the month, you ask? Here you go:

ScholarWorks is the University of Massachusetts Boston’s online institutional repository for scholarship and research. The repository now holds 1,147 records, which have been downloaded a total of 37,646 times.

To learn more about ScholarWorks, and about how you can include your research in the repository, visit scholarworks.umb.edu or email andrew.elder@umb.edu.

You’re invited! Mar 14th 2012 “Calling the Heart Back Home”: Irish-American Stories from the Archives

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March 14, 2012  |  4:00-7:00 pm  |  Free and open to the public

The Joseph P. Healey Library at the University of Massachusetts Boston invites you to join us on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 to celebrate an exciting new addition to our archival collections: the historic records of the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, dramatically rescued by TIARA (The Irish Ancestral Research Association) in 2005. The Foresters records include detailed insurance policy applications dating back to 1879 that afford unique genealogical and historical information about more than 70,000 individuals in Massachusetts, most of whom are of Irish descent.

Join us for this celebration, view sample Foresters records, discover the historical resources and community-focused public history endeavors of Archives and Special Collections at UMass Boston, and learn about upcoming projects and opportunities for historical inquiry and engagement.

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

RSVP to andrew.elder@umb.edu or call 617-287-5944 for more information.

Location: Joseph P. Healey Library  |  University of Massachusetts Boston  |  100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA 02125-3393.