History Bites

Lunchtime Lecture Series

Friday, May 11 at 12:15 p.m.
Simeon Strong House, 67 Amity Street, Amherst, MA

    Marianne J. Curling                     Simeon Strong’s Material Life

Green edge platters were listed in the probated inventory along with hundreds of other items. Join us to learn more!

Simeon Strong (1735-1805) was gifted with the Strong House, headquarters of the Amherst Historical Society, by his father in 1861 just as he finished his studies, was “sworn an attorney” and returned to Amherst. He was successful and prospered in both family and profession. He was selected as a representative to the General Court (1767-9), State Senator (1793) and, in 1800, he was appointed one of the justices of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. His stature and success is reflected in the probate list of his possessions taken just after he died. The value of his estate was slightly more than $10,000 and the possessions listed are enough to create a household comfortable even by modern standards. This talk will present comparable examples of the material life of Simeon Strong as listed in his probate inventory and speculate of how the Strong House might have appeared in 1805.

Marianne Curling has long been interested in the furnishing and use of American houses. She began working in historic houses in 1975 and continues to work with historic collection today. She is currently the consulting curator to the Amherst Historical Society.>/p>

Join us with your lunch in hand. We will provide coffee, tea, or lemonade for you as you listen to the presentation. The 30 minute program will begin promptly at 12:15 with seating and beverages ready just before noon. The lectures are free and everyone is welcome to attend. For related information check our website at www.amhersthistory.org .

Looking ahead? The series will resume in the fall.

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History Bites

Lunchtime Lecture Series

Friday, April 27 at 12:15 p.m.
Simeon Strong House, 67 Amity Street, Amherst, MA

Robert H. Romer
Black Soldiers, White Officers
Amherst College and the Town of Amherst in the Civil War

Robert Gould Shaw Memorial

Soldier detail, Robert Gould Shaw Memorial. Photo by Peter Walton


Since his “retirement” in 2001, Robert Romer, emeritus professor of physics at Amherst College, has conducted original research on the history of black residents of the Connecticut Valley. His first efforts led to Slavery in the Connecticut Valley of Massachusetts, Levellers Press, 2009. His work covers many periods: from colonial times when slavery was widespread in the area, to the Civil War when many of Amherst’s black men fought for the Union, and then to modern times as he delves into the history of Hope Community Church, where he is now the Church Historian. Professor Romer was the 2012 recipient of the Amherst Historical Society’s Conch Shell Award for his contributions to the historical record of Amherst.

Join us with your lunch in hand. We will provide coffee, tea, or lemonade for you as you listen to the presentation. The 30 minute program will begin promptly at 12:15 with seating and beverages ready just before noon. The lectures are free and everyone is welcome to attend. For related information check our website at www.amhersthistory.org.

Looking ahead?
The remaining lecture in the series is Marianne Curling’s “Simeon Strong’s Material Life” on May 11. Ms. Curling will review the probate record of the Judge Simeon Strong (1736-1805). The series will resume in the fall.

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