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X-WR-CALNAME:Amherst Historical Society
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://amhersthistory.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Amherst Historical Society
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261018T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261018T153000
DTSTAMP:20261009T182811Z
CREATED:20260909T165820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T182811Z
UID:10534-1792332000-1792337400@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:WALKING TOUR: Lower Mill River Factory Hollow
DESCRIPTION:If you walk along the Mill River conservation trail in North Amherst today\, you will see little to suggest that this small\, shaded valley — situated roughly between Pine Street and Pulpit Hill Road — has changed much in the three centuries since Hadley farmers first moved into the area. But a glance at some of the old maps tells a different story: “Factory Hollow” was once the scene of intensive use of the River to power early industry in Amherst\, ranging from grist mills to substantial textile and paper mills. In fact\, the River — along nearly its entire Amherst course from Leverett in the north to Hadley in the west — powered some three dozen mills and factories\, beginning at least as early as 1727 and continuing production well into the twentieth century. \nThis tour\, lead by Bryan Harvey\, will cover the area downstream of Puffer’s Pond to the current Mill River Recreation Area\, an area in which many textile and woodworking mills once stood\, as well as grist and sawmills and even a candle wicking factory! He will also discuss the many changes in the River itself (in the form of dams\, mill ponds\, and canals) built support these industries\, some still visible today. (Approximately 2 miles roundtrip.)  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/save-the-date-lower-mill-river-factory-hollow-walking-tour/
LOCATION:MA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/1873-Beers-Cropped.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Amherst Historical Society":MAILTO:info@amhersthistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261023T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261023T143000
DTSTAMP:20261009T181403Z
CREATED:20260910T185344Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T181403Z
UID:10539-1792762200-1792765800@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:Mill River History Project: What’s New and What’s Next
DESCRIPTION:Walking along the Mill River conservation trail today there is little to suggest that this quiet valley — situated roughly between Pine Street and Pulpit Hill Road — has changed much in the three centuries since Hadley farmers first moved into the area. But “Factory Hollow” was once the scene of intensive use of the River to power early industry in Amherst\, ranging from grist mills to substantial textile and paper mills. In fact\, the River — along nearly its entire Amherst course from Leverett in the north to Hadley in the west — powered more than 60 businesses in 32 mill and factory buildings across 12 locations. The River was harnessed at least as early as 1727 and mills continued in production well into the twentieth century. Bryan Harvey will provide a glimpse into the work of the Mill River History Project\, which is chronicling the remarkable scale and scope of this activity and its impact on the development of North Amherst\, Cushman\, and the larger Amherst community. This will be a major update to an earlier History Bites presentation in March 2025. It will not only present the latest findings\, but also discuss how the research has evolved and the tools utilized to manage it. \nThe Project is sponsored by the District One/North Amherst Neighborhood Association (DONA)\, and underwritten by Town of Amherst Community Preservation Act funding and private gifts. \nBryan Harvey has lived in Amherst for 54 years\, and is a Trustee of the Amherst Historical Society (AHS). He has been instrumental in the Project’s formation\, development and management\, and also leads periodic walking tours of the Factory Hollow area sponsored by the AHS.
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/mill-river-history-project-whats-new-and-whats-next/
LOCATION:Bangs Center\, 70 Boltwood Walk\, Amherst\, MA\, 01002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Mill-River.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Amherst Historical Society":MAILTO:info@amhersthistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261025T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261025T153000
DTSTAMP:20261009T182352Z
CREATED:20260909T164100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T182352Z
UID:10528-1792936800-1792942200@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:WALKING TOUR: Marks of True Sorrow: Funerary Practices & Propaganda in West Cemetery
DESCRIPTION:“Marks of True Sorrow”: A Guided Cemetery Tour of New England Funerary Practices & Propaganda in the lead up to the American Revolution\nElizabeth C. Dearden will lead a cemetery tour of West Cemetery as a case study of funerary symbolism in relation to the antecedent events of the American Revolution. From Puritan iconography to Whig inspired Neoclassical imagery\, these symbols were used for memorialization\, persuasion\, sustained momentum\, and inspiration for the Patriot cause.  Dearden is a public historian from Western Massachusetts. She received her MA in history from Salem State University with a graduate certificate in public history. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/save-the-date-marks-of-true-sorrow-funerary-practices-propaganda-in-west-cemetery/
LOCATION:MA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/west-cemetery.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261101T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261101T153000
DTSTAMP:20261009T182640Z
CREATED:20260909T165504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T182640Z
UID:10531-1793541600-1793547000@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:WALKING TOUR: Upper Mill River Factory Hollow
DESCRIPTION:If you walk along the Mill River conservation trail in North Amherst today\, you will see little to suggest that this small\, shaded valley — situated roughly between Pine Street and Pulpit Hill Road — has changed much in the three centuries since Hadley farmers first moved into the area. But a glance at some of the old maps tells a different story: “Factory Hollow” was once the scene of intensive use of the River to power early industry in Amherst\, ranging from grist mills to substantial textile and paper mills. In fact\, the River — along nearly its entire Amherst course from Leverett in the north to Hadley in the west — powered some three dozen mills and factories\, beginning at least as early as 1727 and continuing production well into the twentieth century. \nThis tour\, lead by Bryan Harvey\, will focus upstream\, where a thriving paper industry once operated (featuring a long rivalry between the Cushman and Roberts families)\, as well as additional grist and sawmills\, textile and metalworking operations\, and the ice business owned by the Puffer family at the Pond. This tour will also discuss the many physical changes to the River. (Approximately 1.25 miles roundtrip.)  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/save-the-date-upper-mill-river-factory-hollow-walking-tour/
LOCATION:MA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Mill-River.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261104T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261104T190000
DTSTAMP:20261009T170601Z
CREATED:20261009T170601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T170601Z
UID:10642-1793815200-1793818800@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:HISTORY ON THE HALF SHELL: The Atomic Age & the Rise of AI
DESCRIPTION:A new series of talks for the chronically curious \npresented by the Amherst Historical Society in partnership with Amherst Oyster Bar \nEric Ross will present the inaugural lecture of the series\, “The Atomic Age and the Rise of AI: New Technology\, Old Problems.”  Ross is an educator\, organizer\, writer\, and PhD candidate in History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research focuses on nuclear weapons and the intersections of international law\, mass violence\, and empire.  Tickets $12 at the door\, drink included.
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/history-on-the-half-shell-the-atomic-age-the-rise-of-ai/
LOCATION:Amherst Oyster Bar\, 51 North Pleasant Street\, Amherst\, MA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/History-on-the-Half-Shell-e1791565448417.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Amherst Historical Society":MAILTO:info@amhersthistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261106T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261106T143000
DTSTAMP:20260923T180427Z
CREATED:20260515T144022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T180427Z
UID:10360-1793971800-1793975400@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:A Hundred Years of the Jones Library
DESCRIPTION:The Jones Library building at 43 Amity Street has seen many changes over its near 100-year life\, and this presentation will take you on a tour of some of the ways the library has adapted to meet the needs of the thousands of patrons who walk through its doors every year. Beginning with the original construction of the building in the late 1920s and moving through the renovations of the 1960s and 1990s\, images\, anecdotes\, and even a few artifacts will illustrate the history and architecture of the unusual fieldstone building. \nKatherine Whitcomb has been Head of Special Collections at the Jones Library since March 2024 and has worked in the department since 2017. She is a native of Western Massachusetts.
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/a-hundred-years-at-the-jones-library/
LOCATION:Bangs Center\, 70 Boltwood Walk\, Amherst\, MA\, 01002\, United States
CATEGORIES:History Bites Lunchtime Lecture Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ma_yy_52557.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261109T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261109T200000
DTSTAMP:20261009T181055Z
CREATED:20261009T181055Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261009T181055Z
UID:10650-1794250800-1794254400@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:History Book Club
DESCRIPTION:Have you ever time-traveled through the pages of a book? This club features fiction and non-fiction books that illuminate the history of our area. Discussions explore ties between the present and our understanding of the past. Meetings are held quarterly. No advance registration required. \nThe first selection is: \nMr. and Mrs. Prince: how an extraordinary eighteenth-century family moved out of slavery and into legend \nby Gretchen Gerzina
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/history-book-club/
LOCATION:North Amherst Library Community Room\, 8 Montague Road\, Amherst\, MA\, 01002\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/History-Book-Club-Instagram-Post-4_5-e1791569210525.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Amherst Historical Society":MAILTO:info@amhersthistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261120T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261120T143000
DTSTAMP:20260923T180748Z
CREATED:20260506T232111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T180748Z
UID:10328-1795181400-1795185000@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:Dames\, Dishes and Degrees: Faculty Wives in America
DESCRIPTION:In Dames\, Dishes\, and Degrees: Faculty Wives in America\, local author Amy Mittelman reveals what really went on behind ivy-covered walls as she explores the origins\, structure\, and history of faculty wives’ clubs. These comprised the well-educated women who turned their energy and unpaid labor from arranging receptions\, teas\, and picnics to creating social clubs that mentored young academic wives\, supported philanthropic efforts\, and took part in great political movements. Through historical examples and biographies\, Mittelman delves into race and gender\, social and cultural history\, the intersection of modern feminism with other social and political causes\, and the ways in which faculty wives worked to overcome chauvinism\, misogyny\, and tremendous odds to establish their own\, autonomous identities. \nAmy Mittelman was a Five College Women’s Studies Research Center Associate for the academic year 2010-2011. In the past\, Amy had a business\, Academic Publicity\, which helped scholarly authors promote their books. Amy has been a historian\, a mother\, a businesswoman\, a nurse\, and a published author. She has always brought skills\, resources\, and lessons from previous endeavors to each new one.
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/faculty-wives-dames-dishes-and-degrees/
LOCATION:Bangs Center\, 70 Boltwood Walk\, Amherst\, MA\, 01002\, United States
CATEGORIES:History Bites Lunchtime Lecture Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/download-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261204T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261204T143000
DTSTAMP:20260923T182044Z
CREATED:20260506T231619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T182044Z
UID:10326-1796391000-1796394600@amhersthistory.org
SUMMARY:The Life and Legacy of Robert Gould Shaw
DESCRIPTION:Robert Gould Shaw (1837–1863) is best known as the heroic colonel who led the 54th Massachusetts Infantry—one of the first regiments of Black soldiers in the Civil War—in its famous ill-fated charge against Confederate Fort Wagner on July 18\, 1863. Shaw’s sacrifice has been commemorated in monuments\, books\, and the award-winning film\, Glory. But before he became a martyr for the Union cause and emancipation\, Shaw was a privileged young man who showed little interest in the reform movements that defined his parents’ lives or in the moral crisis over slavery that was tearing the nation apart. \nThe first biography of Shaw in a quarter century\, A Glorious Fate: The Life and Legacy of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw traces his transformation from a rebellious son into one of the Civil War’s most celebrated heroes. Acclaimed historian Kevin M. Levin also reveals the sacrifice and service of the African American men who fought and died for their freedom afresh through Shaw’s eyes. Though Shaw never fully reconciled his own racial prejudices\, Levin shows how the Civil War changed the young colonel as it did the nation.
URL:https://amhersthistory.org/events/the-life-and-legacy-of-robert-gould-shaw/
LOCATION:Bangs Center\, 70 Boltwood Walk\, Amherst\, MA\, 01002\, United States
CATEGORIES:History Bites Lunchtime Lecture Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://amhersthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Shaw-book.png
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