Past Events
Video recordings of past events can be viewed at this link.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday April 8, 2026, 7-8:30pm, 87 Mount Vernon Street, Boston. The Partnership of the Historic Bostons and The Colonial Society of Massachusetts present Linford D. Fisher, Professor of History at Brown University on “Surviving Slavery: The Sale of Indigenous People in King Philip’s War."
One of the lesser-known aspects of King Philip's War was the intentional campaign to enslave Native peoples. Combatants and non-combatants alike—including women and children—were captured and forced into servitude. Colonial governments offered clemency to Natives who surrendered but instead shipped many out of the region as slaves or parceled them into English households for decades of servitude. Individuals were trafficked to destinations like Barbados, Jamaica, the Azores, and even Tangier. This presentation explores the lived realities of family separations and the long shadow these events cast on Native communities, who continue to press for their sovereignty today.
Professor Fisher specializes in the religious and cultural histories of early America and Native America. His forthcoming book, Stealing America: The Hidden Story of Indigenous Enslavement in US History (Liveright, 2026), will be available for purchase in advance of this talk at a 50% discount (see below).
Seating is limited. To register: IN PERSON: Surviving Slavery: The Sale of Indigenous People Tickets, Wed, Apr 8, 2026 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite
If you are unable to attend in person, join the live stream by clicking on this link: CSM Live Stream
Book purchase instructions The discounted price to purchase Stealing America is $26.25 (includes mailing costs) or $20 if you are picking it up in person at 87 Mount Vernon Street.
Payment
* via PHB"s PayPal/credit card, here.
* checks to the Partnership of Historic Bostons, 23 Mount Pleasant St, Cambridge MA 02140.
Please indicate in the 'notes' in PayPal or on the check that this is for the purchase of Stealing America.
Enquiries: [email protected]
April. 16, 2026 • Stated Meeting at 3:00 p.m. Roger L. Hall, Director, Center for American Music Preservation, will speak on “More than Yankee Doodle: Songs of Patriotism and Protest in the American Revolution.”
May 22-23, 2026 - 2026 Graduate Student Forum. Proposals are due February 20, 2026. For further Information see https://www.colonialsociety.org/forum
June 4, 2026 • Donald R. Friary Symposium at 6:00 p.m. A conversation on the Material Culture of African-American History among three leaders in the field: Kabria Baumgartner, Dean’s Associate Professor of History and African Studies, Northeastern University; Alexandra Chan, archaeologist, author of Slavery in the Age of Reason: Archaeology of a New England Farm; and Kyera Singleton, Executive Director, Royall House and Slave Quarters. Thank you to Robert A. Hall for suggesting we host this conversation!
June 29-July 1, 2026 • Summer Seminar 2026 "Thinking and Teaching Early American History." Applications will be accepted until Monday, April 20, 2026.
All in-person events take place at 87 Mount Vernon St., Boston Ma 02108 and are free and open to the public. They can also be joined online at https://bit.ly/ColSocEvent. To participate in an online-only event, use the Zoom link posted on this website next to the listing for that event.