NMHS:
A CAUSE IN MOTION National Maritime Historical Society – North American Society for Oceanic History 2019 Annual Meeting & Conference • New Bedford, Massachusetts • 15–18 May Connecting the Global and Local: The Sea and Maritime Cities The Board of Trustees of the National Maritime Historical Society is delighted to invite you to join us for the 56th NMHS Annual Meeting to be held jointly with the North American Society for Oceanic History (NASOH) and co-hosted by the New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center in New Bedford, Massachusetts, 15–18 May 2019. Under the conference theme “Connecting the Global and Local: The Sea and Maritime Cities,” NASOH will present three days of individual papers, sessions, and panels that identify and explore the dynamic social, cultural, environmental, economic, and physical spaces that connect city to sea. We will hear the most up-to-date research being done by maritime scholars and professionals in the field. We are looking forward to seeing you in historic New Bedford, The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center tells the story of the “the Whaling City,” a vibrant nexus in oceanic, maritime, and fishing industry—past, present, and future—through exhibits, coastal history that offers few parallels in North America. In the programs, and archives. Using objects, text, photographs, audio, first half of the 1800s, New Bedford emerged as the foremost and video, the center’s interactive exhibits allow visitors to learn whaling port in the world, surpassing Nantucket by 1823. Dur- about all aspects of the seafood industry. The exhibits look at the ing this era, it was considered life of a fisherman and the fishing Historic New Bedford, the “Whaling City” one of the richest cities in the community, examining historic world. Today, amidst the chalpractices, sustainability, and a lenges facing commercial fisherlook at changes over time with ies around the world, New Bedhistorical artifacts that speak to ford still takes to the seas as the “back when.” nation’s most valuable fishing port, with some 5,000 people Registration: $250 for members employed in port-related jobs. ($298 for non-members; $150 Multi-cultural in its composition for students), which includes and global in its historical condaily box lunches, breaks, recepnections, New Bedford captures tions, cruise, and banquet (there maritime North America in all will be a cash bar at select events). its dimensions. new bedford whaling national historical park We encourage registration at the We will enjoy a reception and tours at the New Bedford Underwriter, Sponsor, or Donor levels, which makes these conferWhaling Museum and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Cen- ences possible. More information can be found on the magazine ter on Thursday. After a day of scholarly presentations and panels wrapper and at the NMHS website at www.seahistory.org. Make on Friday, we’ll board the ferryboat Cuttyhunk for an evening your reservations early, as space for the boat cruise and banquet cruise. The conference will conclude with a Saturday night ban- is limited. After 21 April, registration rates will increase by $25. quet at the Wamsutta Club. Accommodations: We have reserved a block of rooms at the The New Bedford Whaling Museum, located in the heart of Fairfield Inn & Suites – New Bedford from Tuesday, 14–20 May the city’s historic district, offers a fascinating look into America’s at the special rate of $159 ($179 for an ocean view). Located at whaling history. The museum interprets local whaling heritage the head of Homer’s Wharf at 185 MacArthur Drive, the hotel in the context of global history and examines the relationships is just a quarter mile from the Whaling Museum and an easy the port developed through the whaling industry with interna- stroll along the waterfront. Reservations can be made by calling tional communities, such as Cape Verde and the Azores, via its 774 634-2000 (be sure to book under the block of rooms reserved many exhibitions, speakers’ series, and events. Among its notable under the “NA Society for Oceanic History”). The block is availexhibits is the newly opened Whales Today, which offers a look able until 17 April or until it is full. Rooms can also be reserved into the relationship between whales and humans over the cen- online. The link for reservations and all details are posted on the turies and even features a life-sized blue whale heart! Not to be NMHS website at: www.seahistory.org. Click on the “Annual missed is Scrimshaw—Shipboard Art of the Whalers, a beautiful Meeting” link on our homepage. We look forward to seeing you collection of scrimshaw art from around the world, and the ex- in the Whaling City! hibit celebrating Frederick Douglass, which chronicles his formative years in New Bedford. This is one of America’s must-see We are especially grateful to Dr. Vic Mastone of the 2019 NASOH museums, one of my favorites, and one where you discover some- Program Committee for his organization, enthusiasm, and grace thing new with each visit. in planning this event. —Burchenal Green, NMHS President 8
SEA HISTORY 166, SPRING 2019