Quincy Historical Society & Museum

06/19/2026

Sending huge kudos to our colleague Bob Damon, the City's Director of Historic and Heritage Resources, for doing the in-depth research necessary to compile this list of names. We are proud to act as a platform to promote this extremely valuable contribution to the study of Quincy's remarkable history!

This Juneteenth, and during the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the City of Quincy honors nine Patriots of Color whose service contributed to American independence. Their stories continue to be researched and shared, helping us better understand the diverse individuals who shaped our nation’s founding.

Soldiers listed are attributed to Braintree (now Quincy and Braintree) in Massachusetts military records, 1775–1783. Sources include Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War and the DAR Forgotten Patriots project.

For more information, contact the Quincy Historical Society at 617-773-1144.

06/18/2026

UPCOMING PUBLIC PROGRAM:

On Thursday, June 25th, at 7pm at the Adams Academy Quincy Historical Society will continue our celebration of America’s 250th anniversary with “Revolutionary Eloquence,” a program of dramatic readings featuring the words of some of Quincy’s most innovative thinkers. While Quincy may be famous for many things - shipbuilding, granite, great food, and grit - its greatest resource has always been the minds of its citizens.

Quincy has been the hometown of many great writers, orators, and thinkers -- from Josiah Quincy Jr.’s principled defense of the soldiers of the Boston Massacre, to Abigail Adams’ graceful prose sharing disruptive ideas about race and gender, to the idealistic social reformers of the 19th and 20th centuries -- like educator Francis Parker and suffragist Adalaide Claflin. This program will celebrate the art of rhetoric, oration, and written composition across Quincy history. Join us for a curated journey through the revolutionary ideas of Quincy’s greatest thinkers, featuring dramatic readings performed by a cast of actors.

The program will explore the diverse and groundbreaking developments the people of Quincy have contributed across numerous fields through the medium of speech and writing. Join us for an evening celebrating the ways Quincy has made its mark on the way the world thinks, from its founding to today.

This event is open to all and free to attend.

As the Historical Society’s Annual Meeting, officers and board members will be elected for the coming year.

For more information see the event page here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1e4KH8VNrS/

06/12/2026

A huge thank you to all of our friends over at Quincy Access Television for recording and editing this video from our most recent program held on May 28th, "Abigail's "Common Sense"" presented by QHS' Executive Director Alexandra Elliott.

If you were unable to attend this program (or if you'd just like to see it again) the video recording is now available on YouTube!

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When Thomas Paine’s "Common Sense" was published in January 1776 it became an unprecedented bestseller. With its accessible language and compelling arguments, Paine succeeded in shifting popular sentiment in favor of independence. Abigail Adams was immediately impressed by the pamphlet when her husband John sent home a copy in February, and she quickly circulated it around her social circles in Braintree and beyond. Within six weeks of reading "Common Sense" Adams penned her most famous letter urging John and the Second Continental Congress to “remember the ladies” during the formation of the new government.

In this presentation QHS Executive Director Alexandra Elliott breaks down the subtle references hidden within the “Remember the Ladies” letter, and the continued discourse that the letter inspired between Abigail, John, and their fellow patriots Mercy Otis Warren and James Sullivan. Ms. Elliott then discusses how the principles of "Common Sense" are visible within Adams’ later advocacy, especially in her approach to slavery and women’s rights. For Adams these sentiments were obvious to the point of being “beyond dispute,” but they were radical ideas that, if implemented, would have drastically changed the fortunes of more than half the colonial population.

Quincy Historical Society Executive Director Alexandra Elliott brea...

05/27/2026

Tomorrow Night!

Join us Thursday, May 28th, at 7pm, at the Adams Academy, when Quincy Historical Society’s Executive Director Alexandra Elliott will discuss the inspiration Abigail Adams drew from Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" and the ways it shaped her approach to politics.

When Thomas Paine’s "Common Sense" was published in January 1776 it became an unprecedented bestseller. With its accessible language and compelling arguments, Paine succeeded in shifting popular sentiment in favor of independence. Abigail Adams was immediately impressed by the pamphlet when her husband John sent home a copy in February, and she quickly circulated it around her social circles in Braintree and beyond. Within six weeks of reading "Common Sense" Adams penned her most famous letter urging John and the Second Continental Congress to “remember the ladies” during the formation of the new government.

Ms. Elliott will break down the subtle references hidden within the “Remember the Ladies” letter, and the continued discourse that the letter inspired between Abigail, John, and their fellow patriots Mercy Otis Warren and James Sullivan. Ms. Elliott will then discuss how the principles of "Common Sense" are visible within Adams’ later advocacy, especially in her approach to slavery and women’s rights. For Adams these sentiments were obvious to the point of being “beyond dispute,” but they were radical ideas that, if implemented, would have drastically changed the fortunes of more than half the colonial population.

This event is open to all and free to attend.

05/25/2026

Quincy Historical Society will be closed today, Monday, May 25th, for the Memorial Day holiday.

We will reopen on Tuesday, May 25th, on our regular schedule.

[Image: This image of the Civil War Soldiers' Monument in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery is an illustration from a contemporary publication advertising the dedication of the monument in 1868.

At the time, Memorial Day was called Decoration Day, as it was customary to decorate the graves or cenotaphs of Civil War soldiers with flowers on this day. During the 20th century the use of the term Memorial Day gradually became more popular, and the holiday expanded to include fallen American soldiers from all wars and conflicts.

You will find monuments like this one across the United States, many of which were made of Quincy granite.]

05/15/2026

A huge thank you to all of our friends over at Quincy Access Television for recording and editing this video from our most recent program on April 30th, "Atlas of Independence: John Adams & the American Revolution" presented by Dr. Chris Mackowski.

If you were unable to attend this program (or if you'd just like to see it again) the video recording is now available on YouTube!

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John Adams is widely heralded, by historians and by his contemporaries, as the Architect of American Independence. But what did Adams do to earn a moniker of such esteem, while simultaneously cultivating a reputation for being stubborn and combative?

"Atlas of Independence" sets the record straight about John Adams’ significant contributions to the Second Continental Congress, where he worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes to nudge – and sometimes shove – his colleagues towards the inevitable conclusion that America must declare independence from Britain. This program will explore those efforts, and the great personal sacrifices that Adams made in pursuit of principle. It will lay out an overview of Adams’ seminal role in that tumultuous Founding time.

Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., is a writing professor in the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, NY, where he also serves as associate dean for undergraduate programs. He is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Emerging Civil War and the series editor of the award-winning Emerging Civil War Series, published by Savas Beatie. He is also historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a historic property on the Spotsylvania battlefield in central Virginia. An award-winning writer, Chris has authored or co-authored nearly two dozen books and edited a half-dozen essay collections on the Civil War. "Atlas of Independence: John Adams and the American Revolution" is his first foray into Revolution-era history.

John Adams is widely heralded, by historians and by his contemporaries, as the Architect of American Independence. But what did Adams do to earn a moniker of...

04/23/2026

In early fall 2025, Quincy Historical Society received an inquiry into the sculptor of the Merrymount Park bas relief depicting John Adams and John Quincy Adams in conversation. This perfectly ordinary inquiry turned into a months-long correspondence with author Chris Mackowski as he put the final touches on his new book "Atlas of Independence: John Adams and the American Revolution."

On Thursday, April 30th, at 7pm. the Historical Society is delighted to host Dr. Chris Mackowski for a presentation and book signing.

John Adams is widely heralded, by historians and by his contemporaries, as the Architect of American Independence. But what did Adams do to earn a moniker of such esteem, while simultaneously cultivating a reputation for being stubborn and combative?

Atlas of Independence sets the record straight about John Adams’ significant contributions to the Second Continental Congress, where he worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes to nudge – and sometimes shove – his colleagues towards the inevitable conclusion that America must declare independence from Britain. This program will explore those efforts, and the great personal sacrifices that Adams made in pursuit of principle. It will lay out an overview of Adams’ seminal role in that tumultuous Founding time.

This event is open to all and free to attend.

Chris Mackowski, Ph.D., is a writing professor in the Jandoli School of Communication at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, NY, where he also serves as associate dean for undergraduate programs. He is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Emerging Civil War and the series editor of the award-winning Emerging Civil War Series, published by Savas Beatie. He is also historian-in-residence at Stevenson Ridge, a historic property on the Spotsylvania battlefield in central Virginia. An award-winning writer, Chris has authored or co-authored nearly two dozen books and edited a half-dozen essay collections on the Civil War. "Atlas of Independence: John Adams and the American Revolution" is his first foray into Revolution-era history.

03/18/2026

Exploring Quincy's history is part of the 4th-grade experience, and the Quincy Historical Society & Museum makes it unforgettable. 🏛️✨ This year, students created brochures, highlighting the history of Quincy and the landmarks that they visited.

Today, 18 QPS students, joined by their families and teacher, celebrated at the Historical Society & Museum, where they received awards and took part in hands-on activities like writing with quills and a museum-wide history hunt.

Congratulations to our brochure winners!

Savannah Paulk (Beechwood)
Ashley Wang (Beechwood)
Via Rodarte (Beechwood)
Kendall Liang (Beechwood)
Oliver Dhimitri (Bernazzani)
Harper Rollins (Bernazzani)
Abigail Vaccaro (Bernazzani)
Riddhi Mishra (Lincoln-Hancock)
Makayla Reining (Lincoln-Hancock)
Rowena He (Marshall)
Sri Chitrola (Marshall)
Amal Jama (Marshall)
Vaiga Vishag (Marshall)
Sanjana Gopinath (Marshall)
Bayane Chkalat (Snug Harbor)
Hayden Chen (Wollaston)
Onyxia Zeng (Wollaston)
Henry Koruni (Wollaston)

We are proud of your hard work and creativity in bringing Quincy’s history to life!

03/18/2026

Today we were delighted to host our annual 4th Grade Brochure Contest Award Ceremony. Congratulations once again to all of the participants!

02/25/2026

RAIN (/SNOW) DATE:

Quincy Historical Society & Museum's 4th Grade Brochure Contest Award Ceremony will be POSTPONED due to the continued impact of Monday's winter storm.

Further information will be provided via classroom communications. For any further questions, please email or call us at (617) 773-1144 or [email protected]