RESEARCH
EXHIBITS
EVENTS
Please support the Dedham Historical Society & Museum as
we make history relevant and engaging for all audiences.
The DHSM does not receive town funding and we rely on gifts and donations
from valued partners like you. Your support makes a difference and thank you.
Interested in
becoming a member?
Click on the Victory image or our Membership tab
at the top of this page to view the options.
Thank you for your support.
We need your membership support now more than ever.
Programs, Events & Lectures
Please visit the Current Events page for more information on programs, events, exhibits, and our speaker series.
Kenneth Burt
Archives & Programs Fund
Please join others in donating to the Kenneth Burt Archives & Programs Fund. Ken was Treasurer of the Dedham Historical Society & Museum from 1994-2003 and passed away in January 2020. His widow asked friends to contribute to the museum in his memory with funds put toward educational initiatives including family research and programs. We are pleased to report that donations are currently in excess of $1,000. We hope you will consider contributing to this fund. Thank you for your support.
History in the Making
Recording the COVID-19 Pandemic
We are experiencing a very stressful point in history and in our lives. All of us at the Dedham Historical Society & Museum (DHSM) hope you stay safe and healthy while navigating these challenging personal and economic times.
As an institution driven to preserve Dedham’s history, we are asking the residents of Dedham to share with the DHSM your experiences during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to see images that residents have shared.
Material received will be incorporated into our archives, which has records extending back to the 1630s. Please be a part of your town’s archival records and share how you are coping. In addition to articles we are saving from local papers, we would like to preserve your images, drawings, journals, brief (or long) recollections, social media postings, town documents, whatever you feel should be saved for a historic record for researchers and scholars in the future.
We are seeking input from all ages―from children and students to adults and senior citizens. Ideas of what to send include any of the following (and whatever you may come up with): Thoughts of gratitude for first responders, delivery and grocery employees, businesses, neighbors, family, friends, strangers. What pains have you or a friend experienced? What is it you are doing to bring a sense of serenity into your lives such as working in your garden, reading, seeing friends from a distance, binge watching television? If you have children, what are you doing as a family to replace time with their friends; how are you coping with homework and your own busy schedules? If you have sick or elderly family members, what are you doing to protect them and yourselves, or have you experienced heartache with their loss? Tell us how your life has changed and how do you envision your life and society after the pandemic, much like society changed after the 1918 Spanish Flu? What have we as a society learned or not learned from history?
Because of the health concerns of spreading the virus, please only send materials through email to society@dedhamhistorical.org; writings, drawings, letters, etc., may be scanned or images sent digitally. If you collect physical materials or do not have email access, please keep the items until the museum and archives reopen and we will have instructions on how to safely bring or mail the material. We will continue to keep our website updated as to when the DHSM will reopen; please visit www.dedhamhistorical.org.
We are hopeful that everyone experiences good health and safety and that even with the unease and concerns of these days that you find moments of self-care and creativity.
Temporary Closure
The Dedham Historical Society & Museum has TEMPORARILY CLOSED THE MUSEUM and ARCHIVES to the public until further notice in order to support efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19. It is imperative that we do our best to ensure the health of our staff, volunteers, and guests.
If you have questions or would like to reach a staff member, please email society@dedhamhistorical.org. Any research queries sent to the archives and library may not be answered until the DHSM reopens.
The DHSM has postponed all March programming. April programs, including the Annual Meeting scheduled for April 21st, will be postponed unless otherwise informed. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep the public updated about additional upcoming programs through this site; members will receive information through email.
We appreciate your understanding. Click here for the latest information from the CDC.
Museum:
Temporarily Closed.
When DHSM reopens: Admission $5
Judy House, Education & Membership
info@dedhamhistorical.org – 781.326.1385
Free entry to museum, library, and lectures for members, as well as discounts to programs and at the gift shop. Visit the Membership page for more details.
Archives & Library:
Temporarily Closed
Research queries sent to
Kathryn Ostrofsky, Archivist
library@dedhamhistorical.org may not receive a response until after the Archives reopens. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Research is available by the DHSM for $25/hour
For details, visit the Research page of this website.
Gift Shop
Temporarily Closed
When DHSM reopens, please visit our Gift Shop, where you will find gifts for the holidays, from ornaments to decorative items and reproduction Dedham Pottery.
Office:
Johanna McBrien, Executive Director
society@dedhamhistorical.org
We Welcome Volunteers
Please let us know if you would like to contribute your time assisting in the archives, museum, with educational programming, or events. Thank you in advance for your participation. Please send an email to info@dedhamhistorical.org
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Gift Shop
When the DHSM reopens, please visit our Gift Shop, where you will find “Dedham Pottery” from the Potting Shed, writing cards (including those featuring the historic 1828 Gragg Tavern), Dedham-themed T-shirts, and other items.