Last updated: 4/25/2011
Waltham, Massachusetts
Address
190 Moody Street
Waltham, MA 02453

Hours

By Appointment

Staff

Wayne McCarthy
phone: 617-448-6706
Sheila Fitzpatrick
phone: 781-891-5815
Description

Several prominent Waltham businessmen gathered together in 1913 and founded an historical society to preserve and promote the history of their City. The dozen or so Charter Members have grown to over 300 in the intervening years. The predominantly Yankee Society has expanded to include every ethnic group which settled in the City, and welcomes recent immigrants to learn about their new home. Currently the Waltham Historical Society presents a lecture every other month on either an aspect of Waltham history, or how Waltham fits into the Nation’s history. Through the generosity of Mr. Fred Kimberk, office space at 760 Main Street has allowed us to open an exhibit area to display photos and artifacts from our collection. Additional community support has been forthcoming from the RTN Federal Credit Union. RTN has hosted our Edmund L. Sanderson Lecture Series in their Community Room, located at 600 Main Street. The series honors Edmund L. Sanderson, a Founding Member and long time Officer of the Historical Society. For nearly 100 years the Society has grown its collection of important items, including the sword carried by Governor, State Representative, and Civil War General Nathaniel P. Banks. We also have hand-stitched samplers created in the 18th century, newspapers from the mid-nineteenth century, and correspondences on the photographic works of Henry F. Warren. The Waltham Historical Society is looking forward to celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2013, and beginning the journey of the next 100 years. Annual Society membership dues are $25 for an individual, and $30 for a family membership. Applications can be acquired by sending an email to waltham.historical.society@gmail.com, or by phoning the Society at 781-891-5815. Applications and checks can be sent to the Society’s headquarters at 190 Moody Street, Waltham, MA 02453.

Mission

The purpose of this society shall be to stimulate and aid research in the local and general history of Waltham, by collecting and preserving such manuscripts, documents, mementos and relics as relate thereto; by collecting and preparing genealogies of Waltham families; by preparing or causing to be prepared from time to time, papers and records relative to those subjects which are or may be of general interest; by aiding in the preservation of buildings, monuments and other objects of historic interest, and by such other means as shall be deemed fitting.

History

Founded in 1913, the Waltham Historical Society seeks to preserve and display objects from the City's past.

The Waltham Historical Society has numerous items of interest to the citizens of Waltham and surrounding communities, including photographs, manuscripts, and objects.

Currently located in a large room on Moody Street, we also have a satellite office at 760 Main Street in Waltham. We are open by appointment, or check our website calendar for days and hours we are staffed.

Artifact Collections

We are currently instituting computer archiving and retrieval procedures. The Society has a scanner and is attempting to re-organize and document our collection, eventually hoping to offer access to much of the information on-line.

Educational Programs

The Society presents:

the Edmund L. Sanderson Lecture Series on Waltham's History. These presentations are held on the second Tuesday evening in the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November and are free and open to the public.
We also visit classrooms to discuss Waltham's role as the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. An exhibit is currently running at the former Waltham Watch Factory, 221 Crescent Street in Waltham. It is free and open during regular business hours. Call 617-448-6706 for information.
A display of Waltham postcards is currently running at our satellite office, 760 Main Street in Waltham. Hours of opening are available at our website. We also conduct an annual house tour in the spring.
Publications

Our newsletter, The Weathervane is published immediately prior to our lectures.

Exhibitions
Museum Events
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