Newsletter - Fall 2012

NewsletterFall 2012

contentsMYRIAD PRO LIGHT 24-19

3 LIBRARY NEWS TheLibraryCelebratesTenYears TheCallforCulture TheAnnotationProject FirstFloorRedesign ThankYouInterns!

10 CURRENT PROGRAMS FirstSaturday MakingaDifference11 PAST PROGRAMS LibraryFellowsShareFindings OneWorld MuseumDayLive! OpeningOurDoors LibraryFellowsColloquium

16 COLLECTIONS From the Archives:SpotlightonLawrenceBeesley From the Collections: ObjectoftheMonth

20 NOTEWORTHY

21 WHAT’S NEW

22 ABOUT

On the cover:A scene from 2001 during Library construction.

13

16

3

6

3Newsletter Fall 2012

The Library Celebrates Ten YearsVision: A world in which Mary Baker Eddy and her unique contribution to humanity are better understood and appreciated, and the ideas she discovered are more broadly touching, educating, inspiring, and changing peoples’ lives.

Mission: The Mary Baker Eddy Library provides public access and context to original materials and educational experiences about Mary Baker Eddy’s life, ideas, and achievements.

ReachingourfirsttenyearsonSeptember28isanachievementonsomanylevels.ManyofyouhavesupportedtheLibrarysinceitsinceptiontwelveyearsago.Withoutsuchloyaltyitwouldhavebeenhardtocontinueprovidingalltheserviceswehaveforcommunitygroups,forMapparium®visitors,andforthoseseekingresearchandreferenceservices.

Anotherhugeachievementisinthecompositionandprofessionalismofthestaff—someofwhomhavebeenwiththeLibrarysincethebeginningandmanyforfiveyearsormore.

LIBRARY NEWS

4 Newsletter Fall 2012

But,changeisinevitablewhenanorganizationmovesfromconcepttorapidimplementationtoday-to-dayoperations.TheLibrarynowhasastaffofunder30(aquarterofitssizeonopeningday)whobetweenthemaccomplishthefollowing:

• Visitor Serviceswelcomesover60,000visitorsayear,interactswithnumerousschoolandtourgroups,andrunsaprofitableshopwhichsellsitemsrelatedtotheLibrary’scollections,vision,andmission;

• Research & Reference Servicesanswerover5,000researchqueriesayearwhiletheydivedeeplyintothecollectionstolearnandsharemoreaboutMaryBakerEddy’slife,achievements,andideas;

• LibraryCurators and ArchivistpreserveandmaintaintheLibrary’scollectionstotheindustry’shigheststandards;

• TheCommunications TeammaintainsagrowingwebsiteandsocialmediapresencethatincludesprovidingamobileappforvisitorsandthosewhowishtovisittheLibraryremotely.Theteamreachesotheraudiencesthroughprintandeditorialcoverage;

• Creative Servicesproducesallourmarketingmaterialincludingfouronlinenewslettersayearthatcontainoriginalresearchandcurrentinformationaboutwhat’snewattheLibrary;

• TheExhibits TeamproducesinspirationalandeducationalexhibitsanddisplaysaboutthelifeandideasofMaryBakerEddy;

LIBRARY NEWS


• ThePrograms Teamputsonmorethanadozenadultprogramsayear,caterstohundredsofchildrenthroughschoolvacationprogramming,andputsonthreeannualcommunityeventsthatdrawmanythousandsoffamiliestotheLibrary.Throughprogramming,theLibraryalsopartnersandsupportsculturalandcharitablegroupsinourcommunity,workingwiththemtoimprovethelivesofthoselivinginunderservedareasofourcity.

Thankyou,Librarysupporters!AndthankstothestaffoftheLibraryfortheirdedicationandfocusontheLibrary’smission.Overtenyears,we’veseenincreasinginterestintheLibraryandhavecometoknowourvisitorsawholelotbetter.WelookforwardinthenextfewyearstocreatinganewlookfortheentranceoftheLibraryandproducingpermanentexhibitsinthatspacethatbetterintroduceMaryBakerEddytoapublicthatoftendoesnotevenknowhername.

Andfinally,thankyoutotheChristianScienceBoardofDirectorsofTheFirstChurchofChrist,Scientist,fortheoriginalvisionfortheLibrary—open and accessible to all—fortheircontinuingsupportandtheiracknowledgmentoftheLibrary’severincreasingreachandvalue.Here’slookingforwardtoanotherexplosionofactivityinthenexttenyears!

LesleyPittsExecutiveManagerandPresidentTheMaryBakerEddyLibrary

LIBRARY NEWS

The Call for Culture

AweekbeforeitsactualanniversarydateofSeptember28,theLibrarycelebrateditsfirsttenyearsonThursdayevening,September20.Itwasanoccasionmarkedbyjoy,pride,andreflection.WithareceptioninQuotesCafé,serenadedbyastringquartetfromProjectSTEP,alocalmusicprogramforyouth,about130well-wishersgath-eredtohonorthismilestone.WitharetrospectiveslideshowoftheLibrary’sfirsttenyearsproject-ingonthewall,theexcitedcrowdawaitedthestareventoftheevening,thekeynoteaddressbyworld-renowneddirectorPeterSellarson“TheCallforCulture.”

TheproceedingsopenedwithawelcomefromLibraryTrusteeChairMargaretRogers.ShecommentedupontheLibrary’sfoundingvisioninpullingdownthewallsofprotectionthathadbuiltuparoundMaryBakerEddy,sothataresearch,educational,andculturalinstitutioncouldbeborn,allowingscholarsandthegeneralpublictohavefreeopenaccesstoherpapers,history,andideas.SalutingVirginiaHarrisandotherfoundersoftheLibrary,Rogersrecognized“thetremendouscourage”ittooktoestablishthisnewformofoutreachtotheworld.

LesleyPitts,theLibrary’sPresident,echoedRogers’ssentiments,characterizingtheLibrary’sopeningasaboldmove,befittingthemagnitudeofitsnamesake’saccomplishmentsandideas.“NothingthatMaryBakerEddydidcouldeverbecalledsmall,”notedPitts.Atthetenyearcrossroads,PittsassertedthatthevisionfortheLibrarycouldbesimplystated“asaworldinwhichMaryBakerEddyandheruniquecontri-butionstohumanityarebetterunderstoodandappreciated—andtheideasshediscoveredaremorebroadlytouching,educating,inspiring,andchangingpeoples’lives.But,”sheadded,“it’snolessaboldstatementthanwhentheLibraryopenedtenyearsago.”

PeterSellars,joinedbyLibraryProgramsPro-ducerJonathonEder,thenboundeduponstage,signalingthekindofenergyandenthusiasmhewouldshareduringhisaddress.Inframingtheevening’stopic,“TheCallforCulture,”EderexplainedthatSellars’scareerinansweringtoso-cietalneedsandvoicesthroughtheartsservesasamodelandinspirationtotheLibraryandotherculturalinstitutionsastohowtomakeuniquecollectionsandareasofexpertiserelevantandmeaningfultothewidercommunity.

Sellars,whohasbeendescribedas“themostremarkableanduniquetalentintheartsinourtime,”drewonthedepthofhisvisionforcultureanditsimportancetosocietytoconsidertheaccomplishmentsandpromiseoftheLibrary.

LIBRARY NEWS



MYRIAD PRO LIGHT 24-19LIBRARY NEWS

“Congratulationsonthetenthanniversary,”heexclaimedebulliently.“That’sareallygreatsignthatsomethingiscorrect,and,meanwhile,thatyou’veonlyjustbegun,andit’snowtimetoradi-calize.Andthat’sthrilling.It’sathrillingmomentwhenyouhaveatrackrecord;youhavesome-thingyou’veachieved,somethingtobeproudof,andyousay:‘Nowwhatisthehorizon?Andwhereisthevision?Andhowfarcanthatvisiontakeus?’”Sellarswentontogiveinsightsfromhiscareerontheimportanceofaboldnessofvi-sionandasensitivityofspiritinmakingroomforthefullbreadthofhumanitytohaveavoiceandstakeinthebuildingofsocietyandculture.

Sellarscoveredahugeexpanseinhisremarks,engaginginsuchthemesasdemocracyandtheartsandtheimportanceoffearlessnessinopen-ingthehumanspirittotransformationanduplift.“Theworkwedoincultureandtheartsistocre-ateazoneofnofear,”heexplained.ReferringtotheLibrary,hesaid,“Thishastobeaplacethatdemonstratesnofear.”

Sellarsaddressedsomeofthemajorcurrentsde-finingthe21stcenturyandtheirrelationshiptotheoutreachofculturalinstitutions.“Thescience

LIBRARY NEWS

ofthe21stcenturyisgoingtobethescienceofsharing,”heobserved.Inthiscontext,hesawtheLibrary’smovetowardsopenness,transparency,andengagementasverymuchinstepwiththismomentum.“Ithinkoneofthemostpowerfulthingsyou’vedonesofaristheradicalmoveto-wardsopenness.Thatisthehallmarkofthe21stcentury...radicallyopen,radicallyopenended.”

AstandingovationgreetedSellarsattheconclu-sionofhistalk,whichsetthetoneandofferedaroadmapfortheLibrarygoingforwardwithfurtheroutreachandembraceofthechangingvistaofthe21stcentury.SellarsisperhapsbestknownforaskingnewquestionsofclassicworksoftheWesterncanonandbringingthemintoacontemporarycontext.“Whenyou’redealing,asweallare,withsacredtexts,withMozart,withShakespeare,thesetextsarewaitingforyoutoaskadeeperquestionandtheywillgiveyouananswertheyhavenevergivenbeforetoanyonewhentheyareaskedaquestionthatnoonehaseverasked.”OnecouldsaythatitwaswithadeeptrustinthatspiritofinquirythattheLibraryopenedtenyearsago,aspiritwhichwillcon-tinuetodefineitswaygoingforward.


“Congratulations on the tenth anniversary,” he exclaimed ebulliently. “That’s a really great sign that something is

correct ... and it’s now time to radicalize.”

The Annotation Project

HaveyoueverusedthecomputerdatabaseinResearch&ReferenceServicestosearchMaryBakerEddy’slettersandmanuscripts?Manypeople,includingacademicscholars,independentresearchers,andChristianSci-encechurchmembers,havefoundittobeawonderfulresource;however,nearlyeverydaytheLibraryisaskedifthisdatabasewilleverbeavailableonlineforremoteaccess.

Inordertomeettheneedsofourremotepa-trons,theLibraryishappytoannouncethatstaffmembersareworkingonapilotproject,theAnnotationProject.TheirgoalistomakeaselectionofMaryBakerEddy’ssermons,examplesofwhichcanbefoundinherbookMiscellaneous Writings 1883-1896,availableonline.

Allofthesedocumentswillbecompletewithannotation,contextthatwillhelppeopleunderstandeachdocumentbetter.Annotationincludesprovidinginformationthatwasobvioustothewriteratthetimebutmaybelittleknowntoday.Rightnow,thereislittleinthewayofannotationprovidedinourcurrenttranscriptions;thereisnothingtotellthereaderwhoaparticularpersonwasortodefineobscureChristianSciencetermi-nology.Thecurrenttranscriptionsaresome-whatmoreaccessibletothoseentrenchedinthehistoryofChristianScienceandthewritingsofMaryBakerEddy.Forthemajorityofpeople,thereislittlehelpastheynavigatehistoricdocuments.

Welookforwardtosharingthiscollectionwithyou,furtheringtheLibrary’songoingmissionofprovidingpublicaccessandcon-texttoourcollections,andallowingourre-moteLibraryuserstheabilitytoaccessLibraryresourcesfromanywhere,atanytime.

LIBRARY NEWS


The Annotation Project goal is to make a selection of Mary Baker Eddy’s sermons available online complete with annotation, context that will help people understand each document better.

Thank You Interns!

EveryyeartheLibrarywelcomessummerinternstoworkinallareasofthemuseum,fromhandlingthecollectionstowelcominglocalyouthtoourannualsummerprograms.Althoughwereceiveapplica-tionsfrommanycollegestudentsannually,weareonlyabletoofferspacestoafew.Thisyear,threeinternssharedtheirdiversetalentsandgainedpro-fessionalexperienceoverthemonthsofJune,July,andAugust.

EliSabeth Meindl,archivalintern,wasintegraltotheproductivityofResearch&ReferenceServicesthissummer.Patronsandstaffalikeweregratefulforherassistanceinansweringresearchqueriesandas-sistingthepublicinaccessingandresearchingourcollections.

Terry McKelvey,curatorialintern,workedbehindthescenesoftheLibrarywithourcurators.Hewasverybusyscanningandarchivinghistoricphotosaswellashelpingwiththespecialprojectofpreparingandrelocatinghistoricitemsfromthestacks.

Alistair Brockmeyer,marketingandcommuni-cationsintern,wasseenallovertheLibrarythissummer.Heproducedvideosforourwebsiteandmobiletours,wrotecontentforanarrayofprint,online,andsocialmediaoutlets,aswellasassistedwithtoursforspecialgroupsvisitingtheLibrary.VisittheLibrary’sblogatmbelibrary.org/blogtoreadaboutAlistair’sexperiencesattheLibrary,fromhisownperspective.

Aheartfelt‘thankyou’goesouttoEliSabeth,Terry,andAlistairforallthegreatworktheycontributedtotheLibrarythisyear.

First Floor Redesign

2012hasbeenanexcitingyearforVisitorSer-vicesAssociates(VSAs),aswemakepreparationsforthebigreceptiondeskmovethiswinter!TheVSAsmovedofficesthissummerfromrightnexttotheLibraryshopintotheHallofIdeas.Thenewspaceisnotonlypaintedasoothingblue,butitisalsowider,sowearenowabletoputinourownconferencetableforlunchesandmeetings.Sofar,everyoneisquitepleasedwiththenewspace!Theoldofficewillbecomestorageforshopproducts,andtheoldshopstoreroomwillmakewayforkids’craftmaterialsandotheritemsneededforLibraryprograms.Thisnewofficeandstoragesituationwillmakethingsmuchmoreuserfriendly,notonlyforVSAactivities,butalsoforshopandprogramsneeds.

Themoveswe’vebeenabletoimplementsofarhavebeenfantastic,buteveryoneisreallylook-ingforwardtothereceptiondeskmoveinearly2013.Asitisnow,thereceptiondeskmakestheLibraryspaceabitdifficulttonavigateforbothstaffandvisitors.Visitorsarerequiredtowalkhalfwaythroughthelobbybeforetheycanspeakwithstaff,andoftentimeshavetowalkbacktohangupcoatsordiscardfooditems.ThenewdeskwillbesituatedrightnexttotheMassachusettsAvenueentrance,sovisitorscangetinformationassoonastheyenterthebuilding.ItwillalsobeinviewofthedoorwaybetweentheHallofIdeasandLobby,sovisitorswhoentertheHallofIdeasfromthePlaza,willseewheretocheckinrightaway.Thenewdeskwillbeequippedwithanorganizedbagchecksystem,sav-ingstaffandvisitorssometimeandhassle.

Withthedeskmovedoutofthecenterofthelobby,therewillbeplentymorespacefortheexhibitteamtoworkitsmagic.Wecanexpecttoseemoreexpansiveanddetailedtemporaryexhibitsonthefirstfloorby2014.ThisistrulyanexcitingtimefortheLibrarytonotonlylookbackonthepasttenyears,butlookforwardtothenextten.Whileweareimplementingchangessuchasthedeskmoveandexhibitspaceredesign,wecontinuallystrivetoenhancethevisitorexperienceforallourguestshereatTheMaryBakerEddyLibrary.

LIBRARY NEWS



Food in Mary Baker Eddy’s HouseholdSaturday,November3

Thisdelicioustopicwillcoverinformationpertainingtothecultural,social,regional,andeconomicpracticesandcustomsrelatingtoproducing,cooking,andeatingfoodinMaryBakerEddy’stimeandhousehold.

NewonlinecontentwillfeatureafewoftheoriginalrecipesmadeforEddy.

11a.m.,in person in the Library atrium;2p.m. EDT, conference call

PleasecontactResearch&ReferenceServicesat617-450-7218,[email protected],orvisitmbelibrary.org/first-saturdaytoRSVP,orforfurtherinformationandupdatesregardingtheseprograms.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

Making a Difference

Handmade for the Homeless

“Charityisquiteasrareaswisdom,butwhenchar-itydoesappear,itisknownbyitspatienceandendurance”(MaryBakerEddy,The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,227).

InspiredbyEddy’slegacyofphilanthropicgiving,andbuildingupontheamazingworkofourgroupfromlastyear,wearehappytoinviteyoutojoinusasweonceagainknitandcrochetitemsforourneighborsinneed.Sincelastwinter,wehaveal-readyreceivedover100itemsforour2012charitydrivefrompeopleacrossAmerica,fromMainetoCalifornia.

Whetheryoumakeahat,scarf,orpairofmittens,eachprojectwillbehelpfulinfightingoffthebittercoldofalongNewEnglandwinter.Allskilllevelsandprojectsarewelcome.Feelfreetomakeitems,sizeyouthtoadult,inanyyarnofyourpleasing.

IfyouaremeetingusinBoston,materialsandin-structionwillbeavailableintheLibrary’satriumontwoSundays,November4andDecember2,from11a.m.to2p.m.

Pleasevisitmbelibrary.org/programsforfurtherinformationaboutourHandmadefortheHome-lessgroup,forinformationaboutthecharitieswedonateto,orforprojectideasandourmailingaddress.Visitfacebook.com/mbelibrarytoseeourprojectalbum.

Holiday Charity Drive

Sunday,November25toSunday,December16MakeadifferenceintheBostoncommunitythisholidayseasonbyjoiningourcharitydrive.Col-lectionboxeswillbeintheLibrarylobbythroughSunday,December16tocollectitemsforourchar-itydrivepartners:TheHomeforLittleWanderers,OntheRise,andTheFriendsofBoston’sHomeless.Adonationwishlistisnowavailableonline;pleasecheckourwebsiteforfurtherinformation.

First Saturday

SinceFirstSaturdaylaunchedinJanuary2011,ithasofferedarangeoffreeandinformalinstructionalandeducationalprogramsthathighlightthevastandvariedresourcesoftheLibrarycollections.PasteventshavedelvedintothelifeofMaryBakerEddy,highlightedresourcesforresearchingthehistoryoftheChristianSciencemovement,andincludedlivelybookdiscussions.


2012 Library Fellows Share Findings

Eachyear,TheMaryBakerEddyLibraryencouragesacademicresearchinitscollectionsbyawardingfellowshipstoscholarsandindependentresearch-ersfromaroundtheworld.Ourcollections,whichcenteronthepapersofMaryBakerEddyandrecordsdocumentingthehistoryoftheChristianSciencemovement,offerscholarscountlessoppor-tunitiesfororiginalresearch.Fellowshipsresultinoriginalcontributionstodiversefieldsofstudy,fromwomen’shistoryandreligiousstudiestojournal-ismandarchitecture.BooksandscholarlyarticlesareregularlypublishedbypastfellowsreferencingtheLibrary’scollectionsandoffernewanalysisofthecontextandpresent-dayimpactofMaryBakerEddy’slife,ideas,andachievements.

In2012,theLibraryawardedfellowshipstothreeoutstandingscholars,Jean-LouisMarin-Lamellet,TimNoddings,andRonitStahl.Aspartofourprogramrequirements,fellowshiprecipientsareaskedtospeakataninformallunchtimegatheringofLibraryandChurchemployeestointroducetheirworkanddescribetheirexperienceresearchingattheLibrary.Fellowsoftencommentabouthowhelpfulthesegatheringsaretotheirresearch,spe-cificallyafterlivelyquestionandanswersessionswithinquisitiveemployees.

Tim Noddings,aMasterscandidateinReligiousHistoryattheUniversityofVictoria,BritishCo-lumbia,Canada,cametotheLibrarytoworkonaprojectthatcoversbothwomen’shistoryandreli-gioushistoryinpost-VictorianAmerica.Hisproject,entitled“BetweenthePulpitandthePress,”chal-lengesthecommonthoughtthatAmericanProtes-tantismwas“masculinized”after1880asarejec-tionofthe“feminized”Victorianchurchandlooksinsteadattheriseofthenewsmediaasthereasonfortheincreaseinmalecelebritypreachers.

Ronit Stahl,aPhDcandidateinhistoryattheUniversityofMichigan,researchestherecordsofreligiousgroups,includingChristianScience,

whichsuppliedandendorsedchaplainstothemilitaryaswellasadvocatedforpoliciesbeneficialtotheirfaiths.StahlworkedattheLibraryexploringthestate’sroleinthepublicexpressionandnegotia-tionofreligionintheUnitedStateswithitsspecificinterestinfacilitatingchaplaincyasawaytocon-siderthemulti-directionalinfluencesofreligion,thestate,andAmericansociety.

Jean-Louis Marin-LamelletisaPhDcandidateatUniversitéLumièreLyon2.Marin-Lamellet’sdis-sertationexaminesB.O.Flower’satypicaltakeonhealthissuesandhowherelatedhisProgressiveidealstoChristianScienceandotheralternativere-ligiousandmedicalpractices.Flower(1858-1918),sawChristianScienceaspartofavitalreformmovement—socially,physically,morally,spiritually.Marin-Lamellet’swork,focusesonFlowerasareformerandoffersananalysisofhisvariousmagazinesandpublishingventures,givingnewconnectionsbetweenChristianScienceandProgressivethought.

PAST PROGRAMS

Ronit Stahl

Jean-Louis Marin-Lamellet


PAST PROGRAMS

One WorldTuesday,July10–Tuesday,August14

TheLibrarywasbustlingwithactivitythissum-merthankstotheseventhannualOneWorld,amultiweekchildren’senrichmentprogram.EveryTuesdaymorningforsixweeks,differentmusi-calperformersvisitedtheLibrarytoperformandengagechildren,whileLibrarystaffintroducedcraftactivitiestiedcloselytotheLibraryanditscollections.

Thisprogramwasofferedfreeofchargeand,thankstogenerousdonationsfromlocalpublish-ingcompanies,eachchildleftwithafreeageappropriatebook.WewouldliketothankourLibrarydonorsandEastern Bankfortheirgener-oussupportofourprograms,targetedatchildrenandlow-incomefamilies.

WelookforwardtocontinuingtoinviteourcommunityintotheLibrarywithOneWorldforyearstocome.

Zili Misik

Jeff Jam

Opening Our Doors

Monday,October8markedthe11thannual“OpeningourDoors”festivitiesinthenewlyappointedFenwayCulturalDistrictofBoston.Andwewerethrilledtoonceagainopenourdoorstoourcommunitytocelebratethisfantasticdayoffreeartsandculture.Throughouttheday,admissionwasfreetotheLibrary’sworld-famousMappariumandinteractiveexhibits.Scavengerhunts,amuraldrawing,andeducationalcraftingprojectskeptfamiliesbusyfrom10a.m.to4p.m.

WealsohostedanamazinglineupoftalentintheHallofIdeas,includingthetalentedyouthofProjectSTEPandZUMIX’sDivercityBand,aswellasthetraditionalMexicansingeranddancerVeronicaRobles.Ourafternoonstorytellingsessionswerealsoahitandgavekidsandadultsalikeanopportunitytocatchtheirbreathfromalltheexcitement!


PAST PROGRAMS

Museum Day Live!

OnSaturday,September29,TheMaryBakerEddyLibraryjoinedhundredsofmuseumsacrossthecountryfortheeighthannualMuseumDayLive!,hostedbySmithsonianmagazine.InthespiritofSmithsonianMuseums,whoofferfreeadmissioneveryday,eachparticipatinginstitutionopenedtheirdoorsforfreetoanyonepresentingaMuseumDayTicket.

Project STEP Veronica Robles


Library Fellows Colloquium

EverysummertheLibrarywelcomesrecipientsofitsfellowshipawardprogramintotheLibrary’sar-chives.OnOctober4,theLibrarywelcomedbackfourpreviousfellowstodiscusstheirresearchandhowtheirworkhasimpactedtheirrespectivedisci-plines.Theresultingpresentationwasalivelyandengagingdisplaythatshowcasedthevalueoforigi-nalresearchasthepresentersdiscussedtheprimarysourcesfromtheLibrary’scollectionsthatformedthebasisoftheirwork.ThesetreasuresfromthearchivesincludedalogkeptbywatchmenatMt.AuburnCemeterywhereMaryBakerEddy’sbodywasinterred;Eddy’sowncopiesofScience and Health with Key to the Scriptures withhermarginalnotes;thepapersofGeorgineMilmine,authorofthesensationalMcClure seriesaboutEddy;andthematerialsonbranchChurchesofChristScientist.

Ann Braude,PhD,SeniorLectureronAmericanRe-ligiousHistoryandDirectoroftheWomen’sStudiesinReligionProgramatHarvardDivinitySchool,wastheevening’smoderator.Sheencouragedanactivedialoguebetweeneachspeakerwhilehigh-lightingtheiruniquecontributionstotheirvariedfieldsofstudy.Theevening’spanelistsincludedDr.PaulEliIvey,Dr.AshleySquires,Dr.LisaStepanski,andAmyB.Voorhees,ABD.

Lisa Stepanski,PhD,anAssociateProfessorofEng-lishatEmmanuelCollegeinBoston,returnedasafellowforthesecondtimetoresearchadocumentinthearchivethatshehadhappeneduponinherpreviousfellowship.Sheexplaineditscontributiontothe“urbanmyth”thatatelephonewasplacedatMaryBakerEddy’stomb.Stepanskiexplainedwhatthissimplemisunderstandingrevealsaboutattitudesinthemediatowardwomeninreligiousleadershipinthemediathenandtoday.ShealsosharedhighlightsfromherfirstfellowshiponEddy’scorrespondencewithBronsonAlcott.

AnnBraude,PhD LisaStepanski,PhD AmyB.Voorhees,ABD

PAST PROGRAMS


Amy B. Voorhees,adoctoralcandidateinReligiousStudiesattheUniversityofCalifornia,SantaBar-bara,hasauthoredseveralarticles,including“MaryBakerEddy,the‘WomanQuestion,’andChristianSalvation:FindingaConsistentConnectionbyBroadeningtheBoundariesofFeministScholar-ship,”forthcominginJournal of Feminist Studies in Religion,forwhichshewontheElisabethSchüsslerFiorenzaNewScholarsAward.Shesharedexperi-encesaboutherfellowshipwhileresearchingthetopic“WritingRevelation:MaryBakerEddyandtheMajorEditionsof Science and Health”whichisalso

thesubjectofherdissertation.VoorheesofferedatextualandhistoricalanalysisofMaryBakerEddy’srevisionstoherprimarywork.

Ashley Squires,arecentPhDgraduateoftheEng-lishDepartmentoftheUniversityofTexasatAustin,usedherLibraryfellowshipforresearchonherdis-sertation,“ReligiousHealingintheProgressiveEra:LiteraryResponsestoChristianScience.”Squiresdiscussedhowheroriginalfindingsoverturneddecades-oldinaccuraciesregardingthepublicationandauthorshipof“MaryBakerG.Eddy:TheStoryofHerLifeandtheHistoryofChristianScience,”theserialbiographypublishedinMcClure’s Magazine from1907-1908.

Paul Eli Ivey,PhD,AssociateProfessorofArtHis-toryattheUniversityofArizonaandauthorofPrayers in Stone: Christian Science Architecture in the United States,1894-1930,talkedabouthisfellowshipproject,“BuildingRespectability:Influ-encesfromtheAmericanChristianScienceBuildingBoominBritain1897-1930.”Hedrewfromtheor-ganizationalarchivesofTheFirstChurchofChrist,Scientist,includingtheFieldCollection,acollec-tionofhistories,photographs,andotherrecordsdonatedbybranchChurchesofChrist,Scientist,forhisresearch.

Ifyouwouldliketoseeavideoofthisfascinat-ingprogram,don’tforgettocheckouttheLibrary’sonlineStreamingVideoArchivethiswinter.

Dr.AshleySquires Dr.PaulEliIvey LesleyPitts,LibraryPresident

PAST PROGRAMS


recentlygavesomebackgroundonhisgrandfa-therinanarticleappearingintheTimes.“Helefthis...jobasaphysicsmaster...tobecomeaChris-tianSciencepractitioner....Itwastomeetoneofhisbrothers,alsoaChristianScientist,inTorontothatmygrandfatherboughtasecond-classticketontheTitanicfor£13(about$60atthetime).”2

BeesleywrotetwoarticlesforThe Christian Science Journal:“ThePassingAwayofHumanTheories”(June1909),and“Constancy”(October1911).HealsowroteatestimonyintheChristian Science Sentinel abouthis Titanicexperience,whichgoesintogreatdetailofhowhisfaithaidedhimduringsuchatryingexperience.

“...IamconvincedthatifithadnotbeenfortheknowledgeofChristianScience,andtheapplica-tionofsuchknowledgetoovercomeconditionsoffearanddanger,mynamewouldnowbeonthelistofthemissing....But,inthiscasethewayinwhichasmallknowledgeofChristianScienceprotectedme,andledmeoutofdanger,issounmistakablethatitmaybehelpfultorelateit.

COLLECTIONS

From the Archives: Spotlighton Lawrence Beesley

The100thyearanniversaryofthesinkingoftheTitanicwasinAprilofthisyear,soitseemedap-propriatetoinvestigateaChristianScientistwhosurvivedthetragicevent.WhilethosefamiliarwiththesinkingoftheTitanicmayknowthenameofoneChristianScientistonboardtheship—CharlesH.Lightoller,thesecondofficer(andhighestrankingcrewmembertosurvive)1—anotherwasLawrenceBeesley(1877-1967).

AmemberofSec-ondChurchofChrist,Scientist,London,England,atthetimeofjoiningTheMotherChurchin1907,BeesleylaterbecameaChristianSciencepractitioner.Hisgrand-son,NicholasWade(asciencewriterforThe New York Times),

Lawrence Beesley (1877-1967)


Wade,takingfromBeesley’saccountthathelaterwroteaboutinhisbook,The Loss of the S.S. Titanic,describeswhathappenednext.

“Mygrandfatherwasstandingonthetopstar-boarddeckoftheboatwithalargegroupofmenwhenarumorwentaroundthatthemenweretobetakenoffontheportside.Almosteveryonemovedacrosstheship.Onlyheandtwoothersstayedwheretheywere.

“Shortlyafter,heheardacryof‘Anymorela-dies?’fromalifeboatswinginglevelwiththedeckbelow.Leaningovertheedgeofhisdeck,helookeddownattheboat.‘Anyladiesonyourdeck?’acrewmemberaskedhim.‘No,’mygrandfatherreplied.‘Thenyouhadbetterjump.’Mygrandfatherputhisfeetoverthesideofthedeck,threwhisdressinggownaheadofhim,anddroppedontothesternofthelifeboat.”4

Wadeadds,“Iowemyexistencetothefactthatinthosefewcriticalmomentshehadtheconfi-dencetothinkdifferentlyfromthecrowd.”5

Beesley’sbook,The Loss of the S. S. Titanic,waspublishedinJune1912,justweeksafterthesink-inginAprilofthatyear.ThemajorityofthetextisspentgivingwhattheThe New York Timesde-scribed“asauthoritativeandcomprehensiveanaccountofthegreatestmarinedisasterofmodern

COLLECTIONS

“Atthefirstsignofdanger,afterthecollisionoc-curred,Iwenttomycabinandreadtheninety-firstpsalmthroughcarefullythreetimes.Ihadjustturnedfromthisstudytotheinterpretationofthetwenty-thirdpsalmasgiveninScience and Health(p.578),beginning,[DivineLove]ismyshepherd,’whenthefinalcallondeckwasmade.IputtheBibleandScience and Healthinmypocketsandrespondedtothecall,armedwiththeknowledgewhichChristianSciencereadsintotheninety-firstpsalm,knownasitistoeveryChristianScientistasarefugeintimeofdanger.InthismentalconditionIwasabletoremainquietlyinthepositionwhereIfirstplacedmyself,onthestarboardside,andwatchtheboats,whichhadbeenloweredtothedeckbe-low,fillwiththewomenandchildrencollectedthere,descendtothesea,androwawayintothedarkness....”

“Itseemedmoreinharmonywiththespiritualsenseoftheninety-firstpsalm,moreintunewiththeteachingofChristianScience,to‘bestill,andknowthatIamGod,’toavoidthecrowdandremainquietlyonthestarboardsideuntilsomeopportunityofescapepresenteditself.”3

“...in those few critical moments he had the confidence to think differently from the crowd.”

COLLECTIONS

Newsletter Fall 201218

ThankstocriesfornewregulationsfromBeesleyandothersonbothsidesoftheAtlantic,theUnitedStatesandGreatBritainapprovedchang-esthatdemandedhighersafetystandardsforships,includingarequirementthattheycarryenoughlifeboatsforallthoseaboard,inthehopesofavertingsuchatragedyinthefuture.

Visit:www.youtube.comwatch?v=2ChwGrhx9Lctoseeavideoclipofthepremiereofthe1958filmA Night to Remember(includinganappear-ancebyLawrenceBeesleyatthe0:40mark).

Footnotes:

1HisrecollectionoftheeventcanbefoundintheOctober1912,issueofThe Christian Science Journal,page414.

2NicholasWade,“AsHundredsofMenPer-ished,OneIgnoredaRumortoSurvive,”New York Times,April9,2012,http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/beating-the-odds-to-survive-the-titanics-sinking.html.

3LawrenceBeesley,“Itwouldbeimpossible...,”Christian Science Sentinel,December20,1913,314.

4Wade,“AsHundredsofMenPerished....”

5Ibid.

6“LawrenceBeesley’sAdmirableDescriptionoftheDisaster,”New York Times,July28,1912.

7LawrenceBeesley,The Loss of the S.S. Titanic (NewYork:HoughtonMifflin,1912),4.

timesaswilleverbewritten,andascompletelytrueandexactasitwouldbepossibleforanyonetowrite.”6Andwhileitdoesn’tmentionChristianScience,itdoesspeakoftentoBeesley’spleathatthedeadshouldnothavediedinvain.Numer-ouspagesarespentdeploringthelackofgov-ernmentallegislation,bothinAmericaandGreatBritain,thatallowedforshipstobelaunchedthatdidnotmeetcertainsafetyspecifications,includ-ingenoughlifeboatsforallpassengers.

“Nolivingpersonshouldseektodwellinthoughtforonemomentonsuchadisasterexceptintheendeavourtogleanfromitknowl-edgethatwillbeofprofittothewholeworldinthefuture.Whensuchknowledgeispracticallyappliedintheconstruction,equipment,andnavigationofpassengersteamers—andnotuntilthen—willbethetimetoceasetothinkoftheTitanicdisasterandofthehundredsofmenandwomensoneedlesslysacrificed.”7

Lawrence Beesley in the gymnastics room aboard the S. S. Titanic.


COLLECTIONS

From the Collections: Object of the Month

Visitmbelibrary.org/objecttoseemoreaboutourlatestitemsandtolearnaboutmanyothers.

August2012The White Steam Automobiles

We’vealreadytalkedaboutthefirstautomobilethatMaryBakerEddyowned(aYaleTouringCar),andnow

it’stimeforasequel.LearnmoreabouttheWhiteSteamerthatEddy’shouseholdowned.

June2012“Oh, You Dear Busy Bees”

Throughthesummer,objectspertainingtotheBusyBeeswereondisplayinResearch&ReferenceServices.VisitorssawartifactsfeaturedintheJune“ObjectoftheMonth”column,as

wellasotherhistoricobjectsanddocumentsfromtheLibrarycollections.Ifyoucouldn’tmakeittoBoston,wealsofilmedashortgallerytalkthatdiscussedtheexhibitforourJulyFirst

Saturdayprogram.Visitmbelibrary.org/first-saturdaytoseeourResearcherAmandaGustintalkaboutthe“DearBusyBees.”

July2012Tokens of recognition and love: Gifts for Mary Baker Eddy and Calvin FryeLearnmoreaboutaspeciallovingcupthatwasgiventoMaryBakerEddyandanewdeskgiventoCalvinFryeasathankyouforhisover20yearsofservice.


MYRIAD PRO LIGHT 24-19NOTEWORTHY

Shop online anytime at shop.mbelibrary.org

MUSEUM MERCHANDISE BOOKS & STATIONERY MAPS & GLOBES SEASONAL ITEMS

ForTenyears,theShophasofferedexclusivebooks,stationery,andsouvenirsinadditiontoawidevarietyofinspirationalandeducationalproducts.WhetheryouwanttoshowyoursupportfortheLibrarywithsignaturelogomerchandiseordelveintoourarchivalcollectionswith In My True Light and Life,there’ssomethingforeveryone.

YounowhavethreewaystoshopattheLibrary:inperson,online,orbyphone.Theshoplovestorefreshitsinventoryanddisplays;swingbytocheckoutwhat’snew.Ifyoudon’tlivenearBoston,visitourneweStoreatshop.mbelibrary.orgtobrowseorpurchaseitemsfromanywhere,atanytime.

Ifyouprefertocallinanorder,pleasecontactusat617-450-7222,TuesdaythroughSunday,from10a.m.to4p.m.,andaLibraryAssociatewillbehappytohelpyou.Happyshopping!

Newsletter Fall 201220

WHAT’S NEW


Ongoing

throughDecember 31

IMPRESSIONS ON PAPER: MARY BAKER EDDY, WRITER–LobbyDiscoverthelifeofawriterwhochallengedtheconstraintsofatimewhenwomenhadfewopportunities.ThisexhibitalsobringsEddy’sstudytolifewithoriginalfurnishings.

November

21-22 LIBRARY CLOSEDThanksgivingholiday

November 25to

December 16

HOLIDAY CHARITY DRIVE–LobbyEveryholidayseasontheLibrarycollectsitemsforlocalcharities.DropoffunwrappeditemsintheLibrary’slobby;alldonationsaretaxdeductible.WishlistsfordesignatedcharitiesareontheLibrary’swebsiteunder“CaringforChristmas.”

December

1FIRST SATURDAY–11 a.m.–Atrium, 2 p.m. EDT conference callJoinourresearchstaffforanexplorationofWinterandChristmasinMaryBakerEddy’stimeandhousehold.

2HANDMADE FOR THE HOMELESS–Atrium, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Joinusasweknitandcrochethats,scarves,andmittensforourneighborsinneed.Allskilllevelsarewelcome.Projectsrangeinsizefromyouthtoadult;freematerialsandinstructionavailable.

2

CARING FOR CHRISTMAS–Hall of Ideas, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.TheLibrarykick-offsthisholidayseasonwithafunandeducationaleventforthewholefamilyaslocalactorsandperformerspresentourfourthannualdramaticrevue.Theaudienceisalwaysaskedtoparticipateinthefunandjoininwiththesingingofcarols.Donationtoalocalcharitymaybemadeinlieuofadmission.

24-26 LIBRARY CLOSEDChristmasholiday

31

FIRST NIGHT BOSTON–10 a.m. to 5 p.m.TheLibrarywelcomesintheNewYearwithafundayfullofactivityforFirstNightBoston2013.Joinusforcrafts,ascavengerhunt,facepainting,andtoviewperformancesbythreegroups:TheChineseDulcimerGuzhengYouthBand,OdaikoNewEngland,andBackBayRingers.FirstNightbuttonsareonsaleintheLibraryShop.

Visitmbelibrary.org/whats-newformoreinformationabouttheselistings.


ABOUT

JoinourMailingListtoreceivemonthlye-mailsandquarterlynewsletterswithin-depthreportingaboutLibraryexhibits,collections,programs,andnews.Visitmbelibrary.org/mailing-listorclickon“JoinOurMailingList”atthetopright-handcornerofanypageonourwebsite.

LikeusonFacebooktojointhecommunityofmorethan1,200peoplewhofollowdailylifeattheLibrary.Withbehind-the-scenesphotoalbumsandanopportunitytojointheconversation,facebook.com/mbelibraryisadynamicpictureofwhatwedoattheLibrary.

Visitour“What’sNew”Pageatmbelibrary.org/what’s-newforaone-stopresourceofcurrentinformationabouttheLibrary.ThissinglewebpageorientsyoutoeverythingtheLibraryoffersonline,fromansweredresearchqueriestoblogposts,newlypostedvideos,upcomingprograms,andmore.

MissionStatementTheMaryBakerEddyLibraryprovidespublicaccessandcontexttooriginalmaterialsandeducationalexperiencesaboutMaryBakerEddy’slife,ideas,andachievements.

©2012TheMaryBakerEddyLibrary®.Allrightsreserved.Imagesandquotationsfromthise-newsletter,exceptthosecreditedotherwise,areusedbypermissionofTheMaryBakerEddyCollectionorarefromtheLibrary’scollections.

MARY BAKER EDDY

At a time when women had few rights or opportunities, Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) founded a college, established a church, wrote a landmark book, and—at the age of 87—

founded a newspaper. Discover her extraordinary life, ideas, and achievements at The Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston.

200 MASSACHUSETTS AVE. • BOSTON, MA 02115

617-450-7000 • Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Mondays • e-mail: [email protected] • Before visiting on a holiday, please check mbelibrary.org

VISIT OR LINK TO THE LIBRARY ANYTIME, FROM ANYWHERE

1209-057

mbelibrary.orgfacebook.com/mbelibrarytwitter.com/mbelibrary

Documents

Newsletter - Fall 2012