J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Lectures Online and On the Calendar

A friendly ranger from the National Park Service recorded my March talk on “Washington’s Artillery: Remaking the Regiment Between Bunker Hill and Dorchester Heights” and produced this video on YouTube.

It’s about 53 minutes long from introduction to end. (We left out the fine question-and-answer session because no microphone picked up the audience’s comments.) If you choose to look back on that evening, I hope you enjoy it.

Looking ahead, the Metrowest Daily News and affiliated papers ran an article about a new show at the Concord Museum based on objects from the Massachusetts Historical Society. Among many other things, that report noted:
A powder horn from around 1775 bearing an inscribed map of the Boston area represents a fascinating intersection of warfare and decorative arts.
That powder horn will be the subject of my next scheduled public talk, “Reading a Powder Horn: The Siege of Boston through One Soldier’s Eyes,” at the museum on 14 June. What does that horn tell us about the soldier who decorated it? By June, I hope to have found out a lot more.

1 comment:

John L. Smith said...

J.L. - Loved your talk! Especially the way you adjust your voice when speaking quotable statements. Makes it very alive. Your talk reinforces to me all over again (and is very symbolic for the whole war itself) in the difference between Bunker Hill's artillery circus vs. Dorchester Heights' artillery focus was...George Washington. It all flows back to him and how instrumental he was to our history and nation creation. Great talk!