The Legacy of the China Trade in Massachusetts

The MHS boasts an impressive collection of manuscripts, art, and objects from the beginnings of America’s trading relationship with China. This early trade helped define Massachusetts as an international power, enriched its citizens, and built institutional stature, but not without consequences at home and abroad. Local scholars will explore multiple dimensions of the Bay State’s early trading relationship with China through a series of panel discussions. A temporary exhibition of pieces from the period will be on view from July 8 to July 31.

Programs are scheduled for:

July 9: Art, Artifacts, & Manuscripts in Local Collections with Layla Bermeo, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Karina Corrigan, Peabody Essex Museum; moderated by Peter Drummey, MHS

July 22: The Emergence of a Global Boston with Gwenn Miller, College of the Holy Cross; Dael Norwood, University of Delaware; moderated by Tunney Lee, MIT

July 30: Families, Fortunes, & Foreign Luxuries with Caroline Frank, Brown University; Dane Morrison, Salem State University; moderated by Gwenn Miller, College of the Holy Cross

Each program begins with a reception at 5:30 PM. The panel discussions begin at 6:00 PM. There is a $10 fee for each program (no charge for MHS Fellows and Members or EBT cardholders). Please call 617-646-0578 or register online at www.masshist.org/events.

Image: Harbor at Hong Kong, attributed to Lam Qua, [1830s-early 1840s]