Pioneer Valley History Network

The Pioneer Valley History Network is a resource for local history organizations in western Massachusetts—and the public they serve.

• Click the Sites link to learn more about these organizations.
• Check out and attend upcoming events.

PVHN welcomes your history-related questions and genealogical inquiries!  Contact us at: pioneervalleyhistory@gmail.com

• Learn how your favorite historical society can benefit from PVHN’s Summer Themes, Gatherings & Workshops, and Special Projects.
• Get involved!
• And let us know your thoughts below:

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STATEMENT

The members of the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Valley History Network feel that it is critical in light of recent sobering incidents in our nation that we make the following declaration:

• Prejudice and bigotry has been an unfortunate part of our country’s and region’s history and continues to this day. We support peaceful protests that promote dialogue and meaningful change.
• We encourage all our members to expand their interpretation to include the voice of unrepresented or little represented individuals and groups of their area – whether that be race, class or lower economic populations.
• We are stewards of our story and many voices broaden the perspective to make it more a relevant message to our audiences.
• All our members should strive for inclusive training for themselves and their staff to insure diversity and equality in their interpretation.

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DOCUMENTING THE EARLY HISTORY OF BLACK LIVES IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY

This past summer, the Pioneer Valley History Network (PVHN) and the UMass Public History Program collaborated on a research project that began to document the lives of early people of color in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. This project offered an opportunity for local historical organizations to perform a “deep dive” into their relevant holdings and benefit from research assistance and expertise and the efforts of many volunteers.

Supported by funding from Mass Humanities and the Public Service Endowment Grant program at UMass, the project has created a website that contains:

* a database of primary and secondary sources and references to people of color uncovered in our research;

* a selection of biographical narratives, or “Stories,” of some of the lives encountered in our research. Some of these Stories can be found on our “Cool Things Blog”; 

* a handbook with information about how to conduct this kind of research;

* a LibGuide of resources available for such research;

* and essays on researchers’ experiences in conducting this research.

This announcement is to inform the public that the website is now available at:

https://blogs.umass.edu/pvhn-blackhistory

While this phase of the project has ended, there will be more to come! Additions are continually being made to the database/spreadsheet and the information uncovered continues to grow. Check back periodically, to see new developments.

Many thanks to the researchers and volunteers who contributed to the project. Special thanks to Mass Humanities and the UMass PSEG program for making this project possible. 

       

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REVOLUTION HAPPENED HERE

Our Towns in the American Revolution

collaborative website project

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Revolution Happened Here was funded through grants from Mass Humanities and Revolution250. The website is a prototype and brought together a collaborative team of our region’s historical societies and museums to create an online exhibit that tells the story of the American Revolution as it unfolded in western Massachusetts. Visitors to the Revolution Happened Here website can explore how the American Revolution, while a globally transformative event, was fundamentally a grassroots movement – intrinsically local and intensely personal.

Participating historical societies include:
Historical Society of Greenfield
Hatfield Historical Society
Belchertown Historical Association
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum
Memorial Hall Museum/Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association
Longmeadow Historical Society
Historic Northampton
Longmeadow Cemetery Association

This program is funded in part by Mass Humanities,
which receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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