AUGUST 31: Meet at the Monument
1769 SPINNING PROTEST REENACTMENT
Speaker series
LexSeeHer launched the Speaker Series in 2020 as a way of inviting community members to share an exploration of monuments, Lexington women, and other visibility projects. The Series expanded, and continues in collaboration with Lexington's Cary Memorial Library. Visit the library programs page for upcoming events, check out our home page calendar section, or sign up to receive our monthly newsletter!
Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin - View the video!
Scroll below to review Speaker Series guests through Spring 2021.
Thanks to our special guest:
April 28, 2021
4:00 p.m. via zoom
Patrice Todisco, Executive Director, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, Freedom’s Way Heritage Association, Inc. joined us to speak about the multi-faceted programs developed by the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area as they commemorate the Centennial of the Passage of the 19th Amendment. Designed to engage diverse audiences through collaboration and communication, this initiative serves as a foundation for continued explorations into the untold stories of the visionary women who lived and worked in the 45 communities of the Heritage Area.
​
earlier guests
2 / September 17, 2020
namitaluthra
Namita Luthra joined us from Monumental Women to share her experiences helping to establish the Women’s Rights Pioneers monument in Central Park. This new monument was unveiled on Women's Equality Day 2020.
3 / October 6, 2020
kathy
jacob
Kathy Jacob is the Curator of Manuscripts at the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, and has special expertise on the history of monuments. She will speak on the importance of monuments. Kathy is also the author of: Testament to Union: Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C.
3 / October 6, 2020
emily
murphy
Emily Murphy is the Curator for Salem Maritime and Saugus Ironworks National Historic Sites. She contributed research to the Lexington Historical Society's current exhibit "Bold Women of Lexington" and will speak about the historical significance of the Spinning Match held by 45 women in Lexington as a protest in 1769.
4 / November 6, 2020
Mary
Keenan
Mary Keenan is an author and historian with a close eye on Lexington. LexSeeHer is delighted to welcome Ms. Keenan, the author of In Haste, Julia: 1819-1900: Julia Robbins Barrett, Abolitionist, Artist, Suffragist.
Keenan spoke to LexSeeHer about women during the 1800s, and helped us gain perspective on women's contributions to an important century. During the 1800s women contributed to the Lexington community and made an impact on major movements of their times, as abolitionists and suffragists.
​
NOTE: This meeting was not recorded at the request of our guest.
​
​
5 / February 15, 2021
elisa
Adams
Elisa Adams, President of the New England Sculpture Association (NESA), joined us for a presentation on the new Burlington Sculpture Park.
​​
Learn more about the process Burlington used to create a sculpture park, or outdoor museum. Find out how they involved school students in the selection process.
​
6 / February 22, 2021
erik
durant
Erik Durant. Mr. Durant is an Elected Member of the National Sculptors Society and exhibits his work nationally. In addition to his personal work, he creates custom sculptures for municipalities, private groups, and individuals. His public commissions include the New Bedford Fisherman’s Tribute Monument and the memorial statue of former Massachusetts State Representative Tom Lopes in New Bedford, MA.
In October 2020, his most recent commission of Elizabeth Taber was unveiled in Marion, MA. Mr. Durant is also a professor of sculpture and will talk with us about the sculpting process and working with stakeholders when creating public art.
Additional information: erikdurant.com
Facebook: ErikDurantSculptor
​
7 / March 8, 2021
Emily
Murphy
Dr. Emily Murphy joined us on International Women's Day to launch our celebration of Women's History Month.
Dr. Murphy shared information on what Lexington wore in the 19th century, providing accurate information we can use as we proceed with a new monument. Dr. Murphy is the Curator for Salem Maritime and Saugus Ironworks National Historic Sites. She contributed research to the Lexington Historical Society's current exhibit "Bold Women of Lexington" and presented at a fall LexSeeHer Speaker Series on the Lexington Spinning Match held by 45 women as a protest in 1769.
8 / March 17, 2021
David
Pinsonneault
Ashley
Rooney
Elaine
Doran
On March 17th, Lexington Garden Club leaders Elaine Doran and Ashley Rooney joined us to discuss how the Captain Parker Minuteman statue's floral area is maintained. As we look forward to a new monument to honor Lexington women, David Pinsonneault, Lexington’s Director of Public Works spoke about the recent partial restoration of the Captain Parker Minuteman statue and the upcoming maintenance work for some of Lexington's monuments.
​
​
​
9 / March 24, 2021
grace
Stevens
GENDER
IDENTITY
Gender Identity in the Context of Women’s History
LexPride co-sponsored our an experiential journey exploring the topics of Gender, Sex and Identity from Colonial times to today.
Our discussion provided a better understanding of gender identity, within a framework of how our culture and history impacts our acceptance of others and ourselves.
Related reading:
Expansive Understandings of Gender Around the World, and the Legacy of Colonialism by Reimagine Gender
​
​
10 / March 31, 2021
Michelle
Browder
Virtual Tour of Montgomery Alabama, Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement & Home to the new Mothers of Gynecology monument.
LexSeeHer sponsors funded a special virtual tour of Montgomery Alabama, with Michelle Browder, founder of More Than Tours. In this multimedia video tour, Ms. Browder took us through time. Stops along the way included important sites that highlight history from the 1700s through the Civil Rights Movement, including the Rosa Parks monument and the church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached. We enjoyed conversation with Ms. Browder, who shared updates on her work to design and establish a new monument to the Mothers of Modern Gynecology.
All funds raised in this event went directly to Ms. Broward’s monumental effort to highlight the experiences of enslaved Black women.
11 / April 15, 2021
Matthew
Siegal
What makes a successful monument?
Join us to hear from Matthew Siegal, Former Chair of Conservation and Collections Management at the MFA, current Executive Director of LexArt who will discuss realism versus idealism in sculpture, the importance of placement, including setting, site, architectural elements, elevation, and landscaping.
​
Thursday April 15, 4:00 p.m.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcldO-urz4sGt39qWAGSkcybAfRsytJ_522
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
12 / April 28, 2021
Patrice
Todisco
April 28th, 4:00 pm
They Made a Difference: Celebrating Women in the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area
Patrice Todisco, Executive Director, Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, Freedom’s Way Heritage Association, Inc. with speak about the multi-faceted programs developed by the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area as they commemorated the Centennial of the Passage of the 19th Amendment. Designed to engage diverse audiences through collaboration and communication, this initiative serves as a foundation for continued explorations into the untold stories of the visionary women who lived and worked in the 45 communities of the Heritage Area.