The mission of MHSM is to collect, preserve, and promote an inclusive understanding of Medford’s history, offering educational lectures and programs to the general public. Join us in building a shared sense of Medford’s history and rich diversity.
February 28, 2026
- We are open 1:00-4:00 PM on Sundays, or by appointment. Click here to contact us.
- MHSM volunteers recently helped to to sort through paper, photos, yearbooks, and artifacts from the Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) School of Nursing, which closed after 101 years in June 2025. Stay tuned for updates on the work of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing History Preservation Project.
- MHSM has become a member of NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum Association). Become an MHSM Member here!
- Check out Somerville Museum’s Interactive Map for the 250th celebration of the American Revolution. MHSM helped with the Medford sites.
- Have you seen our ongoing searchable Medford Street Names Project. If you have info or documents pertaining to Medford Street names, let us know via our contact page.
- Our Medford Municipal Records Collection is now digitized and continues to be updated by our awesome volunteer Will Tenney.
- Learn about our Historical Marker Program here.
- Use our Books and Resources page for your reference questions. You can also see all back issues of our newsletters can be found here.
- Learn more about volunteer opportunities here.
UPCOMING:
See all our Winter and Spring 2026 programs here.
MARCH
The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon
Speaker: Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Documentary Filmmaker and Journalist
Thursday, March 12, at 7:00 p.m., Charlotte and William Bloomberg
Medford Public Library, 111 High Street. (Register)
The Aviator and the Showman unveils the untold story of Amelia’s decade-long marriage to George Putnam, offering an intimate exploration of their relationship and the pivotal role it played in her enduring legacy. Despite her outwardly modest and humble image, Amelia was fiercely driven and impossibly brave, a lifelong feminist and trailblazer in her personal and professional life. In this new account, Laurie Gwen Shapiro will emphasize Earhart’s multifaceted human side, her struggles, and her authentic aspirations, the truths behind her brave pursuits and the compromises she made to fit into societal expectations. Drawing from a trove of new sources including undiscovered audio interviews, The Aviator and the Showman is a gripping and passionate tale of adventure, colorful characters, hubris, and a complex and a vivid portrait of a marriage that shaped the trajectory of an iconic life.
Thanks to the Medford Arts Council for its continued support
These programs are supported in part by a grant from the Medford Arts Council, a local commission that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the City of Medford.
The Power of Truth: Early Diversity in a Medford Neighborhood, February 2024
Murder at the Harvard Medical School, April 2023
Black Heritage Trail Virtual Tour, February 2022
Our Medford,” written by Medford teacher Michael Coates is for kids and anyone interested in an illustrated introduction to Medford History.
The book began to be used in the Medford grade 3 classrooms in fall 2016.
Click here to view the book online. Printed copies are available for $20 at MHSM. All proceeds benefit MHSM’s educational programs.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Medford Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.