Congregational Library & Archives Open House 2023

Open House attendees had the opportunity to see many of these original 56 print and manuscript works, including publications by the Mathers, a 1723 commonplace book kept by a Harvard student, and publications by nineteenth-century reform societies. Congregational Library & Archives staff were on hand to answer questions about both the original collection and the most recent 56 items added to our collection, which were also on display.

Other highlights of the evening included a presentation by Dr. Tricia Peone, New England’s Hidden Histories Project Director, on recent additions to NEHH collections, including records from the First and Second Churches of Boston, the Hingham First Parish records, John Eliot’s sermon notes, new Cotton Mather materials, and more. There was also a short program exploring the history and importance of the Congregational Library & Archives’ collections past and present featuring CLA Board Chair Rich Elliott, CLA Executive Director Dr. Kyle Roberts, and CLA Archivist Zachary Bodnar, who developed the Founding 56 digital exhibition.