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ANTIQUARTO
Brenton Simons on history, genealogy, collecting, and the arts
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Largest Genealogical Society in World in Boston
“The Largest Genealogical Society in World in Boston” roared a headline of the Boston Sunday Globe on January 17, 1954. The same is true today —- and we are now in a countdown to the 175th anniversary in 2020 of the founding of the first Genealogical Society in the world: the New England Historic Genealogical Society —- today widely known by our American Ancestors brand, and by serving 260,000 members and millions of online users with 1.4 billion records. In the coming weeks
The Essence of Highclere
I was delighted to attend a launch event today for Highclere Gin with special guest Lady Carnarvon at the British Residence on Beacon Hill, Boston. Highclere is famously the setting of “Downtown Abbey" --- an unparalleled English country house where we have brought two groups of NEHGS patrons in recent years. Made with botanticals gathered at Highclere, the gin is now making its American debut. Guests were treated to some of the history of the estate by Highclere's charming c
Utterly sublime: Les Jardins de Quatre-Vents
I recently had the great privilege of making a long trek from Boston to Quebec to visit friends and experience one of the most impressive private gardens in North America. It is found near La Malbaie and the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada: "Les Jardins de Quatre-Vents," designed by the late Francis Higginson Cabot, a descendant of the New York branch of the great Massachusetts family. A self-taught gardener, Cabot's vision was realized in a garden praised by Penelope Ho
The Art of Presidential Biography
It was a great pleasure to present Presidential historian and bestselling author Douglas Brinkley with his genealogy at the American Ancestors-New England Historic Genealogical Society dinner in Brookline, Massachusetts, on July 25, 2019, when he spoke on "the Art of Presidential Biography." I had the pleasure of revealing that Douglas Brinkley is related to three American presidents, and give him a meticulously-produced genealogy compiled by NEHGS staff experts, including Dr
The Great Houses of Ireland
Join internationally renowned country house expert Curt DiCamillo, NEHGS Curator of Collections, next month (September 15-21) as we explore the finest houses in and around Co. Kilkenny. From the grand Castletown, Ireland's largest and most important 18th-century country house, to the intimate Dangan Cottage, the charming home of Christopher Moore, to Kilfane Glen, one of the most beautiful 18th-century romantic gardens in Ireland---the best of the Emerald Isle will unfold for
Plymouth 400th Commemorations
I am honored to announce that Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts has appointed me to the Plymouth 400th Anniversary Commission. I was sworn in as a Commissioner in a brief ceremony this morning on the Governor’s Balcony at the State House by Jordan Maynard, the Governor’s Director of Boards and Commissions, and joined on the occasion by my colleague, Susan Fugliese. I look forward to helping advance the work of this important commemoration with several nonprofits, the Wa
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