Nantucket Atheneum Podcast Nantucket Atheneum

James tells Janet about the family singing groups that dazzled the Atheneum audiences will their close harmonies and impressive musical talents. These 19th century "rock stars" toured the country sharing their music and their political messages. Find out what made them such an attraction and what were the values they were promoting through song.References and Resources:Videos of Harp Singing/Shape Singing"Sacred Harp Singing," the musical background for American music"The Old Granite State," ...

James talks about the Lyceum Movement that started with local speakers and then evolved into a speaking circuit that includes great orators including Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass and Ralph Waldo Emerson.Notes and References:Announcement for the Lyceum in the Nantucket Weekly Mirror on Saturday, April 17, 1852This has been a production of the Nantucket Atheneum.It was hosted and edited by Janet Forest. Special thanks to Reference Library Associate James Greider for his knowledge an...

In this episode, James and Janet discuss the impresarios who performed in Atheneum Hall and introduced islanders to the world of magic and illusion. Resources and additional information: Woodcut images from Yankee Hill's book Scenes from the Life of an Actor (1853). http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6q8FgL3eAA/RrsXpR3WdxI/AAAAAAAAAG8/9TaIPNb2UOg/s1600-h/hiramdodgeyankeepeddler.gifhttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6q8FgL3eAA/RrsXph3WdyI/AAAAAAAAAHE/_83I2-tJdxY/s1600-h/jedidiahhomebredgreenmountainboy....

In this episode, James describes the mid-19th century crazy of panoramas that tours the country and wowed audiences for a while before fading into the background, so to speak.Notes and References:Read the special notice for the Mammoth Panorama in the Inquired and Mirror on Monday, March 26, 1849 HERE.See photos and more information about the Gettysburg Cyclorama HERE.More on John Banvard from Atlas Obscura can be found HERE.In 1918, the New Bedford Whaling Museum acquired the Grand Panorama ...

The last three episodes of this season are dedicated to Henry Clapp, Jr., who was a writer, publisher and activists that moved in circles with William Loyd Garrison, Walt Whitman and other historical figure. He lived large and made a big splash wherever he went but has been mostly lost to history...Until now.In part one, James explains Clapp's early life and his foray into political activism where impressed some and angered others. Sources and references:CLICK HERE to read the full review of ...

In this episode, James picks up where we left off with Henry Clapp's return to Paris where experience a person transformation that turns his world view on its head. With his new found lifestyle, he goes back to the use and eventually finds his way to New York City and rubs elbows with artists and actors and even advocates for the "free love" movement.Sources and references:CLICK HERE to read the full announcement for Clapp’s “Paris As It Is” lecture series the Nantucket Weekly Mirror on...