98. New insights at the Archives Open House

Every October The Mary Baker Eddy Library hosts a one-day open house in recognition of National Archives Month, showcasing items for fellow employees at The Mother Church (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston). These objects and documents bring Christian Science history to life, spark inquiry, and ignite the exploration of larger stories waiting to be told.

In this episode, six Library staff members sit down with our host to discuss the letters, scrapbooks, photographs, and art that they selected. They also explore connections between these artifacts and consider how, as primary sources, they can enrich, shift, and reinforce perspectives on Mary Baker Eddy and her church.

Access more on this topic:

Podcast—Archives Open House at The Mary Baker Eddy Library
Podcast—Concord: spiritual quest and “the word” in the computer age
Article—Women of History: Ivimy Gwalter
Article—From the Collections: Christian Science on college and university campuses
Article—Emma C. Shipman and The First Church of Christ, Scientist in the 1920 Women’s Voter Registrations, (Boston.gov)

All of the guests in this episode are staff members at The Mary Baker Eddy Library. In order of first appearance:

Sarah Schelde, Archivist

Joy Clower, Archival Assistant

Christa Seid-Graham, Communications and Programs Specialist

Grace Hoglund, Assistant Records Analyst

Ben Foti, Research Associate

Gwen Beacham, Transcription Verifier/Researcher for the Mary Baker Eddy Papers

Guest headshot of Grace Hoglund used by permission.

Gallery: Artifacts discussed in this episode

For more information about any of the items shown here, write to us using our Contact Us form. Images not to be reproduced without permission.

Image: Front cover of an antique concordance to Science and Health. The front cover is blank (dark brown) except for a golden seal containing a cross and crown image encircled by the words, "Heal The Sick, Raise The Dead, Cleanse The Lepers, Cast Out Demons."

A Complete Concordance to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, 1903.

Image: A typewritten, short memorandum with handwritten edits made to the copy. Mary Baker Eddy's signature is on the page.

Memorandum, “POLITICS” by Mary Baker Eddy, November 2, 1908. A10158.

Image: Floppy discs and packaging. They are resting on a deep royal blue backdrop.

Floppy discs and packaging from Concord: A Study Package for IBM, 1994.

Image: Zoomed-in view of a yellowed page from a scrapbook. The clipping is a short newspaper clipping with the headline "Mrs. Eddy's Politics." A header reading "Boston Post" is pasted immediately above it.

Scrapbook containing newspaper clipping from the November 3, 1908, Boston Post, c. 1907–1908. SB018, page 299.

Image: A photograph of a colorized photo portrait of a woman (L. Ivimy Gwalter) in a gold-colored oval frame.

Hand-colored portrait of L. Ivimy Gwalter, CSB, n.d. 1998.03.06.

Image: A yellowed, handwritten letter in Mary Baker Eddy's slanted handwriting. At the top of the letter is letterhead reading in part "Massachusetts Metaphysical College, Rev. Mary B. G. Eddy, President." The letter begins: "Boston, Oct. 8, 1886. My dear student, Mrs. Lancaster."

Page 1 of a letter from Mary Baker Eddy to Malinda J. Lancaster, October 8, 1886. L04529.

Image: A yellowed letter, typewritten. A seal is at the top of the letter, and below it reads "Pleasant View, Concord, N.H.". The letter begins: "Dictated. April 13, 1901. Miss Shipman and undergraduates of the Wellesley College."

Letter from Mary Baker Eddy to Emma Shipman/Undergraduates of Wellesley College, April 13, 1901. L08916.

98. New insights at the Archives Open House

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