America’s celebration of Christmas underwent radical shifts during Mary Baker Eddy’s lifetime. We’ll see how she responded as the holiday attained the modern expression we’re familiar with today. Guests Judy Huenneke and Bronwen Arthur discuss what their research in the Mary Baker Eddy Library collections has revealed.
Podcast guests
Judy Huenneke has worked with the archival collections of The Mary Baker Eddy Library for nearly three decades. She has a longtime interest in Eddy’s holiday observances, including their relationship to nineteenth-century New England and American culture.
Bronwen Arthur worked as a researcher at The Mary Baker Eddy Library and held several positions at The Christian Science Publishing Society before she joined the Mary Baker Eddy Papers team in 2016. She holds degrees from Principia College and the University of Queensland.
Links to referenced items
Mary Baker Eddy’s Christmas sermon for 1880, “The Nativity of Jesus”
https://mbepapers.org?load=A10085
Mary Baker Eddy’s Christmas sermon for 1888, “The Personal and Impersonal Saviour”
https://mbepapers.org/?load=A10385A
Publishing of 1888 Christmas sermon, The Christian Science Journal, February 1889
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/aaf6eeuc1s?s=e
Editor’s note about the 1888 Christmas sermon, The Christian Science Journal, April 1889
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/n38em56yuk?s=e