[MassHistPres] Renaming your historical society

[J FORREST]

  The Historical Society of Old Newbury (located in what is now Newburyport) changed its name several years ago.  It is now the Museum of Old Newbury, now nicknamed "The Moon".  They are located in the old Cushing House, which is now a museum.
Janice Forrest, Newbury Historical Commission
    On Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 03:23:02 PM EDT, Dennis De Witt via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:  
 
 Re “Hysterical” — when Brookline merged its commissions in the early ‘80s, we chose to call the combined commission the Preservation Commission, largely to deny opponents the use of “Hysterical Commission.”  (It was a bore and a distraction.)
Dennis De WittBrookline


On May 10, 2023, at 10:11 PM, cvwtc--- via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
Actually, the Beverly Historical Society renamed themselves Historic Beverly a few years ago for that very reason.  So is this a trend?  I can only speak for what I have seen locally.  
 
Many years ago when I used to volunteer at that organization, we had a guest speaker who warned of declining membership and visitors to house museums because people's tastes have changed so for some organizations "it is broke" and "It needs to be fixed."  I'm not sure a name change will be the cure if nothing else changes within the organization
 
Also, how many have you heard the insulting remark "hysterical society" directed at people who have an interest in preservation?  In theory, a name change gets an organization away from that.
 
 Matt Pujo

Beverly, MA





 On 05/08/2023 11:33 PM David Temple via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:   
   
   There's been a trend away from the term "historical society" because it seems to connote old and fusty, not a lively, happening place.   
   If you changed your name to "X History Center"  or "Historic X"  or something similar - do you think the change actually accomplished anything?  Did making the change create any problems?   
   In your reply, please include my original message. 
 
David F. Temple 
President, Medfield Historical Society 
https://medfieldhistoricalsociety.org/ 
  Co-Chair, Medfield Historical Commission 300 South Street 




 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: SAMUEL R BLAIR via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
To: David Temple <davidftemple at yahoo.com>; David Temple via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Wed, May 10, 2023 9:13 am
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Renaming your historical society

  I've seen no such trend. Adding "X" means nothing and you're still stuck with "History", like it or not. 
   
   Sam Blair   Fitchburg Historical Commission (retired)  
  On 05/08/2023 11:33 PM David Temple via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:   
   
     There's been a trend away from the term "historical society" because it seems to connote old and fusty, not a lively, happening place.   
   If you changed your name to "X History Center"  or "Historic X"  or something similar - do you think the change actually accomplished anything?  Did making the change create any problems?   
    In your reply, please include my original message. 
 
David F. Temple 
President, Medfield Historical Society 
https://medfieldhistoricalsociety.org/ 
  Co-Chair, Medfield Historical Commission 300 South Street 
Medfield, MA 02052 
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