FITCHBURG — Mass Humanities recently awarded a grant of $2,790 to support the Fitchburg Historical Society’s project, Digital Accessibility for Historic Photos and Documents, according to an announcement from the Society.
In addition, the Historical Society has received a Bridge sponsorship, from Mass Humanities as well, for $1,500 to help support three new TV programs on Fitchburg History that will be created at the Fitchburg Access TV studios, according to the Society.
“We were extremely gratified to receive Mass Humanities’ support, especially since Mass Humanities grant proposals are subjected to a rigorous review process,” Fitchburg Historical Society Board President Amy Green said.
The first Bridge-sponsored program was a one-hour special of the Historical Society’s program on Fitchburg Access TV, “I Remember When, with the Fitchburg Historical Society.”
The special covered mid-century modernist architect Carl Koch, who designed Fitchburg Paper Co.’s headquarters, the Fitchburg Public Library, and the (now demolished) Screwball Terrace. The program is still available online from the FATV Video On Demand platform, Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Additional programs — on Uruguay and the 1950 World Cup and about the Abolitionist movement in Fitchburg — are in production now.
The Mass Humanities Foundation’s technical grant will support a project of great interest and importance to our community.
The Digital Accessibility for Historic Photos and Documents is helping the Society meet increased demands on its research capacity that has resulted from our expanded outreach to the community reaching more baby boomers. The boomers have found that local history is a great part of aging healthfully and making new connections, nationwide and internationally, for those now living away from Fitchburg and want to re-establish a meaningful relationship with a city that they love with expanded use of the Society’s collections by educators and students (of all ages).
This gift follows on an important Mass Humanities CARES grant in 2020 that created financial security for the nonprofit Fitchburg Historical Society at a time of great uncertainty and increased costs. When this project is completed, more of the Fitchburg Historical Society collection will be available virtually and more educational programs will be easily accessed on the web.
“We have used the limitations of the COVID period to ramp up our educational outreach, creating a TV show on Fitchburg Access TV that is both broadcast and streamed on demand (and on our YouTube Channel),” said Executive Director Susan Navarre. “In April and October 2021, we collaborated with Stratton Theatre and presented newly written and produced theater pieces of historic vignettes, that could be attended for free, outdoors, at Forest Hill Cemetery.”
Another tour is being planned around the stories of veterans buried at Forest Hill Cemetery. It will take place at 1 p.m. Nov. 13 as part of the Veterans Day celebration. FHS board member Kathleen Flynn will be researching and speaking as part of that tour.
The Fitchburg Historical Society is continuing to collaborate with partners like Stratton Players, Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg State University, North of Main/New Vue, and many more. For more information, visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.com or call 978-345-1157.
