Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts appointed Brenton Simons, New England Historic Genealogical Society President and CEO, to the Plymouth 400th Anniversary Commission. Simons was sworn in as a Commissioner on August 5, 2019, on the Governor’s Balcony at the State House by Jordan Maynard, the Governor’s Director of Boards and Commissions. Simons took the oath administered by Governor Baker on October 30, 2019, on the Grand Staircase of the State House.
In November 2017, after becoming the custodian in perpetuity of the American Jewish Historical Society-New England Archive, New England Historic Genealogical Society created the Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS, with the archive as its cornerstone. In 2018, the JHC was renamed the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS, in recognition of a cornerstone gift and the longstanding commitment of Justin “Jerry” and Genevieve Wyner. On October 18, 2018, New England Historic Genealogical Society held a gala dinner to honor the Wyners and announce the JHC’s new name. At the event, NEHGS President and CEO Brenton Simons thanked the Wyners for their tireless commitment to preserving the JHC’s archival collections—and for making a lead gift to endow the JHC. NEHGS President and CEO Brenton Simons, Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center Director Rachel King, and Justin L. Wyner.
Her Majesty’s Consul General to New England Harriet Cross addresses invited guests and the press.
