2017 Summer Dinner

On July 27, 2017, eighty friends and supporters of NEHGS gathered for a Summer Outing to historic Gore Place in Waltham, Massachusetts. A 50-acre country estate, Gore Place was built in 1806 by Christopher Gore, a Governor of Massachusetts and a United States Senator, and his wife, Rebecca, whose forward-thinking and elegant taste is reflected in the home’s every detail. In addition to tours of the mansion, guests also had the opportunity to view three heraldic treasures from the NEHGS collection: the Gore Roll of Arms,produced by John Gore, Christopher’s father; the Welch Armorial; and the Promptuarium Armorum. After moving to the renovated carriage house for dinner, guests were treated to a fascinating lecture on “Treasures of American Heraldry” by Ryan Woods, NEHGS SVP and COO, and Chairman of the NEHGS Committee on Heraldry. During dinner, guests were surprised when Brenton Simons announced that NEHGS Councilor Beverly Hector-Smith’s ancestor, Robert Roberts, was a butler in the home from 1824-1826, during which time he wrote The House Servant’s Directory,one of the first books by an African-American to be published by a commercial press. That evening was Beverly’s first visit to the former home of her ancestor.

Special acknowledgements are due to Silver Benefactors Stephen H. Case and Nancy and John Webster, and Benefactors Nancy S. Maulsby, Elizabeth and George Passela, and Welch & Forbes LLC.