Last Call · Small Grants for Digital Publications: Applications Due May 19

Calling all early-career researchers, graduate students, and scholars! The deadline for our Small Grants Fund for Early Career Digital Publications is May 19 for grant awards in the 2025–2026 academic year. The Small Grants program supports early career scholars through the process of producing a publication for general audiences in a digital format. The program is designed to catalyze creative projects which utilize a digital medium to present scholarly work through engaging, accessible, and experimental communicative modalities. Read about a past cohort of Small Grant awardees here.

Apply by May 19 → 

In Person · May 29, 12 pm ET · Author Talk: Dan O'Brien on The Pointillistic City

Only a few tickets remain available for our conversation with Dan O’Brien and Nigel Jacob on O’Brien’s newly-released book The Pointillistic City: How Microspatial Inequities Affect Well-Being in Our Communities, and What We Can Do about It. This talk is free, open to the public, and will be held in person at the Central Library in Copley Square. Lunch will be served and registration is required to attend.

Dr. Dan O’Brien is Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University and Director of the Boston Area Research Initiative (BARI). His research focuses on equity in urban neighborhoods, including crime, environmental justice, and more. His three books, including The Pointillistic City, demonstrate the value of integrating data-driven science with community-oriented policy and practice.

Register for the event → 

In-Person · May 16, 2 pm ET · Changed/Forgotten: Places That No Longer Exist

Every place goes through changes, even the cities, countries, and empire we think will be around until the end of time. Sometimes environmental shifts or disasters bring the end to a prosperous region. Other times human whims and desires lead to the decimation of historic areas, irreversibly altering the very fabric of the region.

Through the maps on display in this From The Vault, we can revisit these places of the past. From the historic counterparts of modern day cities or the ancient ruins of a fallen society, Changed/Forgotten will show us just how much has changed, how much was forgotten, and yet how much still remains from a time gone by.

Event details → 

ARGO Feature: New exhibition from UM Clements Library

Recently added to ARGO, the new exhibition Bloody Work: Lexington and Concord 1775 explores the early months of 1775 in Massachusetts, the battles of April 19, and their immediate aftermath, giving an account of the events that ignited a nearly eight-year Revolutionary War between the British Empire and its American colonies.

This exhibition was produced by staff at the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan and features a map very reminiscent of those in our Terrains of Independence exhibit, most notably Thirty-miles round Boston and A plan of Boston, and its environs. Be sure to check out both exhibits for more information of Massachusetts’ role in the beginning of the American Revolution.

More about the map → 

Newsletter Trivia: Gillette

Originally confined to a single building, the Gillette company grew to have a very sizable presence in South Boston. Gillette now has plans to renovate this company campus into a mixed-use live/work/leisure area. Which of the following industries was historically present on the site of the current Gillette campus in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

• Newspaper printing press
• Fishery
• Candy manufacturer
• Sugar refinery

The answer to last newsletter’s question about which historic neighborhood had a reservoir that operated from 1849 to 1876 was Beacon Hill.

Correct answers will be included in a random draw—the winner will receive the next three Map of the Month club postcards for free. Congratulations to our last winner, Gretchen! In order to enter, make sure you follow us on Bluesky, Instagram or Facebook and direct message or email us the answer to the following question. We’ll accept answers until May 19 at 9 am ET.

Message us on Instagram → 

Gift Store Discount

Our new postcards have been getting a lot of love in the gallery and we want to show our appreciation! For this month’s exclusive newsletter discount, each order will come with a 5-pack of our Terrains of Independence postcards, totally complementary. No discount code needed.

Visit the gift store →