Terrains of Independence - New exhibition coming April 2025

What was it about Boston and Massachusetts in the late 1700s that made the region such a tinderbox for Revolutionary activity?

In the Leventhal Map & Education Center’s upcoming exhibition Terrains of Independence, maps will offer a reconsideration of the Revolutionary War through the lens of locality and place. By emphasizing how the spaces of Boston and Massachusetts shaped the trajectory of a global revolutionary moment, the exhibit calls us to rethink familiar stories of heroic deeds and political passions. From zones of conflict and struggle between communities to the vast networks which connected Boston to a hemisphere-spanning empire, Terrains of Independence draws us into the geographic history of a foundational era.

This forthcoming exhibition is curated by Katy Lasdow and Garrett Dash Nelson.

Read the prospectus → 

In Person · February 5, 6 pm ET · Processing the Environment: A Conversation on Sensors

Join us for an in-person discussion about sensors and environmental data, moderated by LMEC staff Ian Spangler and Emily Bowe (co-curators of the Leventhal Center’s current exhibition, Processing Place). You’ll learn about the contemporary digital technologies that quietly monitor the world around us, including what kinds of data that can and can’t be collected, how people decide where to install sensors, and how the data is processed and transformed into actionable policies.

Register for the event → 

Our 2025 Winter Co-op Has Arrived!

We’re excited to introduce Zaila Alves to the LMEC community as our Visitor Services and Operations Assistant! Zaila joined us this January as a Northeastern co-op student and is currently in her second year, majoring in Cultural Anthropology with a minor in Black Feminist Studies. We sat down with Zaila to learn more about her interests and upcoming work at the Center.

Read the interview → 

Deadline Approaching: New England Regional Fellowship Consortium

The New England Regional Fellowship Consortium (NERFC), a collaboration of 30 major cultural agencies, will offer at least two dozen awards in the 2025–2026 application cycle. Each grant will provide a stipend of $5,000 for a minimum of eight weeks of research at participating institutions. These grants are designed to encourage projects that draw on the resources of several institutions. Please review the information provided by participating institutions to learn more about their resources, research policies, and hours. Apply by Saturday, February 1, 2025 to be considered.

Apply for an award → 

Last Call for Proposals: Boston Digital Research and Pedagogy Symposium

Hosted this year on April 11 at the Boston Public Library, the Greater Boston Digital Research and Pedagogy Symposium is a regional, one-day gathering of students, scholars, librarians, and other practitioners from the New England area working at the intersection of technology and the humanities.

The Program Committee now welcomes submissions covering a wide variety of topics related to the application of technology, computation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to humanities research, pedagogy, and professional practice. Apply by Monday, February 3, 2025 to be considered.

Learn more about the application → 

Newsletter Trivia: Revolutionary Boston

This vibrantly colored map is an attractive depiction of Boston during the Revolutionary War (and will be featured in Terrains of Independence). The map emphasizes key military features such as forts, defensive works, and troop positions. It shows “the true situation of His Majesty’s army, and also those of the rebels” just after which important battle/s?

1. Battle of Chelsea Creek
2. Battle of Menotomy
3. Battles of Lexington and Concord
4. Battle of Bunker Hill

The answer to last newsletter’s question (“Which area of Boston most recently underwent significant landfilling?”) is Logan International Airport.

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, Robin! In order to enter, make sure you follow us on Instagram or Facebook and direct message or email us the answer to the above question. We’ll accept answers until January 27 at 9 am ET.

Message us on Instagram → 

Shop Discount

We’re starting off this year strong and we have a little something to help you begin 2025 on a good note. Use the code LMECNEWYEAR for free shipping on any order from our gift shop.

Visit the gift store →