Inaugural Meeting of Boston’s Commemoration Commission, 16 Nov.

Boston’s Office of Historic Preservation has announced the inaugural meeting of the city’s Commemoration Commission on Thursday, 16 November.

Under its mandate from the city council, the Commemoration Commission will “mark upcoming historical anniversaries, including the United States’ 250th in 2026, the 400th anniversary of the founding of the City of Boston in 2030, and other significant historical anniversaries.”

I suppose those other anniversaries include the actual outbreak of war after a military expedition from Boston in April 1775; one of the bloodiest battles of that war, fought on what’s now Boston soil in June 1775; and the town’s independence in March 1776. But from Revolutionary history the commission’s enabling legislation lists only the Congressionally-highlighted anniversary in July.

That focus on the national, official event seems a bit at odds with the commission’s goal “for all our local communities to tell the full range of our history, including the struggles and accomplishments of Boston’s communities who are too often left out of the official narrative.” Because there are definitely local, non-elite stories to tell.

The commission certainly seems to want to focus on local and community history. Its webpage lays out these goals:

The Boston Commemoration Commission will invest in inclusive and robust historical resources and preservation tools by working with diverse community voices and organizations who steward Boston’s history and City departments with responsibilities relating to historical narrative, exhibits, curricula, archives, preservation, and event-planning to deepen public opportunities to engage with history, in collaboration with state and federal partners.

The Commission exists to affirm that our diverse and intertwined community histories are of great value to the City of Boston, that historical tourism should be a driver of true shared prosperity, that inclusive and honest historical memory is a crucial public good worthy of attention and resources, and that communities all over the City should have the tools and resources to research, preserve, acknowledge, and celebrate their history.

So this inaugural meeting might be the opportunity for local historians and community groups to turn those ideals into specific ideas for commemorations.

The Office of Historic Preservation’s website also says that on 16 November “we will present a framework showcasing how historic preservation can address some of Boston’s pressing challenges in environmental sustainability, social equity, and affordable housing.” That may be part of the same event, which could indicate competing priorities—competing for time, at least.

The 16 November event will take place in the Bruce C. Bolling Building at 2300 Washington Street in Roxbury, from 6:00 to 8:30 P.M. There will also be a virtual option through Zoom. The R.S.V.P. form says the date for registering in person has passed, but it’s still possible to register for online access.