Carly Bolton's Blog

Slave Trade Exhibition This exhibition explores historical ties to slavery and the slave trade in Cambridge, MA, revealing how key benefactors built their fortunes from enslaved labor and the trade of slave-produced goods. Drawing from Harvard’s archives, artworks, and rare book collections, the exhibition connects these financial and historical legacies to Harvard’s development in the 18th and 19th centuries. Harvard Square and the 19th-Century Slave Economy Harvard Square, part of Boston’s thriving commercial network, played a critical role in the global economy of the 19th century, which was deeply connected to slavery. Boston, as a key port, facilitated the exchange of goods like sugar, coffee, cotton, and tobacco produced by enslaved labor on Caribbean and Southern plantations. Harvard benefited from this economy through donations from merchants and businessmen whose wealth derived from the slave trade. Displayed from Harvard’s Map Collection, these maps—initially funded by Israel...

Lieutenant Aaron Bordman (1649–1702): A Glimpse into Early Colonial Life Lieutenant Aaron Bordman, born in 1649 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was a figure rooted in the early colonial life. He lived during a time of burgeoning settlement in New England, contributing to the growing communities [4]. As a member of one of Cambridge’s early colonial families, his life paints a picture of the challenges and responsibilities that came with being part of the early American colonies. Aaron Bordman was born into a prominent colonial family. His father, William Bordman (1614–1685), emigrated from England and was one of the first stewards at Harvard College, a role that Aaron and his brother would both continue [1] . His mother, Frances Woodstreet Bordman (1618–1688), was likely also from a family of early settlers, contributing to the establishment of their place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony [2].  Aaron Bordman’s profession as a locksmith was highly regarded at the time. Locksmiths played ...

  The Massachusetts state flag shows a Native American figure holding a bow and a disembodied sword overhead. This flag attempts to reflect the colonial history of the region, but ultimately provides a simplified and romanticized version of that past. The figure is dressed in traditional attire and is portrayed in a static and submissive posture. Furthermore, he is overshadowed by a sword which symbolizes colonial dominance. This imagery reflects the perspective of European settlers and the authority they seeked to impose, but it contrasts with the actual history of the Massachusett people.The Massachusett tribes had complex social, political, and economic systems well before European contact. The sword hovering over the figure is particularly problematic, as it embodies the threat of violence and subjugation that came with colonization, rather than honoring the agency, resilience, and leadership of the indigenous population. The history presented on the Massachusett Tribe's websit...