A toast to Sam Staples: Worcester Historical Museum plans 200th birthday bash for founder

Richard Duckett, Telegram & Gazette
·2 min read
An 1875 photo of the founders of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, the precursor to the Worcester Historical Museum.
An 1875 photo of the founders of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, the precursor to the Worcester Historical Museum.

WORCESTER — The Worcester Historical Museum will celebrate founder Samuel Staples' 200th birthday and the museum’s 147th year of collecting with some special events May 17-21.

Staples, a grocer and bookkeeper, and four other prominent Worcester businessmen held the first meeting of what would become the Worcester Society of Antiquity in January 1875.

The group rented space at 11 Foster St. as its headquarters, but as its membership and collection grew, it outgrew the space.

In 1892, a new headquarters opened at 39 Salisbury St. on land donated by Stephen Salisbury III.

The organization changed its name to the Worcester Historical Society in 1919 and then, in 1978, the Worcester Historical Museum.

In 1988, the museum relocated to its current building at 30 Elm St.

The celebration includes talks, tours and the unveiling of Redemption Rock Brewing’s “Rescue from Oblivion” larger, created especially for the birthday celebration. Admission is free all week, but registration is required for the birthday celebration.

List of events

  • May 17: Book talk and signing at 7 p.m. by Suzanne Schnittman, author of "Provocative Mothers and Their Precocious Daughters"

  • May 18: Noon and 2 p.m., 20-30 minute "History Bites"

  • Curator Shelley Cathcart — A quick gallery chat discussing the role of a curator and a tour of the galleries to see some of her favorite objects including the museum’s most recent acquisition from the 18th century

  • Community Engagement Director David Conner — A dynamic discussion on chronicling Worcester County's LGBTQ+, Worcester Latino History Project, Worcester Black History Project

  • Salisbury Mansion Site Manager Robert Stacy — “Worcester’s Little Machines” presentation of patent models of inventions from Worcester inventors

  • May 19: Birthday celebration and unveiling of Redemption Rock Brewing’s “Rescue from Oblivion” larger with tastings available; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration required.

  • May 20. 2 p.m., 20-30 minute "History Bites"

  • Executive Director William Wallace — Celebrating Worcester: "Marking Anniversaries." On the eve of Worcester’s Tercentennial celebration, a look back at how and what Worcester has marked its anniversaries … 1872, 1884, 1922, 1948 and more

  • Exhibit Coordinator Vanessa Bumpus — A guided tour of the Fuller Gallery of Industrial History exhibit “In Their Shirtsleeves.” Learn about Worcester’s rich industrial history and hear about the upcoming changes to the gallery and the redesign opening in 2023.

  • Library and Archives Manager Wendy Essery — Learn about the Birthday Boy, Samuel Staples.

  • May 21: Free family Day at WHM and Salisbury Mansion Museum 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include Salisbury Mansion Scavenger Hunt; Revolutionary Walking Tours; History Detectives at WHM; and much more.

Go to worcesterhistory.org for more information. Registration is required for the May 19 Birthday Celebration.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Historical Museum, Redemption Rock team up for birthday bash