Pittsfield celebrates Melville Literary Legacy

As reported in this Sunday's Berkshire Eagle, the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, & The Berkshire County Historical Society have collaborated to plan a daylong celebration of Herman Melville's literary legacy on Saturday, February 27.
The events kick off at 10 a.m. when Melville Scholar and MIT professor Wyn Kelley reprises a reading of her paper, Out of the Bread Box: Eleanor Melville Metcalf and the Melville Legacy.Beginning at 11 a.m., tours will be offered of  the Athenaeum's Melville Room to view family artifacts, including the bread box in which the manuscript of Billy Budd was found. Call 442 1793 ext 11 to reserve a tour time. Beginning at 12 noon, hourly tours will be available of Arrowhead, Herman Melville's home at 780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield.  The celebration concludes at 2 p.m. with a screening of Billy Budd, starring Peter Ustinov and Terrance Stamp (1962). Film commentary will be offered by Attorney Arthur Stein, President of The Berkshire County Historical Society.

Submitted by Madeline Kelly, Pittsfield

Athenaeum sale of reprints attracts press

 The Local History Department of the Berkshire Athenaeum (Pittsfield's Public Library) received some great press  in a Berkshire-area weekly, The Advocate. Author Judith Fairweather interviewed Local History librarians Kathleen Reilly and Ann-Marie Harris regarding the reprinting, in partnership with the Berkshire Family History Association, of various important local history titles. While these items are available for sale year round from the Local History Department, they are particularly promoted during the holiday season as a unique gift option. Proceeds benefit the Local History Department's ongoing work to preserve important print materials. Thank you, Advocate!