Take a look at this stunning before-and-after transformation by the Associates-funded 2025 Conservation Intern. Carmen Gonzalez preserved the BPL’s rare 1847 edition of The Liberty Bell, an abolitionist giftbook created to raise funds for the anti-slavery cause.

How do you protect history from being erased? This display, created by Associates-funded Manager of Archives, Eve Neiger, and Archivist, Margaret Peachy, highlights the vital work of archivists in saving history. If you believe in this work, please donate: https://www.associatesbpl.org/donate/

The Associates of the Boston Public Library was saddened by the passing of our dear friend, poet Charles Coe.

On Wednesday, the Associates’ Board and Literary Lights Committees gathered at the home of gala Chair Karen Osborn for a kickoff party, co-hosted by her Co-Chair Natalie Lemle!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Associates of the Boston Public Library! 🦃 This chromolithograph of a turkey from the late 1800s is housed in the BPL's Louis Prang & Company Collection.

Happy Fall! Enjoy this 1888 landscape print titled ‘Autumn,’ by John, d. Mazzanovich from the BPL’s Louis Prang & Company Collection.

Join the BPL on Friday, November 28, from 12-4 pm in the Special Collections Reading Room for a special open house where community cookbooks from the Rare Books Department will be on display.

Please join the BPL for a special open house on November 25 from 2-4 pm in the Special Collections Reading Room to learn more about who architect Rafael Guastavino was, the history of his construction company, and his work at the BPL. Staff will be available to answer questions.

Did you miss A Revelation of Character, our 7th Pierce Performance in collaboration with Plays in Place, honoring Boston's remarkable female abolitionists? We are excited to share a special performance recording- available on our YouTube channel for just two weeks! https://youtu.be/knh85KLaRFo

The work of the Associates to preserve and promote the BPL’s Special Collections is a stand against the current climate of erasure of our nation's history. Give now so that we can preserve our past to inform and inspire generations to come. Donate here: https://www.associatesbpl.org/donate/

There is just one chance left to see the Associates of the Boston Public Library’s 7th Pierce Performance, “A Revelation of Character,” in collaboration with Plays in Place! Book free tickets for our Saturday, November 15 matinee here: https://pierce2025.eventbrite.com/?aff=bsky 📸: Ben Rose

Meet the Costume Designer of “A Revelation of Character,” a new play about Boston’s female abolitionists in collaboration between the Associates and Plays in Place! Book free tickets for the November 12, 13, and 15 performances here: pierce2025.eventbrite.com?aff=bsky

Meet the Stage Manager for “A Revelation of Character,” a new play about Boston’s female abolitionists in collaboration between the Associates' and @playsinplace.bsky.social ! Book free tickets for the November 12, 13, and 15 performances here: pierce2025.eventbrite.com?aff=bsky

Meet the Associate Producer of “A Revelation of Character,” a new play about Boston’s female abolitionists in collaboration between the Associates and @playsinplace.bsky.social! Book free tickets for the November 12, 13, and 15 performances here: pierce2025.eventbrite.com?aff=bsky

Meet the cast of “A Revelation of Character,” a new play about Boston’s female abolitionists in collaboration between the Associates and Plays in Place! Book free tickets for the November 12, 13, and 15 performances here: https://pierce2025.eventbrite.com/?aff=bsky

Meet the cast of “A Revelation of Character,” a new play about Boston’s female abolitionists in collaboration between the Associates and Plays in Place! Book free tickets for the November 12, 13, and 15 performances here: https://pierce2025.eventbrite.com/?aff=bsky

@patrickgabridge.bsky.social is the playwright behind the Associates of the Boston Public Library's 7th Pierce Performance, A Revelation of Character, a new hour-long play about Boston’s female abolitionists.

Find out the inspiration behind the title of the Associates of the Boston Public Library's 7th Pierce Performance, a Revelation of Character. In collaboration with Plays in Place, written by Patrick Gabridge, directed by Lisa Rafferty. Book free tickets: https://pierce2025.eventbrite.com/?aff=bsky

Happy Native American Heritage Month from the Associates! This 1970 photo shows Native American advocate, Russell Charles Means, speaking to a crowd gathered around the statue of Massasoit in Plymouth on Thanksgiving Day.

Happy Halloween! 🎃 Get in the spirit of the day with BPL's Special and Research Collections! This open house will highlight items featuring the spooky, paranormal, and extraterrestrial from BPL's Research Collections.

Save the Date! ✨ The Associates of the Boston Public Library cordially invite you to the 36th annual Literary Lights Gala on April 26, 2026, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza.

Enjoy this sneak peek of the costumes for 'A Revelation of Character.' Our wonderful costume designer, Kat Lawrence, created these renderings of costumes to match each character and their personality. @patrickgabridge.bsky.social

Enjoy this sneak peek of the costumes for 'A Revelation of Character.' Our wonderful costume designer, Kat Lawrence, created these renderings of costumes to match each character and their personality.

Today, the @bplboston’s first exhibit in 10 years, ‘Revolution! 250 Years of Art & Activism in Boston’ opens in the Central Library in the McKim Exhibition Hall.

Go behind the scenes with Associates-funded Manager of Archives, Eve Neiger, and Archivist, Margaret Peachy, as they care for the Boston Public Library’s historic architectural collections. youtu.be/TBrRaUDGBoY?...

Check out the latest Boston Public Library Special Collections Lobby display, “Out of the Box: Unpacking the World of Archives.”

Join the Associates of the Boston Public Library for our seventh annual Pierce Performance Series: A Revelation of Character, in collaboration with @playsinplace.bsky.social 🎭 Written by @patrickgabridge.bsky.social

Hear from our Writers-in-Residence TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 7, at 6 pm in the Central Library at our Reading and Celebration! Zarlasht and Yssis, pictured here, and our Illustrated Children’s Book Fellow will all read from their respective manuscripts.

In this photo from last year's Reading, 2023-24 Writer-in-Residence, Danielle Emerson, is handing her completed manuscript to Boston Public Library President, David Leonard, for inclusion in the Special Collections.

RSVP for the Associates' Reading and Celebration on October 7 at 6 pm at the Boston Public Library. Join us for a night of literary celebration. Reserve free tickets 🎟️ wir25.eventbrite.com?aff=bsky

Meet our 2025-26 Illustrated Children’s Book Fellow, Jessica Ruan ✍️ Thanks to an anonymous investor’s dedication to emerging writers, this fellowship’s stipend of $25,000 and funds for coaching or editing will give Jessica the support needed to complete her proposed book.

The Associates of the Boston Public Library is proud to underwrite the salary of one of the @BPLboston’s Digital Imaging Production Assistants, a role filled in July by Jade Alderman.

A huge congratulations to our Writer-in-Residence alum, @anniehartnett.bsky.social, for winning the New England Book Award for fiction for her latest book, A Road to Tender Hearts!

The Associates of the Boston Public Library is thrilled to invite you to A Revelation of Character, in collaboration with @playsinplace.bsky.social ! 🎭

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! This watercolor of a Spanish fort by Edmund Blampied is from the Boston Public Library’s Edmund Blampied Prints and Drawings Collection.

Are books from a century ago still relevant today? That’s the question we ask every year at the Hundred-Year Book Debate, where three distinguished panelists champion a 1926 classic- and the audience votes for the winner.

Happy Labor Day! This tradition was born from the late 19th-century labor movement's efforts to establish fair and safe working conditions amidst the Industrial Revolution 💪

Thank you to @bostonglobe.com Globe for announcing our 2025-26 Writer-in-Residence, Zarlasht Niaz! Read this fabulous article to learn more about Zarlasht, her proposed novel, and the Associates! www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/20/a...

Meet our 2025-26 Writer-in-Residence, Zarlasht Niaz ✍️

105 years ago today, the 19th Amendment was ratified, securing women the constitutional right to vote. We honored the generations of suffragists who fought tirelessly for equality in our 2021 Pierce Performance by commissioning and producing a play ‘ONWARD - Votes for Women’ by Lisa Rafferty.

Congratulations to our 2023-24 Writer-in-Residence, Danielle Emerson, for this latest honor!

There’s ONE WEEK LEFT to apply for our Illustrated Children’s Book Fellowship! Apply by August 15 at 11:59 PM - no extensions! For more details and the application link, visit www.associatesbpl.org/illustrated

There are just 3 weeks left to apply for the @associatesBPL Illustrated Children’s Book Fellowship! Apply by August 15 at 11:59 PM - no extensions! For more details and the application link, visit www.associatesbpl.org/illustrated which is linked in our bio. Good luck!

On this day in 1861: the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the Civil War, took place.

The Associates of the Boston Public Library are proud to launch the Illustrated Children’s Book Fellowship, for emerging New England writers developing original illustrated books for children ages 0–10.

On July 3, the Boston Public Library celebrated Independence Day with a Special Collections Open House. Patrons were able to view multiple original printings of the Declaration of Independence that are held in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Department. Enjoy these photos from the event!

Bunker Hill Day marks the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, a pivotal event in the American Revolutionary War fought on June 17, 1775. This early 1800s wood engraving of the Bunker Hill Monument is part of the BPL's Boston Pictorial Archive.

Need a few more days to perfect your Writer-in-Residence submission? You’re in luck! We are extending the deadline until Monday, June 9, at 11:59 PM. For more details & to apply visit www.Writer-in-Residence.org

Reminder that the Associates of the Boston Public Library’s Writer-in-Residence application is due on June 6 at 11:59 PM! Hear from our program alumni about the impact this fellowship made in their lives. Apply today! youtu.be/7xwt756kppA?...

Celebrating Pride Month by looking back at the 1977 Pride Parade in Boston, beautifully captured by Spencer Grant. This iconic image is a part of the Boston Public Library's Special Collections 🏳️‍🌈 The Associates is proud to fund the preservation of cultural gems like these.