In the mid-nineteenth century, what we think were the Christmas celebrations of today were actually just beginning. In this lecture, Historic New England's Ken Turino narrates the history of female abolitionists in America and their contributions to the development of modern American Christmas traditions. These abolitionists, including Maria Chapman, Lydia Marie Child, and Abby Kelly hosted Christmas fairs to raise money for the abolitionist cause. Turino looks at the Sewing Circles both abroad and across America that contributed a wide array of goods for sale at these fairs. These fairs had a wide-ranging influence on a number of Christmas traditions, including the adoption of greenery and the Christmas tree in America.

Ken Turino is Manager of Community Partnerships and Resource Development at Historic New England and on the faculty of Tufts University’s Museum Studies Department. He teaches courses on Exhibition Planning and Reimagining Historic House Museums. Ken is a curator, educator, director, producer, and author. His films have been shown on PBS including the prize winning film, “Back to School: Lessons from Norwich's (VT) One-Room Schoolhouses.” Ken’s most recent publication in 2019, with Max van Balgooy, is Reinventing the Historic House Museum, New Approaches and Proven Solutions, editors, for Rowman & Littlefield. Ken speaks widely on the history of Christmas. With Max van Balgooy he is currently working on a book on Interpreting Christmas at Historic Sites and Museums.

Ken frequently consults on interpretive planning and community engagement projects at historic sites. These include Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee, James Madison’s Montpelier in Orange, Virginia and Trent House in Trenton, New Jersey. Ken holds an MAT from George Washington University. Currently Ken is President of the House of Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts.