Abe Lincoln, played by Arthur Bennett, hands out his portrait - a penny - to school children at the Annual Presidents' Day Birthday Celebration

Abraham Lincoln came to New Bedford in 1848 and will make a return trip – accompanied by George Washington – to visit with children and enjoy birthday cake at the Museum’s Presidents’ Day Birthday Celebration on Monday, February 20,from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Jacobs Family Gallery.

Explore how the Founding Fathers influenced New Bedford history, participate in a scavenger hunt, create sailors’ valentines, learn how to make origami whales, and more. Children will have the opportunity to dress as their favorite president and have their photograph taken beside the famous Resolute desk, created from the same ship’s timbers as the one used in the Oval Office. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Presidents’ Day events are free. Regular admission rates apply to the museum galleries.

Presidents’ Day schedule includes crafts and activities for children, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; storytelling with President Lincoln, 11:00 to 11:30 a.m.; scavenger hunt, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.; dress like a president beside the Resolute Desk, noon to 1:00 p.m.; add your face to Mount Rushmore alongside Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; storytelling with President Washington, 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.; and Happy Birthday sing-along and cake with the Presidents, 1:30 to 2:00 p.m.

Presidents’ Day kicks off a week of events for school vacation week that includes special tours and hands-on activities each day, culminating with Chocolate Day on Saturday, February 25.

School vacation week activities

Tuesday-Friday, February 21-24, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Museum highlights tours led by docents that include the opportunity to go below decks on the Lagoda. Regular admission rates apply.

Tuesday, February 21, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Moby-Dick highlights tour. Herman Melville’s great American novel comes to life on this tour of the Museum’s collection. The tour will leave from the front desk. Regular admission rates apply.

Wednesday, February 22, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Make your own scrimshaw, learn to draw a whale, learn to make origami whales, and more. Free.

Thursday, February 23, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Create your own Sailors’ Valentines and take them home as a keepsake. Free.

Friday, February 24, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: All aboard the Lagoda! Join the crew of Capt. Calvinilius (C.) Weade on board the Lagoda for an adventure on the high seas. Travel the world, interact with foreign people, learn the ropes of the whaleship, and go a-whaling. Regular admission rates apply.

Saturday, February 25, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Valentines Day II – Chocolate Day! Learn where chocolate comes from, how it came to colonial New England, and how cocoa was made in early America. Did New Bedford whalers drink chocolate at sea? Free lectures and demonstrations of colonial-style chocolate making with free samples from American Heritage Chocolate. Authors Christopher Kelly, Dr. Timothy Walker (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth), and Rodney Snyder (Mars, Inc.) will discuss the history of chocolate, and the chapters they contributed to Chocolate: History, Culture and Heritage. Copies, signed by the authors, will be available for sale in the Museum store.

Gary Jobson (photo: Billy Black)

Gary Jobson, world-class sailor and president of US SAILING will be the first of 12 distinguished speakers in a combined lecture series beginning on Thursday, February 2 at the Whaling Museum.

Gary Jobson will present “Sailing: Speed and Passion.” A world class sailor, television commentator and author, Jobson is President of US SAILING, the national governing body of sailing in the United States. He has authored 17 books on sailing, is Editor-at-Large of Sailing World and Cruising World magazines and has been ESPN’s sailing commentator since 1985. In October 2003 he was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame by the Herreshoff Marine Museum. In 1999, Jobson won the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy, US SAILING’s most prestigious award. He currently races a Swan 42, Mustang, and an Etchells, Whirlwind.

Jobson’s illustrated talk is the first of 12 programs scheduled this winter and spring – February 2 through May 10 – part of the Whaling Museum’s three signature lecture series now combined: the Sailors’ Series (5 programs), Man and Whales (3 programs), and the Old Dartmouth Lyceum (4 programs). Held on Thursday evenings, all programs include a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Jacobs Family Gallery followed by the lecture at 7:30 p.m. in the Cook Memorial Theater.

Admission to each lecture: member, $15; non-member, $20. Select any number of programs when you confirm. Subscription to the combined series: members, $165.00 for all 12 lectures; non-members, $225.00. For tickets please call (508) 997-0046 Ext. 100.

The Sailors’ Series (SS) celebrates its 22nd year with illustrated lectures presenting a wide variety of experience and adventures by individuals with lifelong commitments to sailing, boats, and the sea. Thursdays: February 2 and 16, March 22, April 12 and 19.

The Man and Whales series (M&W) examines our changing views of marine mammals with science-themed lectures that bring focus to important whale conservation topics through the expertise of those who dedicate their professional lives to these issues. Thursdays: March 1, 15 and 29.

The Old Dartmouth Lyceum series (ODL) illuminates broader historical themes with fine and decorative arts by examining significant holdings in the Museum collection, including 19th century landscape painting, ceramics and glassware. Thursdays: April 5 and 26, May 3 and 10.

Schedule:

February 16 – John Rousmaniere: “The Golden Pastime,” an illustrated history of American yachting history. (SS)

March 1 – Dr. Peter Capelotti: “The Whaling Expedition of the Ulysses 1937–38.” (M&W).

March 15 – Dr. Stephen Godfrey: “When Whales Walked the Earth: Fossil Whales and Olfactory Evolution.” (M&W)

March 22 – Douglas Adkins: “Dorade; the History of an Ocean Racing Yacht.” (SS)

March 29 – Capt. Stacy Pedrozo, USN, C.O., Naval Justice School, and Capt. Tom Fetherston, USN Retired, “Whose Homeland Security? Protecting Marine Mammals While Protecting National Security.” (MW)

April 5 – Stuart P. Feld, Hirschl & Adler Galleries: “Museum acquisitions during the tenure of Director and Curator Richard Kugler.” (ODL)

April 12 – Capt. Sean S. Bercaw: “Full Sail into Cuba on the Amistad.” (SS)

April 19 – Rich Wilson: “Race France to France, Leave Antarctica to Starboard.” (SS)

April 26 – Kirk J. Nelson: “New Bedford Glass and Its Context.” (ODL)

May 3 – Keith Kauppila: “Visual Culture of the Civil War,” (ODL)

May 10 – Chris Gustin: “Finding Form.” (ODL).

The 2012 lecture series is presented by BayCoast Bank, and sponsored in part by C. E. Beckman, and Hampton Inn Fairhaven/New Bedford.

A capacity crowd gathers in the Jacobs Family Gallery to hear the conclusion of Moby-Dick

The 16th Annual Moby-Dick Marathon is now one for the history books, in so many ways. High media interest and unseasonably warm weather for January encouraged record numbers of visitors to drop in for a look-see. Over the course of the weekend (January 6-8, 2012) more than 2,900 visitors came to the Museum. Many stayed and listened longer than ever before to the book often described as the greatest work of American literature.

Among the more than 150 readers, many notables particpated, including Congressman Barney Frank, Congressman William Keating, Mayor Jon Mitchell and several former New Bedford Mayors, as well as Peter Whittemore, the great, great grandson of Herman Melville.

Nearly 100 guests enjoyed the ticketed buffet dinner in the Jacobs Family Gallery on Friday evening (January 6), which kicked off a weekend of activities surrounding the Marathon.

Following dinner, a lecture titled “Moby-Dick in American Popular Culture,” presented by the Melville Society’s Dr. Timothy Marr (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), was attended by 187 Melville fans in the Cook Memorial Theater.

Melville Society scholars were kept busy with questions throughout the event, holding court in the Wattles Family Gallery, discussing all matters Moby-Dick and Melville. With much good humor, they were also peppered with perplexing queries of the widest sort, posed by the public in the Stump the Scholars II program on Saturday morning. General order and alacrity of the proceedings were ably kept by the moderator, Michael Dyer, Maritime Curator, with laughs aplenty throughout.

Congressman Barney Frank

One highlight of the weekend was a performance at the Seamen’s Bethel by the critically acclaimed tenor, Jonathan Boyd. He performed the hymn from Chapter 9 to music by Philip Sainton, penned for the film score for John Huston’s 1956 film. Boyd will star as “Greenhorn” in Jake Heggie’s new opera, “Moby Dick,” set to premiere at the San Diego Opera in February. A contingent of museum trustees and members will travel to the West Coast to see it.

Rev. Dr. Edward R. Dufresne delivered an inspired reading of Father Mapple’s sermon on Jonah and the Whale in the Bethel.

And again, this year’s Marathon was live streaming on the museum’s website and was viewed by unprecedented numbers; more on that in another post.

Cesária Évora (1941-2011)

A book of remembrance will be available at the Museum on Wednesday, December 21 for the public to express condolences to the family of Cesária Évora, who passed away on Saturday, December 17, at São Vicente, Cape Verde.

News of the death of the internationally acclaimed vocalist was issued by the Cape Verdean Embassy, which also announced a period of national mourning, noting “Cape Verde lost its greatest Ambassador, the “barefoot diva,” as she was known in the world stages.” She was a frequent visitor to New Bedford, performing at the Zeiterion, the Verdean Vets Hall and other regional venues.

The artist was buried in her native city of Mindelo on December 20.

At the request of the consulate, the Cesária Évora Memorial Book of Remembrance will be available to sign in the Jacobs Family Gallery during museum hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21. Donated by the Aubertine-Lopes Funeral Home of New Bedford, the book will be forwarded to the consulate for presentation to the family.

Cesária Évora was 70 years old and is survived by a son and a daughter.

The blog post from the Defenders of Wildlife can be seen here.

For more information on Basilosaurus, the animal who is most similar to this new discovery, click here to get to the NMNH site.

Perhaps someday cats like this could be use to aid in cetacean research. After all, dogs have been trained to sniff out whale scat in the water. We have a great photo in our The Hunt for Knowledge gallery of a Rottweiler named Fargo (with researcher Dr. Rosalind Rolland), wearing a PFD ready to detect the pungent yet important whale evidence that humans can’t find so easily.

This English watercolor of the ship Iona in its original frame is one of many consigned and donated nautical antiques in the Scrimshaw Weekend's Benefit Auction on May 14 at 8pm, proceeds to benefit the New Bedford Whaling Museum. None of the items are from the Museum's collections. (Photo by Richard Donnelly)

Scrimshaw experts, collectors and fans from around the world have another reason to look forward to the 22nd Annual Scrimshaw Weekend at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, May 13-15. It features three days of new presentations and activities, including a first-ever public auction of consigned nautical antiques on Saturday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m. in the Cook Memorial Theater.

The world’s only forum dedicated to the indigenous shipboard art of whalemen, Scrimshaw Weekend attracts enthusiasts from four continents to share the enjoyment of collecting and researching this remarkable artwork at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of scrimshaw.

The weekend kicks off at noon on Friday, May 13 with a Marine Antiques Show and Swap Meet, expanded by popular demand. On Friday evening, the keynote address titled “‘Built’ Scrimshaw: Types, Tools, and Construction Methods” is presented by James Vaccarino, J.D., and Sanford Moss, Ph.D. at 8:00 p.m. in the Cook Memorial Theater. A full day of special programs devoted to scrimshaw on Saturday will wrap up with a cocktail reception at 5:00 p.m. and gala banquet at 6:00 p.m. The banquet will be followed by a public auction of consigned and donated nautical antiques at 8:00 p.m. in the Cook Memorial Theater, with proceeds to benefit the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Special exhibitions and an optional fieldtrip on Sunday are also planned.

Marine Antiques Show and Swap Meet

On Friday, May 13, from noon to 5:00 p.m., the second annual Marine Antiques and Swap Meet will feature for sale high quality marine antiques including scrimshaw, nautical instruments and tools, whaling logbooks, ship models, photos, paintings, prints, New Bedford memorabilia, and more in the Jacobs Family Gallery. Entry fee for the Antiques Show and Swap Meet only is $5, or free with museum admission or membership.

Scrimshaw Plenary Sessions

On Saturday, May 14, plenary sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. will include, “Care and Feeding: Taking Care of Your Scrimshaw – Expanded,” with Conservator and Curatorial Intern, D. Jordan Berson, M.A., M.L.S.; Scrimshaw Preservation and Conservation Q&A Session; “Pictorial Sources of Scrimshaw in Institutional and Private Collections” with Jack H. T. Chang, M.D.; “Pictorial Sources of Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum,” with Stuart Frank, Ph.D., Senior Curator, NBWM; “Scrimshaw in the McDowell Collection”; “Pirates and Female Pirates on Scrimshaw,” and more.

Sessions will also include a Scrimshaw Market Report and Q&A with marine antiques dealer, Andrew Jacobson; an update on “A Comprehensive Catalogue of Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum,” with James Russell, Museum president; Richard Donnelly, book photographer, and Sara Eisenman, designer; Nautical Antiques Auction overview with Richard Donnelly, and a Collectors’ Show-and-Tell.

Public Auction of Consigned Nautical Antiques

On Saturday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m., guest auctioneer Ron Bourgeault of Northeast Auctions, LLC, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, will preside over the public auction of a wide array of consigned nautical antiques including scrimshaw and whale craft, marine paintings, engravings and lithographs, log books, charts, antique photos, nautical instruments and more in the Cook Memorial Theater. A featured expert on the popular PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, Ron’s career in the antiques business spans four decades. He established Northeast Auctions in 1987, now ranked among the largest auction houses in the United States.

The public auction will consist of consignment and donated items only, with proceeds to benefit the New Bedford Whaling Museum. No items are from the Museum’s collections.

Approximately 150 lots will include many fine examples of scrimshaw, including whales’ teeth, whale bone busks engraved with various subjects, whale bone fids, a whale ivory pie crimper, fine inlaid sewing box from the Nye family, five canes including lady’s leg and fist examples, cribbage board, carved whale’s tooth amulet, lady’s leg pipe tamper, hand & cuff bodkin, whale bone clothes pin, large whale bone carved spoon and more. Auction listings and photos are online at www.auctionzip.com.

Preview of auction items in the Resource Center begins Friday, May 13 from noon to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday, May 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend the preview and auction at no charge. Left bids will be accepted. No phone or online bidding. Payment: cash, check and major credit cards accepted. There is a 15% buyer’s premium and Massachusetts sales tax is applicable to buyers without a valid resale certificate.

The fee for Scrimshaw Weekend, including admission to the Museum, all open galleries, Scrimshaw & Marine Antiques Show, scheduled meals, all plenary sessions and refreshments: $335 (Museum members $295) before May 1. After May 1 the fee is $370 (Museum members $330). Tickets to Saturday’s banquet only: $75 each.

On Sunday, May 15, an optional all-day fieldtrip will head to Nantucket Island and its Whaling Museum for a “behind the scenes” tour of its outstanding scrimshaw collection, including the museum’s off-campus storage facility. A special visit to an extraordinary private whaling collection will include a reception hosted by the owners. The bus will leave at 7:30 a.m. from the New Bedford Whaling Museum, returning by 8:00 p.m. The price is $235 and includes luncheon at the famed Jared Coffin House, all motor coach and ferry transportation.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Northeast Auctions, LLC of Portsmouth, NH, and the Maine Antique Digest, who have helped make Scrimshaw Weekend possible year after year.

To register, contact: Visitor Services, (508) 997-0046, ext. 100, or frontdesk@whalingmuseum.org

Ein Musikalisches Duell : Der Narwal als Schwimmlehrer (A Musical Duel: A Narwhal as a Swimming Instructor) by E. Greibner. From the Museum's Kendall Collection

This coming weekend, several area teachers will learn how to use whales as a means of teaching science, math and geography.   We will use our skeletons, whale artifacts and a primary source document to demonstrate these important concepts in an inexpensive manner that is fun for the students.

There are only a couple of openings left in the course. Professional Development Points, through our partners at the Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS), and a graduate credit through Cambridge College are available.  The course tuition is $50; the graduate credit is another $50. If you or someone you know is interested please contact me via email at rrocha@whalingmuseum.org or via telephone (508) 717-6849.

For the record, whales don’t travel in schools. They travel in pods or gams.

Now cast your vote for New Bedford, voting ends on March 15th.

Since 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destination program has recognized cities and towns that offer an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes and a strong commitment to historic preservation, sustainability and revitalization. In each community, residents have joined together and taken action to protect their town’s character.