Posts from Lauren T. Furey

Lauren is responsible for developing, implementing and coordinating interpretive programs in both new and ongoing exhibitions throughout the Museum. Her avid love of all things related to maps and books is center stage in her creation and execution of the Museum’s popular Maritime Mondays program. She provides engaging interpretation in the Museum as well as outreach programming in the community to connect our visitors with our collection and enrich the visitors’ experiences.

Staff Voices

The Magic of Maritime Mondays

May 6, 2020May 21, 2020

The Magic of Maritime Mondays

The pandemic has changed everything. We go to work “from home” and most of our day-to-day interactions with others outside of our homes are done online via Zoom, Google Chat, FaceTime, etc. Of course there are those who are essential personnel including first responders, maintenance workers, health care providers, and all those folks who keep our cities going and our grocery stores running. Even my 20-year-old kid, who still lives at home, is working at Starbucks. But I’m stuck at home. Read more

Collections Staff Voices

Patten Down the Hatches!

April 21, 2020April 23, 2020

Image: National Portrait Gallery, Mary Ann Brown Patten 1857

We often hear about adventures at sea involving storms, mutinies, accidents, and illness. More often than not, the storyteller goes on to talk about the heroics of a crew member who is, usually, a man. But what if it were a woman? An amazing 19-year-old woman? A woman who happened to also be pregnant?

The story of Mary Patten was well known when it took place in the 19th century. It appeared in many newspapers because of the sheer novelty of the incident. Women in 19th-century society were considered the “weaker sex,” and whose sole purpose, in middle class America, was to support their husbands and families at home. I grew up in New England and never heard a word about Mary. Read more