This summer, History Cambridge partnered with the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program to host a student intern from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. Grady Frost researched Cambridge in the American Revolution to help History Cambridge staff create a Revolutionary History Hub, the newest addition to our collection of subject-specific resource sites to aid researchers and those curious about a variety of aspects of the city’s history. History Hubs are designed to collect and share information about the archival holdings and online resources of Cambridge’s many historical organizations, including but not limited to those of History Cambridge. They are meant to connect people to the wealth of information about historical topics that exists in repositories and online and to enable researchers to pursue further exploration. At the end of his internship, Grady reflected on his experience at History Cambridge and his longtime fascination with all things Revolutionary.
Growing up here – a kid who, at 7, was King George III for Halloween – I realized Boston’s history could be found in every nook and cranny if you look for it.
This summer, I got the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream: working with a historical society.
I am glad I reached out for this internship, as it has been wonderful working with fellow historians at History Cambridge. They are very passionate about their work, and it is clear how much they care about sharing the history of the city and making their knowledge more accessible to all. It gives me hope that I could make a living doing something I love – sharing and teaching history.
My main project this summer has been researching sources for a forthcoming Revolutionary History Hub. As part of the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, we have been trying to find and share untold stories of Cambridge people and events during this time. I found a wealth of Colonial history that ties our city to the American Revolution, and have spent the summer researching all sorts of information from websites, National Park Service pages, museum archives and other resources so these stories could be more accessible to Cambridge residents.
One story I found fascinating was the role Cambridge played in the Siege of Boston as the main staging point for Washington’s Continental Army. The siege was a turning point in the Revolution, forcing the British out of Massachusetts in March of 1776. During the siege, Cambridge was home to numerous Continental Army fortifications; none of these are still standing, but you can read all about them on the hub. You can also learn about Darby Vassall, a young boy enslaved at what would later become the Longfellow House. His family claimed their freedom after their enslavers, Tory supporter Henry Vassall and his family, fled their Brattle Street mansion for Boston. These are only a few of the many interesting connections Cambridge has to the American Revolution, many of which can be found on the History Hub, which will launch at the end of September. I hope this resource will be helpful to anyone interested in learning more about Cambridge’s part in our country’s history as we commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
About History Cambridge
History Cambridge started in 1905 as the Cambridge Historical Society. Today we have a new name and a new mission. We engage with our city to explore how the past influences the present to shape a better future. We recognize that every person in our city knows something about Cambridge’s history, and their knowledge matters. We listen to our community and we live by the ideal that history belongs to everyone. Throughout 2025, we are focusing on the history of East Cambridge. Make history with us at historycambridge.org.
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Beth Folsom is programs manager for History Cambridge.
The far right and left of the feature image for this post (not seen above) were added to in a digital retouching process. The subject was photographed and is real.
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I absolutely love this project! As a parent who homeschooled, we did a deep dive into the Revolution and took advantage of so many local resources, but it was a ton of work to aggregate it all. We could have used this! I think this will be a tremendous asset for all students of history (regardless of age). One thing that was really fun? Tying it into the musical Hamilton and really making it all come to life! Congrats on your project!