Commonwealth Humanities Lecture

Each year, in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassINC), a widely respected non-partisan think tank and publisher of CommonWealth magazine, the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities recognizes a humanities scholar or writer for his or her contributions to public understanding of contemporary issues or civic affairs in Massachusetts. 

The scholar selected for this honor delivers an original and substantive address at a public event at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington.  The lectureship carries a $5000 award.

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Fourth Annual Commonwealth Humanities Lecture

Thursday, March 29, 2007
National Heritage Museum
Lexington, Massachusetts
reception to follow

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Orlando Patterson will present the 2007 Commonwealth Humanities Lecture on Thursday, March 29, at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington at 7:30 p.m.  Patterson is the John Cowles Professor of Sociology at Harvard University and the award-winning author of groundbreaking works in the sociology of freedom including Freedom in the Making of Western Culture, The Ordeal of Integration, and Rituals of Blood. A frequent contributor to the New York Times op-ed page, he has also written three novels and numerous anthologized short stories and critical essays.  The lecture will be followed by a reception.  Admission is free but seating is limited.  To register, call (617) 742-6800 x120 or e-mail rsvp@massinc.org.

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Previous Winners

2006
Sissela Bok
The Burden of Deceit in Public Life

2005
Ilan Stavans
This Land Is Our Land: The Challenge of Diversity in Massachusetts

2004
Michael J. Sandel
Are We Still a Commonwealth? Markets, Morals and Civic Life