August 26, 2011—The 91st anniversary of women’s right to vote in the U.S brought crowds to the Swan Boat pavilion in Boston’s Public Garden. Among those honored at Women’s Equality Day was Susan Wilson—photographer, writer, Boston historian, and co-director of Melodic Vision.
A large crowd attended Women’s Equality Day celebrations at the Public Garden, an event which honored women’s right to vote, the Paget family and Boston’s Swan Boats, and the just released brochure and map, “30 Highlights of Boston Herstory” (photo © 2011 by Susan Wilson)
Early in 2011, the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail commissioned Susan—along with BWHT board member and president emeritus, Mary Smoyer, and designer Pat Nieshoff—to conceptualize, create, and produce a beautiful new foldout brochure and walking map chronicling “30 Highlights of Boston Herstory.” The finished brochure was displayed, distributed to audience members, and heralded at the Public Garden event.
Susan Wilson with Mary Smoyer, the team that created the new brochure and map, “30 Highlights of Boston Herstory,” along with designer Pat Nieshoff (photo © 2011 by Rebecca Strauss)
A centerpiece of the day’s event was the awarding of Boston Landmark status to the Swan Boats, which have been owned and operated by the Paget family since the founding of these unique boats in 1877. Though the Swan Boats were founded by Robert Paget, the entrepreneur passed away only one year after launching the enterprise. His wife, Julia Paget (1848-1914), assumed full management of this family business; but because she was a woman, she was forced to gather signatures from Back Bay businessmen to testify to her ability to run the Swan Boats. Julia’s success was obvious: she is featured in the new BWHT brochure, and the Paget family runs the Swan Boats to this day, ably managed by Julia’s great-granddaughter, Lyn Paget.
Melodic Vision’s Susan Wilson with Lyn Paget of the Swan Boats and Sue Goganian, president of the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail (photo © 2011 by Rebecca Strauss)
Lyn Paget was among the illustrious speakers at the event, along with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, Boston Women’s Heritage Trail president Sue Goganian, and Marie St. Fleur, Chief of Advocacy and Strategic Management for the Mayor’s Office.
Swan Salute
Melodic Vision is no stranger to history or to swans. Because of Susan Wilson’s expertise in Things Historic, MV has produced projects on a variety of cultural topics, including a 25-minute history-and-music video featured at the Maritime Museum at Battery Wharf, in Boston’s North End. As part of their Tiny Tales series of storybook videos for children, Melodic Vision is also working on a series of “Swan Stories.”
Copies of the new Women’s Heritage Trail “30 Highlights of Boston Herstory” brochure are available on the trail’s website, www.bwht.org.
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BOOK A BOSTON HISTORY TOUR
WITH MELODIC VISION’S SUSAN WILSON!
Susan Wilson Co-Director of Melodic Vision & Boston History Tour Guide
Susan Wilson is available for year-round, private, customized walking tours for individuals and groups. Her specialties include:
—Boston women’s history
—The Golden Age of American Literature in Boston
—Literary Boston, from 1630 to the present day
—The Freedom Trail
—The Black Heritage Trail
—Battery Wharf in Boston’s North End
—Forest Hills Cemetery
—Public Art in Boston’s downtown parks
—and any imaginative combination of all the above!
For information, prices, dates, and bookings contact Melodic Vision:
info@melodicvision.com or call 781-398-2240
Just click, listen, ponder, and respond. Then send in your answer to info@melodicvision.com, post on our FaceBook page, or in the comment section of this page.
