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Natick Through the Years: A Historical Image Gallery
At our 150th anniversary party, we displayed a slideshow of over 250 images from Natick's past. We all enjoyed it and are delighted to share it with you! A big thanks to NHS Researcher and Archivist Jennifer Richards and our high school interns Karina Artemiev and Fred Wang.
From Manuscripts to Museum Exhibits: Heather Walker’s Archival Adventures This Summer
Heather Walker was awarded the third and fourth Marg M. Balcom Archival Fellowship at the Natick Historical Society. A Natick resident since 1999, Heather (she/her) holds a B.A. in English and Women’s Studies and an M.A. in Children’s Literature from Simmons University. She recently made a professional pivot to pursue a career in archives, earning her MSLIS with a concentration in Archival Management from Simmons University in May 2025. Heather has worked for a variety of nonprofits, including the Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn, the Schlesinger Library at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, and Simmons University.
Her 2024 fellowship focused on researching, curating, and updating the “Across the Centuries: Looking at Local Objects” NHS museum exhibit. Returning as the 2025 Fellow, Heather concentrated on the Society’s Founders Collection, which comprises documents, books, and manuscripts acquired over many decades, primarily dating from the 18th and 19th centuries and relating to Natick’s history. The collection currently houses 37.5 cubic feet of records, some of which the Society plans to digitize and make available online in the coming years. Heather meticulously inventoried and cataloged over 350 documents, providing detailed, item-level descriptions that made the collection more accessible and invaluable to researchers.
Heather is a remarkable part of our team—self-starting, attentive to detail, and deeply dedicated to her work. She is a joy to work with, and we truly enjoyed having her at the Society this summer. Outside of her archival work, Heather is an exceptional baker, known for creating custom birthday cakes for her family and friends. Her dedication, professionalism, and creativity have made a lasting impact on our collections and the preservation of Natick’s history.
Thank you, Heather!
By Jennifer Richards
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Snapshots of Natick: Exploring Our Past Through the NHS Collections
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From NHS Founders Collections: Invitation from William Emerson Baker to Joshua Parmenter for a swan’s funeral at Ridge Hill Farms, c. 1870s. Part of our Founders Collection, this piece reflects Baker’s eccentric humor and flair for spectacle.
Discover the Emerson-Baker Estate: A Gilded Age Marvel in Natick’s Backyard
Step into the world of William Emerson Baker, an eccentric inventor, entrepreneur, and social reformer who turned Ridge Hill Farms into a spectacular estate blending scientific ideals with whimsical design. From underground caverns to glass pig invitations, Baker’s estate was a serious experiment in social progress and a playful spectacle that drew thousands of visitors in the 1870s. Explore this fascinating chapter of Natick’s history through rare artifacts, documents, maps, and photos from the Natick Historical Society’s collection.
With gratitude to Trudy Reisner, Natick Historical Society Volunteer Researcher, for her enthusiasm and dedication to uncovering and preserving Natick’s story.
Curious to learn more?
Bill Bruin's Funeral, Natick Historical Society Photograph Collection. Watercolor by unidentified artist, [circa 1874]