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FIRST FRIDAY SOCIAL – MEMBERS ONLY
Kate Gilbert will bring to life the diaries of Dorothea Balano, who accompanied her husband, Fred Balano, on a series of voyages throughout their married life. Dorothea’s grandson, James Balano, documented a small portion of that life by publishing some of the diaries that she wrote onboard various voyages between 1910 and 1913. This compilation is a practical tribute to women at sea.
Dorothea imparts insight, and humor, into her voyages in ways that give modern readers a realistic look into her life. In the harsh reality of seafaring, there are many entries that are downhearted, and even matter-of-fact, but there are also some incredible stories that clearly demonstrated her love for the sea.
Please join us to hear about Dorothea’s life!
Kate Gilbert started at the Custom House Maritime Museum as an Intern in the Collections Department in 2011. She attended the University of New England and Tufts University to study History and Museum Studies, where she discovered her infatuation with all things maritime history. In 2012, she curated the exhibit “In The Wake of Titanic; her everlasting maiden voyage. During the time of her internship here, she conceived the “Voices of Christmas Past” program, which has been performed here for the past 10 years. Kate enjoys researching in order to give a voice to the lives of ordinary people, and she is glad that this year she is able to present a different type of program!