I would be delighted to present any of the following talks for your organization. Please contact me! Check here for the schedule of upcoming talks.


Recovering a Voice for Equality:
The Life & Letters of Judith Sargent Murray
Few women had a public voice in the days of the early republic, or left behind personal records of their experiences. But one woman, Judith Sargent Murray did both. Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1751 and a resident of Boston for almost twenty-five years, this well-known author and champion of female equality, education, economic independence, and political involvement kept letter books throughout her remarkable life. Blank volumes in which Murray made copies of the letters she wrote to family, friends, and political figures, her letter books offer a new eyewitness account of American history left behind by an observant, thoughtful woman who was also a professional writer. In 2003, Bonnie Hurd Smith initiated a multi-year project to transcribe, index, and publish all twenty of Murray’s letter books. In her illustrated talk, Bonnie discusses the fascinating content of Murray’s letter books, pairing excerpts from the letters with dozens of images that illustrate her life in Gloucester and Boston, her travels in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania, and her observations of political figures, events, and ideas.


Judith Sargent and John Murray:
An Eighteenth-century Love Story
Judith Sargent Stevens was twenty-three years old, lovely, and intellectually curious. John Murray was a robust thirty-three-year-old man whose charismatic presence and outgoing personality dominated the room. But Judith was married. Any thought of a romance with John was out of the question. Instead, Judith hoped they could “surely, and with the strictest propriety, mingle souls upon paper” by writing to each other. Using Judith Sargent Murray’s letters to tell the timeless love story of these two prominent eighteenth century figures, Bonnie Hurd Smith skillfully brings to life the story of their fourteen-year friendship, their twenty-seven-year marriage, and the many years they supported each others’ work with mutual respect and affection. This talk complements Bonnie's book "Mingling Souls Upon Paper": An Eighteenth-century Love Story which can be made available for sale as part of her talk.


Forming a New Era in Female History:
The Life & Legacy of Judith Sargent Murray
In 1790, Judith Sargent Murray’s essay “On the Equality of the Sexes” appeared in the prestigious Massachusetts Magazine. It was the first of many essays she would write on female equality and abilities, calling for improved education for women, and economic and political rights. Her essay is considered the first public claim for female equality in America. Murray also used the power of her public literary voice—writing under a male pen name during the optimistic days of the New Republic—to encourage philanthropy, a virtuous citizenship, and a responsible republic; to decry violence and war, promote respect for Nature, and marriage equality. Using excerpts from Murray’s essays and personal letters, Bonnie Hurd Smith presents an engaging biographical sketch of a leading figure in the story of progress for women in America whose voice and impact are finally being recognized.


Boston Women & The Law: A Virtual Tour
through Four Centuries of Boston Women's Legal History
For four centuries, after colonists arranged with “Squaw Sachem” to occupy some of her land, women in Boston have worked for equal participation in the law as citizens and practitioners. Early religious dissenters, abolitionists, suffragists, advocates for female equality, women attorneys, judges, and elected officials—dozens of their stories have been captured in Boston Women & The Law, a new walking trail of historic sites in downtown Boston created by Bonnie Hurd Smith for New England Law | Boston during the law school’s Centennial year in 2008. Join Bonnie for a virtual tour of some of the city’s best-known historical sites—now, with the added “twist” of women’s legal history.


“I Must Be Myself and Act”*
Stories from North Shore Women’s History
Hear inspiring stories about women from Beverly, Salem, Peabody, Gloucester, Ipswich, Newburyport, and North Andover, Massachusetts who overcame obstacles to achieve success and improve their communities. While some names will be familiar (Elizabeth Peabody, Anne Bradstreet), others will be a surprise. If your community is not listed here but you would like to offer my talk, please contact me. I can easily work in your own local history.
*quoted from Elizabeth Peabody


Highlights of the Salem Women's Heritage Trail
Since English colonists founded Salem in 1629 at the Native American village called Naumkeag, women have played an integral role in shaping its development from a small fishing village, to a leading maritime trading port, to a center of industry, to what it is today—a thriving city that celebrates its past while it builds its future. While the world may know Salem for the witchcraft trials of 1692, there are dozens more women's stories to tell. Patriots, educators, writers, artists, philanthropists, preservationists, social reformers, abolitionists, suffragists, business owners, entrepreneurs—Salem women have been there, ready to do what needed to be done. Bonnie Hurd Smith, who created the trail in 2000, presents a wide-ranging woman-focused journey through Salem history that is sure to entertain and inspire.


Highlights of the Boston Women's Heritage Trail
Women’s lives and achievements have enriched the history of Boston for almost four centuries, long after colonists arranged with “Squaw Sachem” to occupy some of her land. Yet the significance of women’s stories is often overlooked. Patriots, reformers, abolitionists, suffragists, artists, and writers—Boston women have always played an integral role in shaping history. Bonnie Hurd Smith, who is the former executive director of the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail, presents an engaging mix of women from different centuries, cultural backgrounds, and neighborhoods, who were engaged in important work in Boston.