Volunteer

Like all community organizations, we rely a great deal on the energies of our volunteers. We need your talent and we need your help! Volunteer.

Meeting Space, Event Facility

Our beautiful grounds are available for rental. Have your special event at the Royall House. Rental information.

Getting There

The Royall House and Slave Quarters are located at 15 George Street in Medford, Massachusetts. Detailed Map.

Major support provided by the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation .

Events and Programs

New Archaeological Exhibit

Parallel Lives, Common Landscape:
Artifacts from the Royall House and Slave Quarters

Open during Public Programs and by appointment

A few of the fascinating artifacts in the new archeological exhibit.

Akan-derived amulet; Royall chocolate cup;
gaming pieces

Photos by Alexandra Chan

At the Royall House and Slave Quarters, 15 George Street, Medford, MA (just off Main Street).

Details: From 1999-2001 a full-scale archaeological dig was conducted by Ricardo Elia, Ph. D. (1999-2000) and Alexandra Chan, Ph. D., (2000-2001) on the grounds of the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford, Massachusetts. This huge effort revealed thousands of artifacts from the Royall period (1732-1775), that help illuminate "the meanings of freedom and independence ... in the context of a household of wealthy Loyalists and enslaved Africans." (from our Mission Statement).

This new Exhibit features a selection of compelling objects, including rare physical evidence of the lives of those held in bondage by the Royalls. Dr. Chan has curated the Exhibit and provided text for the explanatory panels. Produced under a permit from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, with major support from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation.

A new book - The Curator of the Exhibit, Alexandra Chan, Ph. D., has published a new book about the archeological dig and its meaning - Slavery in the Age of Reason: Archaeology at a New England Farm (U. of Tennessee Press).

For more information, go to: http://utpress.org/a/searchdetails.php?jobno=T01197&authorsm=Chan,%20Alexandra%20A.

The book is available for sale from the Royall House Association. Download a printable pdf order form.

The Royall House and Slave Quarters Medford, Massachusetts