Portland, Maine 04101 United States
12:00 PM
EVENT DETAILS: Saturday, December 13, 2025 12 p.m. ET at Maine Historical Society Free and open to the public. Registration is kindly requested.
Join cultural historian Pamela McColl, the author of ’Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem, as she explores the heartfelt stories, and poems of an American Christmas – 250 years in the making. McColl shines a spotlight on contributions by writers Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Sophie May, Clement Clarke Moore, Emilie Poulson, Katherine Lee Bates and Harriet Beecher Stowe. This engaging presentation will include the reading of excerpts and poems of these accomplished national treasures and promises to be a perfect cozy addition to your holiday activities this winter!
About the speaker: Pamela McColl is an award-winning author, publisher, and lecturer. She has spoken at over 150 museums across America, sharing with audiences her knowledge of the development of Christmas in America from a literary and art viewpoint. After studying art and history at the University of Manitoba, McColl worked for 25 years as a corporate art consultant. In the 1990’s she formed a publishing company devoted to bringing books of social and historical significance to the public. Her 2025 release, Wondrous Mrs. Claus – A Literary and Pictorial Review of the Christmas Character, along with her other books, will be available at the Maine Historical Society gift shop, and she will be signing copies.