Contact

For those with comments, questions, or who would like to get involved:
contact@whenandwhereinboston.org

For those submitting new entries, changes to existing entries, images, or links, please first read the Style Sheet below and then:
use our suggestion form

 

Style Sheet for Submissions

Entries

The database is made up of individual entries. Almost all describe something that has occurred within the the current city limits of Boston. Some that occurred outside Boston and are included because they had a particular impact on Boston or provide historical context.

Each entry is made up of a Title, Date, and Text. All entries include a Source, from which the material was derived. Some include Links to other, local websites for more information. Some Images.

The Title is generally a declarative sentence (see Type below). The Date is that the year in which the entry occurred, and and the month and day, if possible. Dates reflects the Gregorian Calendar. BCE dates are approximate. Old Style appear in parentheses within the Text. Dates in brackets denote alternate dates suggested by other sources..

Entries should be approximately 250 words, and made up short, short, fact-filled, declarative sentences that proceed in chronologic order. If the last sentence refers to a subsequent, related entry, it should end with the date of that entry, followed by an asterisk. Entries should be written in a somewhat neutral tone, but an interesting manner. Direct quotations should be attributed within the text.

Biographical entries should contain if possible the subject’s date and place of birth, parents’ names, education, accomplishments, spouse’s name, local residential address, date and place of death and burial.

Institutions or organizations entries should include their original name, founder, mission, and events in their development.

Building dates refer to the year year they were completed or dedicated, and should include architect, style, location, and description. The date of subsequent replacement buildings should be noted, with information on them appearing in any subsequent entries.

Grammar

The serial comma is used. Sentences are fact-filled and generally proceed in chronological order. In the case of buildings, the architect’s name appears first. followed by any original name in the first sentence. Dates and locations should appear at the end of sentences.

Language and Terms

Some of the text was written more than 20 years ago, so language and terms may be dated, especially with regard to racial and ethnic groups. African-American has been used throughout. Gay has generally been used until recently, and now includes references to LGBTQ+. Hispanic has generally been used to describe Spanish language users. Disabled or with persons with disabilities has generally been used. Jewish has been used to signify both a religious and an ethnic identity. British has generally been used rather than English, even before 1707. In referring to the city of Boston, “city” has not been capitalized.

 Type

Entries are made up of three types: Events, Buildings, and Created Works. The Title for Events, Buildings, and some Created Works (movies, radio or television shows, public art) should be a declarative sentence, if possible beginning with key words lending the entry to being alphabetized. The Title of most forms of Created Works begins with the name of the author/artist/creator (last name, first name) then its specific title. Buildings are further categorized by Use and Style. If a building is repurposed, a separate entry is made for the same address with a different Title and Use. Created works are further categorized by Type and Genre.

Significance

Entries are ranked at one of three levels: All, More Significant, and Most Significant. Admittedly subjective, this is done to help filter and manage the volume of entries produced by any search. Currently, 1% of entries are ranked “most significant” and 33% ranked “significant” out of the more than 60,000 total entries. Entries that appear in Biographies, Encyclopedia, Homes, Miscellany, Quotations, Views of Boston, and entries occurring outside of Boston are ranked 1 or 2.

Groups

Entries currently are categorized by the following groupings: African-American; Asian-American; First Families; Fitzgeralds & Kennedys; Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, Quest; Irish-American; Italian-American; Hispanic, Latinx; Jewish Nationality; Native Americans, Indigenous People; Person with Disabilities; Women. Other groups may be added.

Homes

Homes are the locations where notable Bostonians have lived.

People

People are those primarily concerned in the Entries.

Neighborhoods

When and Where in Boston uses has divided the city into various Neighborhoods, with each divided into different Sections. The names and boundaries of the various Neighborhoods and Sections will no doubt provoke debate and may be changed. Currently, they are:

Brighton/Allston (Allston, Braves Field, Brighton, Commonwealth, Oak Square).

Back Bay (Back Bay Proper, Boylston Street/St. Botolph, Boston Public Library.

Beacon Hill (Boston Common, Beacon Hill Flats, Esplanade, North Slope, Public Garden, South Slope,             New State House).

Boston Harbor (Harbor Islands)

Charlestown (Charlestown East, Charlestown West, Bunker Hill, Charlestown Navy Yard).

Dorchester (Ashmont, Codman Hill, Codman Square, Columbia/Savin Hill, Columbia Point, Fields Corner, Franklin Field/North, Franklin Field/South, Four Corners, Boston Globe/Dorchester, Grove Hall, Lower Mills/Cedar Grove, Meeting House Hill, Neponset/Pope’s Hill/Port Norfolk, St. Margaret’s, Uphams Corner/Jones Hill).

Downtown (Business District, Bay Village, Boston Garden, Boston Herald/Downtown, Chinatown, Dock Square, Faneuil Hall, Boston Globe/Downtown, Government Center, New City Hall, North End, North Station, Old City Hall, Old State House, South Station, Theater District, Waterfront, West End).

East Boston (Eagle Hill, Harbor View, Jeffries Point, Logan Airport, Maverick/Central/Day Squares, Orient Heights, Suffolk Downs)

Fenway (Audubon Circle, Boston Arena, East Fens, Fenway Park, Kenmore, Longwood Medical Area, Museum of Fine Arts, Symphony Hall, West Fens).

Hyde Park (Cleary Square/River Street, Fairmount, Georgetown/Stony Brook, Readville, West/River Street).

Jamaica Plain (Brookside/Union Avenue, Centre Street, Egleston Square, Forest Hills Cemetery, Forest Hills/Woodbourne, Hyde Square, Jackson Square, Jamaica Hills, Parkside, Pondside, Stonybrook, Sumner Hill, South Street).

Mattapan (Mattapan Square, Wellington Hill).

Roslindale (Centre Street South, Metropolitan Hill/Beech Street, Mount Hope, Roslindale Village/Lower Washington St.).

Roxbury (Dudley/Dorchester Bay, Franklin Park, Fort Hill/Highland Park, Lower Roxbury, Mission Hill, Mount Pleasant, Washington Park).

South Boston (Andrew Square, City Point, Dorchester Heights, Fort Point Channel, Lower End).

South End (Boston Herald/South End, New York Streets, South End Proper, South of Washington Street).

West Roxbury (Bellevue Hill, Centre Street North, Highlands, Parkway, Spring Street/Upper Washington St.).

Areas outside Boston include: Harvard University in Cambridge, Greater Boston (roughly within Route 128), rest of Massachusetts, rest of New England, rest of other states, Washington, D.C., rest of U.S., rest of the world.