Provocative title, yes? It’s not mine. A very different presentation for me today: a very short post, with no pictures and very little analysis on my part. Basically I just want to offer you a link, to the Minority Report of the two historians appointed to the City Seal Task Force, whose contributions to the Official Report were so butchered and detached from documentation that they felt compelled to compose their own report and submit it to the Salem City Council for its review and consideration of an alteration to Salem’s official city seal since 1839. I’m not sure what’s going to happen here, but we all (including myself—five posts here!) got very swept up in this process. In general, the City Council seems to have a preference for very bland history, which offends no one and affirms some contemporary value, or very commodified history (all witches all the time everywhere), which many people find offensive but is rationalized according to its perceived monetary value, and nothing in between. Very little nuance is permitted, and of course history is all nuance and the City Seal discussion really had a lot of nuance, all of which is presented so well in this Minority Report. And that’s one reason I want to amplify it.
The other reason why I wanted to share this report is that it is excellent in general as well as in nuance! It’s a detailed summary of a major sector of Salem’s maritime history during its so-called “golden age,” drawn from both traditional and new studies, with some great insights into cultural history and public history. It features an array of perspectives, from both the past and the present. Even if you’re not into the seal debate (which is understandable–I don’t know how it creeped up on me either) it’s well worth your time.
Now usually I would analyze and annotate this myself, but I said to myself (for once): I have said (written) enough! I certainly would be interested in your comments here, however (particularly because I haven’t had anyone to discuss this with), and I’ll be back with something new next week. I’m not sure when the City Council is going to take this issue up, but I’ll report back when they do.
January 12th, 2026 at 8:55 am
I will affirm, without reading it, but on your respected opinion, that this Minority Report is well researched and written.
But nothing will budge my long held belief.
Our present seal is beautiful and inoffensive. It has a long and respected history.
I do not wish for it to be altered in any way.
January 12th, 2026 at 9:53 am
You should read it, it’s so good! Apart from the seal issue, it’s wonderful to have a succinct summary of this aspect of Salem’s trade with the East Indies which reflects both traditional and new scholarship and even incorporates material culture.
January 12th, 2026 at 11:12 am
Bravo to Vijay Joyce and Michael Feener for this balanced, thorough and thoughtful report on the City Seal. I hope the City Councillors will take the time to read this before taking any action on the City Seal.
January 12th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
Isn’t it great? I think we should have a copy in the library!
January 12th, 2026 at 11:42 am
Donna, thank you so much for calling attention to this report. I read it a few weeks ago, thanks to my ever-alert Federal Street neighbors. I agree — there is so much in it one would never have known or suspected. So much wonderful detail, nuance, and insight, all presented with care and fairness.
As for our City government, I seem to continually be finding that I must increase my level of cynicism, somewhat as to their competence and sense of priorities but mainly as to their tendentiousness. At the beginning of the City Seal project, I told myself I needed to wait and see how the project went. But at this point I can only assume the conclusion was determined beforehand and the “process” was merely for show. I can see no other explanation that would account for how this has all unfolded, though if you think that is too harsh, please say so.
Thanks again for all the effort you put into your posts.
January 12th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
I just don’t know. I really wished we could have had a more public, more substantive discussion about all of this. It’s a new Council, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I’ve been disappointed time and time again by some of its veteran members.
January 12th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
I found this thorough, well-researched paper most interesting and hope that the city leaders will pay serious attention to it. I am tired of all the things some call racist these days. I wonder if a lot of this is brought about by some Caucasians who are guilty of their skin. What I find sad is that some of the changes in our culture are removing non-white people from view. Take for examples the Indian maiden holding up a box of Land O Lakes butter, and images of African-Americans on boxes of Uncle Ben’s rice and Aunt Jemima on bottles of syrup. If anything, changes like this decrease diversity from the public view. Again, excellent job on this minority report and your contributions to it, Donna.
January 13th, 2026 at 6:59 am
From the birthplace of Roger Conant in East Devon UK I have been following the very sad seal saga. Some objectors probably mean well. But it seems that for many people today ‘the past is another country’, regarded as a pariah state. Will the dove of peace have to go as well because it is white?
January 13th, 2026 at 8:19 am
Hello Michael, I really should emphasize that more in all of these posts: I am truly sorry that people are offended by the image on the seal and they certainly have a right to voice that offense. The whole process has both been the issue for me, and so I forget that very basic fact. The whole community should have been able to have a more open and substantive discussion that this process allowed us to do. And you can’t just shut down historical inquiry and practice, which is what the Official Report does.