Occupying Massachusetts

“The places on which we stand flicker with the subtle traces of peoples who have come before us. In this moving book, Sandra Matthews asks us to look—really look—at the relationship between us and them and meditate on what such things as possession, occupation, and settlement might mean. Her photographs are haunting and also disturbingly beautiful.” ~Anthony W. Lee, Idella Plimpton Kendall Professor of Art History at Mt. Holyoke College, author of six books about photography, and founder/editor of the acclaimed book series Defining Moments in American Photography

“Thank you for sharing your work, Sandra. Occupying Massachusetts is a striking composition of images and words, lending a gleam of light into long stories that linger on the periphery. They're always there, next to us, but are seldom seen full frontal—it's more, rather, that they are sensed. Your juxtapositions enable the clarity that can come when, for example, you can see a hazy star more distinctly by looking next to it, rather than directly at it.” ~Rich Holschuh, Elnu Abenaki Tribal Historic Preservation Officer

“A beautiful volume to browse through on fascinating and informative page at a time Occupying Massachusetts is a moving story whose message will be appreciated for years to come—and could well served (sic) as a template for similar historical studies of other American states.” ~Midwest Book Review

“[A]n eloquent album of images of ordinary structures and historical sites around the state—accompanied by information about the human history associated with each before the Pilgrims… All the more powerful for the modesty of the presentation.” ~Harvard Magazine

“[This] book is marvelous—great pictures, and moving and poignant in concept. It provides much to think about, and I hope that many people will see and learn from it.” ~Keith F. Davis, author of The Origins of American Photography

“…a meditation on how histories are written, and how they can change over time. [Matthews] photographs a wide range of structures — crumbling old houses, woodpiles, sheds, gravestones and stone walls — as a means of looking at how Native peoples who first lived on these lands were pushed aside by white colonists.” ~Daily Hampshire Gazette

“Another entry in the lengthening line up of publisher George F. Thompson’s output, which spans decades and includes some of the best books about places out there.” ~The Center for Land Use Interpretation