New Bedford Museum Receives Grant to Publish Whaling Book

NEW BEDFORD – During the 19^th century, whaling was of course a major New England industry, and a soon-to-be published book will give new insight to the industry from the perspective of the men who actually hunted the large mammals.

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has given a $25,000 grant to the New Bedford Whaling Museum to publish the book.

The Whaling Museum has an extensive collection of whaling logbooks, journals and manuscripts, and buried within these documents are water color paintings, drawings and other representations of the hunt that are rarely, if ever seen by the public.

It’s these hidden artistic treasures that author and maritime historian Michael Dyer will bring to life in the book entitled: The Art of the Yankee Whale Hunt, and will feature scenes from Long Island, to Martha’s Vineyard, to Wellfleet. The art, along with journals and logbooks will give readers a glimpse into life aboard a whaling ship.

Publication of the book is expected in the spring of 2017.