This FREE program includes a slide presentation highlighting the significant contributions of the 19th century New England artist and Canton native Mary Neal Richardson (1859-1937). The talk will be given by author Fred Thompson who has written a book on Miss Richardson. He will have with him some of her paintings that will be displayed along with ones from the Canton Historical Society's collection. During her career, Miss Richardson painted portraits of many prominent politicians, judges, professors, and families. Her works have been displayed alongside the likes of John Singer Sargent and Chide Hassam.

Author Frederic L. Thompson is a retired broadcasting executive who spent his entire career in the field of communications and marketing. However, his hobby was writing and publishing local history books with over 20,000 of his books sold. Fred spent more than four years researching the Mary Neal Richardson book that took him on a journey through archives, museums, and hidden corners of some of Boston’s major institutions.