During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, this site was a bustling wharf from which many ships of trade loaded their cargoes and set sail on long voyages to Russian seaports, especially to St. Petersburg and Archangel. Fortunately, the company managing Russia Wharf agreed to give space to the Cultural Center which stayed in that building for about 18 months. Many tourist and local residents have taken advantage of the activities offered by the Center and have had the opportunity to view the works of contemporary Russian artists and photographers, to enjoy live performances of Russian musicians and dancers or to listen to narrations of Russian-America history or to the personal stories of so many emigres. Since the beginning of the Center, the Director and Center volunteers have made a number of contributions to the Boston Community at large, such as assisting in translating into Russian a transportation brochure for the Boston subway system and a cancer brochure for use in hospitals and doctors' offices and speaking to various civic and educational groups on various topics related to life in Russia and to Russian-American history. The Center moved from Russia Wharf in late 1994 and we are now located in the ChineseCatholic Pastoral Center at 78 Tyler St. in Boston's Chinatown.
Visitors are always welcome.
The Director Margaret 'Peggy' Coleman graduated from Smith College in 1961 and received a master's degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1964. Her educational background in Russian language and culture led a to a teaching position at the Northfield School for Girls where she established and headed the Russian Language Program. After leaving her teaching position to become a full-time mother, Peggy helped raise a family for a number of years. When full-time parenting was no longer needed, Peggy owned and operated several businesses and taught courses in local schools prior to her decision to found the cultural Center. Peggy made her first trip to Russia in 1961 and has since returned there many times, traveling to such diverse places as Leningrad, Siberia, Central Asia and the Black Sea.