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FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham History Center programs are going virtual as the state continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Sunday, June 14, the History Center presents Diplomat in China: Framingham’s Peter Parker (1804-1888). The Zoom program starts at 2 p.m.

This is the second virtual program from the History Center.

Framingham’s Dr. Peter Parker was a medical missionary and one of America’s first diplomats to China.

Former Center curator, Dana Dauterman Ricciardi, will provide a glimpse into the fascinating life of Dr. Peter Parker who rose from poverty on a Framingham farm to become a Yale graduate, minister, and medical missionary who founded an ophthalmic hospital in Canton. 

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He earned the trust and admiration of all who met him as he performed up to 21 cataract and other surgeries a day on patients from all walks of life — peasants to members of the imperial family.  

His work opened the way for diplomatic relations between the ancient empire of China and the young republic of the United States.  

Parker’s diplomatic uniform is currently on exhibit both online and in the Edgell Memorial Library as part of the Framingham’s Top 10 exhibition. This uniform is a treasured piece of Parker’s legacy and the FHC’s collection.

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Find out more about this man’s fascinating life by purchasing tickets at framinghamhistory.org

A Zoom meeting link along with instructions on how to join the program will be emailed following purchase.

Ticket sales will end on June 13 at 11:59 p.m.

By editor

Susan Petroni is the former editor for SOURCE. She is the founder of the former news site, which as of May 1, 2023, is now a self-publishing community bulletin board. The website no longer has a journalist but a webmaster.