Massachusetts Historical Society facts for kids
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Massachusetts Historical Society Building
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1154 Boylston Street Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | Edmund M. Wheelwright |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Website | masshist.org |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000770 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 21, 1965 |
The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) is a very important place for learning about early American history. It focuses on the history of Massachusetts and New England. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, it was started in 1791. This makes it the oldest historical society in the United States!
The building where the society is located was built in 1899. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 2016, it was also named a Boston Landmark.
A Look at Its History
The Massachusetts Historical Society was founded on January 24, 1791. A minister named Jeremy Belknap started it. His goal was to gather, protect, and share items from American history.
He and nine other founding members gave their own family papers, books, and old items. This formed the society's first collection. In 1792, the society published its first book. This was the first time a historical society in the U.S. published something.
The society officially became a group in 1794. For many years, it was the only historical collection in the United States. Later, other societies were started, like the New-York Historical Society (1804). After that, the MHS began to focus mainly on Boston and New England history.
In 1849, Frances Manwaring Caulkins made history. She became the first woman to be chosen as a member of the society.
The society moved several times in its early years. It met in places like Faneuil Hall and on Tremont Street. The society's current building in the Back Bay area was built in 1899. It was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1965. This was because of its special work in saving history.
What They Collect
Today, the society still collects and protects historical information. It shares this information about Massachusetts and the United States. It has five main parts: Library, Publications, Education, Research, the Adams Family Papers, and Administration. Some of its amazing collections include:
- Adams Family Papers (1639–1889): This collection has items from President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. It also includes things from other family members. These include President John Quincy Adams and Henry Adams. The collection has letters, diaries, and speeches. It even has John Adams' own copy of the Declaration of Independence.
- Thomas Jefferson Collection: The library has Thomas Jefferson's handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence. It also has the Coolidge Collection. This collection has thousands of pages of Jefferson's letters. It includes his writings and records from his home, Monticello. There are also over 400 of his architectural drawings.
- Other Manuscripts and Printed Texts: The society has about 12,000 biographies. It also has more than 10,000 local history books. You can find old newspapers and posters here. This includes John Dunlap's printing of the Declaration of Independence from 1776. Other important papers include John Winthrop's writings about early New England. There's also Paul Revere's story of his famous ride.
- Artwork: The society has paintings by famous artists like John Singleton Copley. It also has sculptures by artists such as Thomas Ball. These artworks help us see what people and places looked like long ago.
The society still creates scholarly books. But now, they also share digital versions online. The Massachusetts Historical Review is a yearly magazine. It has been published every year since 1999.
Notable Members
The "fellows" of the Massachusetts Historical Society are chosen members. They act as the society's official leaders. Many famous people have been fellows, including:
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See also
