Massachusetts Historical Society
A historic American archive and learned society dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying, and sharing materials on Massachusetts, New England, and the early United States.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) is an independent historical society, research library, archive, publisher, and public-education institution based in Boston. Founded on January 24, 1791, by Reverend Jeremy Belknap and nine other members, it is generally recognized as the oldest historical society in the United States. Its original purpose was to gather and preserve documents, books, family papers, and objects that could help document American history at a time when the new republic was developing its own historical institutions and national memory. The society’s collecting emphasis initially encompassed the history of the United States broadly. As other major repositories were established, including the New-York Historical Society in 1804 and the American Antiquarian Society in 1812, MHS increasingly concentrated on Boston, Massachusetts, New England, and the early American period. Its holdings remain especially valuable for research on colonial society, the American Revolution, the founding era, political life, religion, commerce, literature, family history, and the development of New England communities. Among the institution’s best-known resources are the Adams Family Papers, covering several generations of the Adams family from the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries. The collection includes correspondence, diaries, speeches, legal and business records, literary manuscripts, and other papers relating to President John Adams, Abigail Adams, President John Quincy Adams, Charles Francis Adams, Louisa Catherine Adams, Henry Adams, and additional family members. The society also holds major Thomas Jefferson materials, including a handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts, which contains correspondence, writings, Monticello records, account books, journals, and architectural drawings. Other notable holdings include early New England and Massachusetts manuscripts, John Winthrop’s papers concerning the settlement of New England, Paul Revere’s account of his famous ride, Francis Parkman’s papers on French Canada, newspapers, broadsides, local histories, biographies, and an important July 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence. The collections also include paintings and sculpture by American and European-trained artists associated with the history of the region. MHS operates through library and archival services, publications, research programs, education and public programs, digital humanities projects, and administration. It serves scholars, students, teachers, genealogists, museum visitors, and the wider public. In addition to maintaining physical collections, it has expanded access through digitized manuscripts, online editions, educational resources, and web-based projects. Its scholarly publishing program includes editions of primary sources and the Massachusetts Historical Review, an annual journal issued since 1999. The society’s present building at 1154 Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay was completed in 1899. The structure was recognized for its historical and architectural importance through historic-preservation designations, including listing on the National Register of Historic Places and later recognition as a Boston Landmark. MHS remains an active nonprofit cultural and research institution whose identity is grounded in stewardship of primary sources and interpretation of early American and New England history.
History
The Massachusetts Historical Society was organized in Boston on January 24, 1791, when Reverend Jeremy Belknap and nine fellow founders established an institution intended to collect, safeguard, and document materials relating to American history. The founders contributed family papers, books, and artifacts to create the society’s initial holdings. At a time when many records of the colonial and revolutionary eras were still dispersed among private families, the new organization provided one of the first formal repositories for preserving the documentary history of the United States. MHS published its first manuscript in 1792, making it the first historical society in the United States to issue a historical publication. The organization received a formal act of incorporation in 1794. During its early years, it met in temporary quarters, including an attic in Faneuil Hall, before moving to rooms at Hamilton Place and later Franklin Street. In 1833, it occupied rooms on Tremont Street in a building associated with the Provident bank, where it remained for much of the nineteenth century. The society’s early collecting mission was national in scope. Its institutional position changed as additional historical repositories appeared elsewhere in the country. Following the creation of the New-York Historical Society in 1804 and the American Antiquarian Society in 1812, MHS increasingly focused its collecting and research activities on Boston, Massachusetts, and the broader New England region. This specialization allowed it to develop unusually deep holdings on colonial New England, the American Revolution, the Adams family, Massachusetts political and social history, and the intellectual and cultural life of the region. In 1849, Frances Manwaring Caulkins became the first woman elected to MHS membership, an important milestone in the society’s institutional history. Its fellows serve as the organization’s legal governing body, reflecting the learned-society tradition in which historical research, collecting, and publication are overseen by elected members. The society moved into its present Back Bay building at 1154 Boylston Street in 1899. The building became part of the area’s recognized historic fabric, receiving National Register of Historic Places recognition and historic-landmark treatment in the twentieth century. The building provides space for the library, archival storage, research, exhibitions, events, and administrative work. MHS’s collections grew to include manuscripts, printed works, art, and objects associated with major figures and events in American history. The Adams Family Papers became one of its signature holdings, documenting John and Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams, Charles Francis Adams, Louisa Catherine Adams, Henry Adams, and other family members across several generations. The society also developed a major Thomas Jefferson collection, including Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence and the extensive Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts. Other important materials include John Winthrop’s records, Paul Revere’s account of his ride, Francis Parkman’s manuscripts, early newspapers and broadsides, local histories, biographies, and early printings of the Declaration of Independence. During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, MHS expanded beyond collection custody into a broader program of scholarship and public interpretation. It continued issuing documentary publications while developing digital editions and online access to selected materials. Its work now spans library services, publications, education and public programs, research programs, the Adams Family Papers, and administration. The Massachusetts Historical Review, published annually since 1999, provides a continuing scholarly outlet for research connected with the society’s fields of interest. Today, the Massachusetts Historical Society remains an active nonprofit archive and learned society. Its users include academic researchers, independent historians, genealogists, educators, students, and members of the public. Its institutional role combines long-term preservation of original materials with digitization, editorial scholarship, teaching resources, lectures, and other forms of public engagement.
- 2016
Boston Landmark designation
[1]The Boston Landmarks Commission designated the society’s building a Boston Landmark.
- 1999
Massachusetts Historical Review begins annual publication
[1]MHS began publishing the Massachusetts Historical Review annually as a scholarly journal.
- 1966
Added to the National Register of Historic Places
[1]The Boylston Street building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1965
Building recognized as a National Historic Landmark
[1]The society’s building received national historic recognition for its architectural and institutional significance.
- 1899
Present Back Bay building completed
[1]MHS moved into its current building at 1154 Boylston Street in Boston.
- 1849
First woman elected to membership
[1]Frances Manwaring Caulkins became the first woman elected to the society’s membership.
- 1794
Formal incorporation
[1]The society was incorporated under Massachusetts law, formalizing its institutional status and governance.
- 1792
First historical society publication
[1]MHS published its first manuscript, beginning a publishing tradition that made it the first historical society in the United States to issue a historical publication.
- 1791
Society founded
[1]Jeremy Belknap and fellow founders established the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston on January 24 to collect and preserve materials documenting American history.
Products and positioning
A premier independent repository for primary sources on early American, Massachusetts, and New England history, combining archival preservation with scholarship, digital access, publishing, and public education.
Archival collection and digital documentary edition
Adams Family Papers
A major multi-generational collection documenting the Adams family from 1639 to 1889. It contains correspondence, diaries, speeches, literary manuscripts, legal and business records, and other papers associated with John Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams, Charles Francis Adams, Louisa Catherine Adams, Henry Adams, and related family members. The collection supports research into politics, diplomacy, family life, education, religion, and the formation of the early American republic.
Archival collection
Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts
A substantial collection of Thomas Jefferson materials, including correspondence, manuscripts of writings, Monticello records, account books, journals, and architectural drawings. MHS also holds Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, making the collection especially important for research on Jefferson, the revolutionary era, early republican politics, architecture, and plantation administration.
Research library and archival holdings
Early American and New England Collections
MHS maintains manuscripts, newspapers, broadsides, printed books, local histories, biographies, artwork, and other materials focused on Massachusetts, New England, and the early United States. Notable holdings include John Winthrop materials, Paul Revere’s account of his ride, Francis Parkman papers, and an early Philadelphia printing of the Declaration of Independence.
Scholarly journal · 1999
Massachusetts Historical Review
An annual scholarly publication issued by the society since 1999. The review presents research related to Massachusetts, New England, early America, and the interpretation of historical sources, extending MHS’s traditional publishing role into a continuing academic journal program.
Digital scholarship and public access
Digital Editions and Online Resources
MHS supplements its physical collections and printed publications with digitized manuscripts, documentary editions, educational materials, and other online resources. These projects broaden access to primary sources for researchers, teachers, students, genealogists, and the public beyond visitors to the Boston reading room.
Brand decisions
- Expansion from physical custody to digital accessStrategy
Background
As a modern research institution, MHS has continued its traditional archival and publishing work while responding to demand for broader remote access to primary sources.
Action taken
The society developed digitized collections, online documentary editions, educational resources, and other web-based research tools alongside its physical library and archival services.
Aftermath
The strategy extends the reach of the society’s collections and supports scholarship and teaching by users who cannot visit the Boston facility.
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