A. Collections and Libraries

The Massachusetts Historical Society was founded in 1791 for the threefold purpose of collecting, preserving, and disseminating resources for the study of American history. It was not only the first North American historical society, but also the first institution of any kind to devote its attention primarily to collecting and publishing in American history.

The society’s collections cannot be matched either in scope or in depth by those of any similar American institution. The area of primary interest is the manuscript collection of more than 12 million pieces in 3,600 separate collections of personal papers and institutional records. These holdings, exceeded in importance only by those of the Library of Congress, cover such diverse subjects as the history of religion, law, education, and medicine; diplomacy and international commerce; the American Revolution and the Civil War; and environmental and women’s history. Although the holdings in the history of New England and in the period from colonization through the late 19th century are especially strong, the society also has significant materials for the study of the West Indies, Latin America, the China trade, and the 20th century.

The society holds 200,000 published items including large collections of early Massachusetts printing and New England local history. More than a dozen special libraries of rare books and manuscripts, several of them given by 19th-century collectors, augment these holdings. Published materials include more than 20,000 broadsides, 30,000 18th- and 19th-century pamphlets, 5,000 maps, and more than 150,000 microforms. The society also houses more than 100,000 historic photographs.

B. Programs

The society sponsors research projects and scholarly conferences and hosts five monthly colloquia on early American history, modern American society & culture, environmental history, African American history, and on the history of women, gender, and sexuality. A sixth seminar series—on biography—meets several times each year. A seventh series focusing on digital history is under development. The society also organizes annual series of public lectures, symposia, and brown bag lunches. In September 2017, the society hosted a workshop on "The Future of History." The MHS's Center for the Teaching of History promotes history and civics education through programs, web-based resources, fellowships, and support for National History Day.

C. Publications

The society issued the first volume of its Collections series in 1792. Over the course of more than two centuries it has published hundreds of items, most of them in continuing series, including the Collections (edited documents), the Massachusetts Historical Review (a scholarly periodical), and Sibley’s Harvard Graduates (biographical sketches of 17th- and 18th-century Harvard students). The society is also home to the Adams Papers documentary editing project.

In recent years, the society has also made important materials available through its web site, including maps of the French and Indian War; The Adams Papers Digital Edition; the Thomas Jefferson Digital Edition; and curricular materials for K–12 teachers.

D. Fellowships and Awards

Each year the society offers at least two long-term fellowships, several summer teaching fellowships, a two-month award (in collaboration with the Boston Athenaeum) on the Civil War, and more than 20 short-term fellowships. The application deadline for long-term fellowships, funded in large part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, is January 15; the final submission date for proposals for the Civil War grant is February 15; the deadline for proposals for short-term awards is March 1. The society is also a member of the New England Regional Fellowship Consortium, a collaboration of 30 research institutions. In 2019, the NERFC will offer at least 25 awards, each for a minimum of 40 working days, portable among the participating organizations. The deadline for NERFC applications is February 1. For information on research fellowships at the MHS, see the society’s web site or contact the Research Department. For information on K-12 teacher fellowships, contact the Center for Teaching History.