Scope and Content: Massachusetts Resolves 1846, c 117 appointed Commissioners on Idiocy to inquire on: the condition of idiots in the commonwealth and if anything can be done for them. The commission’s report, written by Samuel Gridley Howe of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind, led to the establishment by Resolves 1848, c 65 of the Experimental School for Teaching and Training Idiotic Children, located at the Perkins Institution. The school was incorporated as the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth (St 1850, c 150), located near Perkins in South Boston, with Howe serving as president until his death in 1876. It was renamed the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded by St 1883, c 239, reflecting the establishment of a separate asylum department for those beyond school age or not capable of being helped by the school’s instruction. Funds for the construction of a new facility in Waltham were provided by Resolves 1888, c 82, and occupation of the new site began in 1890, with the South Boston facility closing in 1892. St 1925, c 293 renamed the institution the Walter E. Fernald State School, in honor of the superintendent of the school, 1887-1924. A 2003 gubernatorial initiative to close the Fernald School (known as the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center since 1993) by 2007 was contested during the subsequent decade, until the institution was shut down permanently in Nov. 2014.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Restrictions: Mental retardation client information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 123B, s 17. For conditions of access consult repository
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Scope and Content: The State Board of Conciliation and Arbitration was established in 1886; until 1902 it was known as the State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation or the State Board of Arbitration.  It was succeeded in 1919 by the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, part of the Department of Labor and Industries.
Arrangement: Arranged by case number
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Scope and Content: The State Primary School, opened at the State Almshouse at Monson in 1866 and continuing after the almshouse’s closing in 1872 until 1895, provided lodging, instruction, and employment for dependent and neglected children under age sixteen without settlement in the Commonwealth and some juvenile offenders.  Inmates were placed out on trial (often subsequently indentured) with families (originally by school inspectors–St 1866, c 209, s 7; then by school trustees–St 1880, c 208, s 1) and periodically monitored by the visiting agent of the Board of State Charities (St 1869, c 453, s 2; St 1870, c 359, s 2–in which called State Visiting Agency) and from 1879 by the Division of Visiting, Dept. of Indoor Poor, State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity (State Board of Lunacy and Charity from 1886); they were returned to school if arrangements were not mutually satisfactory (St 1870, c 359, s 3).  Final discharge from the school at expiration of indenture or to applicant (e.g., relative or adoptive parent) was authorized by state board (St 1866, c 209, c 5).  Other inmates died or deserted.  Series was created to administer and record these transactions.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by date of admission
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Scope and Content: Under successive authorizations, the Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands (1780-1801) and the Land Office were the primary agencies responsible for the management and sale of public lands in Maine on behalf of the Commonwealth.  Among other duties, they received and acted upon petitions from groups and individuals seeking to purchase these lands.  This series consists of applications from groups and individuals seeking to buy lots and/or townships from the reserve of Maine public lands.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: The Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands was created by the General Court to oversee the management and sale of public lands in the District of Maine.  As part of the process, the legislature commissioned a land lottery in 1786.  Once the lottery was held and the allotment of land completed, some recipients of land found their parcels scattered over a wide area.  To facilitate consolidation, the General Court acted to permit holders of prize lots to exchange their holdings for other land more suitable to their needs (St 1788, c 17).  Individuals desiring to exchange lots with the Commonwealth for other land were granted six months in which to make application.  Acting for the Commonwealth, the Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands was authorized to receive applications for exchange of lots.  This series comprises the applications made by lottery land holders in response to this legislative allowance.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by date of application
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Scope and Content: The governor is responsible for nominating and appointing individuals to positions in the executive branch, to state boards and commissions, to county offices, and to local authorities.  The Governor’s Personnel Office receives and responds to requests and recommendations for appointments, as documented in this series. –Early files, maintained by the state secretary as secretary for the governor, include the gubernatorial terms of Caleb Strong (1800-1807) through John Clifford (1853-1854).  Series also currently includes files from terms of Endicott Peabody (1963-1965), John Volpe (1965-1969), Francis Sargent (1969-1975), Michael Dukakis (1975-1979), Edward King (1979-1983), Michael Dukakis (1983-1991), William Weld (1991-1997), Argeo Paul Cellucci (1997-2001), Jane Swift (2001-2003), and Mitt Romney (2003-2007).  Volpe and Sargent files are interfiled.  Volpe files include some judicial appointments.  For others see: Massachusetts. Judicial nominating Council. Judicial appointment application files ((M-Ar)587).  Romney files may contain materials found for earlier periods in series of: Massachusetts. Commissions Section. For appointment recommendations, 1853-1893, see: Massachusetts. Governor. Executive department letters ((M-Ar)567X) –For a listing of related commissions series see: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State.  Records of commissions, proclamations, pardons, and other official documents, 1713-1945 (bulk 1747-1936) ((M-Ar)161X)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by term, thereunder by office
Restrictions: Personal/evaluative information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Formerly part of state secretary’s: Miscellaneous collection, boxes 82, 86. Some removed; some transferred from: Administrative files ((M-Ar)612X), Apr. 1992. Scheduled as: Appointments file
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Scope and Content: The Boston architectural firm of Freeman, Brigham, and Hussey has preserved drawings created by other architects for Bristol County (Mass.) public buildings including the County Court House, Taunton (undated); Registry of Deeds, Fall River (1930); National Guard Armory, Dwelly St., Fall River (1957); and Superior Court House and Registry of Deeds, Fall River (1968)
Notes: Presented to Archives, March 18, 1982 and June 10, 1997
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Scope and Content: The Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities (1966) and the Massachusetts Arts Lottery Council (1980) were abolished and succeeded in their functions by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, effective 1990.
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Scope and Content: Pursuant to MGLA c 19, the Dept. of Mental Health fulfills its responsibilities toward mentally ill persons in Massachusetts through a comprehensive program of services and facilities.  (It exercised a similar function for the mentally retarded until 1986, when a separate Dept. of Mental Retardation was established.)  Series was created by the assistant commissioner for research, training, and planning in fulfilling responsibility for overseeing various department-wide activities on behalf of the commissioner of mental health.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by subject
Notes: Files for N-Z missing
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Scope and Content: Since 1971 the Executive Office of Human Services (Executive Office of Health and Human Services since 1992) has been responsible through its constitutent agencies for the delivery of a wide range of services to persons with financial, health, social, protective, rehabilitation, and correctional needs. Its role is one of management and fiscal oversight, coordination of interagency planning and program development, and policy analysis.  Series is created to assist in administering these office functions.
Arrangement: Arranged chiefly by chronological spans
Restrictions: Personal information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c), c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Files for 1979-1983 lacking
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