Scope and Content: The governor has been chief executive officer of Massachusetts from the chartering of the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629 to 1774 and from 1780 to the present day.  Series consists of correspondence (including but not limited to that addressed to or written by the governor or deputy or lieutenant governor, often involving the government of neighboring jurisdictions) and other public nonjudicial documents created under the provincial charter (1692-1774) and the Commonwealth (from 1780)–and a few related earlier items–not specifically identified with the General Court, the Council, or the governor acting as the Council’s head (i.e., receiving petitions or requests for reimbursement of expenses, or issuing orders, proclamations, or commissions) or otherwise dealing with treaties, truces, or submissions (also to be identified with the Council), or otherwise dealing with legislation, reimbursement of expenses, or vital records (to be identified with the General Court)
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Scope and Content: The Land Lottery, created by the General Court in 1786 to accelerate the sale and settlement of public lands in the District of Maine, was commissioned to conduct a lottery for the twin purposes of raising revenues and distributing land in the Lincoln County area of Maine.  These files contain a potpourri of disparate communications made and received by the managers of the Land Lottery.  Included are letters, receipts, lists of ticket holders, copies of resolves, and updated draft reports of the managers to the General Court.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: When the Board of Harbor Commissioners was established in 1866, it appointed an advisory council made up of representatives from the U.S. Coast Survey and others, which issued reports to the board relating to the improvement, development, and protection of Massachusetts waterways.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: This series was created during processing
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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).  These offices also visited and approved homes before placement (St 1869, c 453, s 3; St 1870, c 359, s 4). Series was created to administer such approval.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Vols. 2-4 formerly part of: Outgoing correspondence ((M-Ar)882X) Contents: Apr. 1882-Oct. 1883; Novolumes 1883-Jan. 1887; Feb. 1887-May 1891; May 1891-Apr. 1895
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Scope and Content: Pursuant to 1892, c 280, towns with increased summer residency could apply to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (known after 1909 as the Bureau of Statistics) for a special census of town residents for the purpose of obtaining temporary licenses for additional liquor stores.  Correspondence between the bureau and town clerks concerns the summer censuses taken in Lenox, Nahant, and Salisbury (1904-1919) and Hull in 1924 under the Division of the Census (Census Division) of the state secretary’s office.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by town, thereunder chronologically
Notes: Provenance of documents on Pullman strike unclear.  Records preserved by the Division of Statistics, Department of Labor and Industries
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Scope and Content: The Governor’s Legal Office advises the governor on all matters of legal concern.  Correspondence files are created to record all correspondence prepared by the office.
Arrangement: In three subseries
Notes: Also known as: MSD 2/506-507
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Scope and Content: The lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, in the event of absence, disability, or death of the governor, performs all duties incumbent upon the chief executive, and has all of the constitutional powers vested in that office. Additionally, the lieutenant governor is a voting member of the Council and is delegated other responsibilities at the governor’s discretion (Const Pt 2, C 2, S 2).  Series is created to respond to incoming correspondence from business leaders, city and state agencies, office staff, members of Congress, media, private organizations, and citizens inviting the lieutenant governor to speak, or seeking or sharing information on state policy, job opportunities, or legislative matters.
Arrangement: Arranged by term/year, thereunder generally alphabetically by correspondent or category, or chronologically
Notes: Archived by Governor’s External Relations Office
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Scope and Content: The Metropolitan Park Commission (MPC) (1893-1919) was responsible for acquiring land in the Commonwealth to develop a park system in the Boston metropolitan area for public use.  The Claim Dept. settled claims for payment of property taken.  Outgoing correspondence (recorded in letterpress copybooks) from the claim agent informs the MPC secretary of details of claims and settlements.  For correspondence after 1901 see: Correspondence from the Law Dept. to the secretary ((M-Ar)1060X).  For correspondence from the secretary to the Claim Dept. (1894-1901) see: Outgoing correspondence from the secretary on legal issues ((M-Ar)1062X)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Scheduled as: Land claim letterbooks. Vols. numbered 2-4. Volume 1 (1894?-1895) lacking
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Scope and Content: The Metropolitan Park Commission (1893-1919) and its successor the Metropolitan District Commission (since 1919) have been responsible for oversight of the acquisition of land for the Metropolitan Parks District (Boston and surrounding communities).  The Law Department, at the request of the secretary, examined the titles to land taken by the Commonwealth, and upon finding the title satisfactory and the estate free from encumbrances recorded the deed with the appropriate registry of deeds.  Correspondence (recorded in letterpress copybooks) notifies the state auditor of such action.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Outgoing correspondence to the state auditor
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Scope and Content: The Metropolitan Park Commission (MPC) (1893-1919) was responsible for oversight of the acquisition, maintenance, policing, and use of land for the Metropolitan Parks District (Boston and surrounding communities) including the maintenance of its roads and sewers.  The Law Dept. handled routine legal issues for the agency, including land taking, conveyances, contracts, and claims against the agency; and provided opinions and interpretations of the law.  Correspondence (recorded in letterpress copybooks) is addressed primarily to the MPC secretary.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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