Scope and Content: As early as the seventeenth century, the Massachusetts legislature provided pensions to soldiers wounded or disabled while in military service. Throughout the Revolutionary War, pensions continued to be issued at the state level to members of the Continental Army, as authorized by the Continental Congress. In addition, Massachusetts also provided post-war bonuses (bounties) in the form of monetary payment or a grant of land in Maine to veterans meeting certain requirements. Because so few individuals were disabled in service or qualified for bounties, the state granted pensions or bounties to only several hundred individuals. From 1789 pensions were funded by the federal government, from 1792 new pensions were administered by it, and from 1806 veterans of state troops and militia were also eligible. From 1818, Congress expanded pension eligibility for Revolutionary War service beyond invalidism, adding thousands to the rolls. However, to qualify, veterans often needed to obtain certificates of service from the state.
Notes: Transferred to Archives by unidentified donor
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Scope and Content: The state secretary, as record keeper for Massachusetts, was during the early years of the Commonwealth periodically directed by the legislature in various efforts to preserve, arrange, and inventory public records and state papers.  Series consists of schedules and lists of records produced as the result of such efforts, up to the time of the organization of these materials into what is now known as the Massachusetts archives collection ((M-Ar)45X), by Joseph B. Felt and others, pursuant to legislative resolves of the General Court from 1836 and later years (see item (10) below).  Ten such lists have been identified, represented here either by the originals, or, in the case of those already belonging to other record series, by photocopies.  Accompanying each item are photocopies of enabling legislation and/or other relevant documentation.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: Pursuant to Resolves 1819, c 135, the state secretary identified all books and maps belonging to the Commonwealth so that one third could be apportioned for use by the new state of Maine being separated from Massachusetts.  Schedules drawn up by the secretary’s office record this apportionment.
Notes: Forms part of: Separation of Maine papers
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Scope and Content: As record keeper for the Commonwealth, the state secretary has responsibility for administration of elections, maintenance of public records, filing and distribution of regulations and public documents, corporate registration, lobbying agent registration, recording of appointments and commissions, storage of historical data, preservation of historic sites, administration and enforcement of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act, information and referral on all aspects of state government, and until 1990, administration of the state decennial census.  Series is created to administer these and other office functions and to set related policies and procedures.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by topic
Notes: Some files distributed among other state secretary record series, including: Massachusetts. Public Records Division. State seal historical files ((M-Ar)1977X)
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Scope and Content: As record keeper for the Commonwealth, the state secretary has responsibility for administration of elections, maintenance of public records, filing and distribution of regulations and public documents, corporate registration, lobbying agent registration, recording of appointments and commissions, storage of historical data, preservation of historic sites, administration and enforcement of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act, information and referral on all aspects of state government, and until 1990, administration of the state decennial census.  Series is created to arrange for and document secretary’s public statements and appearances in relation to these functions. –Series currently includes files from terms of Michael Joseph Connolly (1979-1995).  See also: Division publicity files ((M-Ar)2025) –For similar materials from the administration of William Francis Galvin, see: Public service announcements, 1997-2010 ((M-Ar)2574)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by office holder, thereunder by subject/date
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Scope and Content: As record keeper for the Commonwealth, the state secretary has responsibility for administration of elections, maintenance of public records, filing and distribution of regulations and public documents, corporate registration, lobbying agent registration, recording of appointments and commissions, storage of historical data, preservation of historic sites, administration and enforcement of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act, information and referral on all aspects of state government, and until 1990, administration of the state decennial census.  Series is created to administer and oversee these and other office functions, and to set related policy and procedures.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by office holder, thereunder alphabetically by subject
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Scope and Content: The Senate clerk, with the approval and direction of the Senate president and the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy, prepares and has printed each day a calendar of matters in order for consideration by the Senate of the General Court (Senate rules, 7).
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: St 1939, c 508, s 3 (amending St 1844, c 153) places custody of clerk’s files with the state secretary after the legislative year
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Scope and Content: The Senate clerk maintains an account of actions taken by the Senate of the Massachusetts General Court for each day of the legislative session.  Record of proceedings is called the journal (Senate rules, 6), which is printed daily. –Proceedings of the upper house of the General Court, designated under the 1780 Constitution as the Senate, are recorded in this series for the constitutional period only.  Archival set consists of (1) ms. proceedings for legislative years 1780/81-1885  (2) printed proceedings for 1868 onward (1868-1885, 1975, v. 1, 1982, v. 2, 1983, v. 1, 1989, v. 2, 1997/98, v. 3 not official copies;  2003/2004, 2005/2006, 2007/2008, v. 1-2 only).  For details see finding aid.  Also included, 1917-1919, is: Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (see: Administrative files of the Constitutional Convention of 1917 ((M-Ar)54X)) –For ms. proceedings of the upper house and the General Court generally during the colonial period, 1629-1686, see: Massachusetts. General Court. Proceedings of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay ((M-Ar)1700X).  For the later intercharter, provincial, and Revolutionary periods from 1689 see: Massachusetts. Council. Legislative records ((M-Ar)1701X), which series continues through 1837, duplicating this one.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically, biennially from 1995-1996
Notes: St 1939, c 508, s 3 (amending St 1844, c 153) places custody of Senate clerk’s files with the state secretary after the legislative year
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Scope and Content: Any citizen or group of citizens in Massachusetts may petition the General Court for legislative action on any subject.  Such a petition is endorsed by a member of the legislature for presentation to the General Court, where through the legislative process it is unpassed or passed, subject to the governor’s approval or veto.  The Senate clerk is responsible for logging in all legislation filed in the Senate.  Dockets are a log of legislation filed.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by legislative year, thereunder by docket no
Notes:  St 1939, c 508, s 3 (amending St 1844, c 153) places custody of clerk’s files with the state secretary after the legislative year. Box 1: 1953-1966.  Box 2: 1967-1972.  Box 3: 1973-1981.  Box 4: 1982-1988
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Scope and Content: The Senate clerk maintains an account of actions taken by the Senate of the General Court for each day of the legislative session.  Roll calls are the record of voting on any legislative action taken upon a call for yeas and nays (Senate rules, 55-57A).
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by legislative year, thereunder by roll call no
Notes: St 1939, c 508, s 3 (amending St 1844, c 153) places custody of clerk’s files with the state secretary after the legislative year. Also known as: Yeas and nays
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