Scope and Content: The state secretary (since 1961 through a unit currently called the Commissions Section) attests to all commissions of office signed by the governor, administering the oath of office to and/or recording the name of these and other public appointees. Series is created to serve as a reference guide to administering the unit generally and  to document non-gubernatorial appointments, i.e., those not included in: Governor’s appointment nomination list book (M-Ar)179) or: Notices of miscellaneous (i.e., gubernatorial) appointments ((M-Ar)1291) –Subseries (1) includes files relating to office/personnel policies and procedures and the organization, destruction, and retention of records created by the section; also files of memorandums and correspondence. –Subseries (2) to 2005 includes files of appointment letters and/or qualification (oath of office) forms for categories of appointment (e.g., judicial, public safety) or for appointment to individual state or local agencies, as made by constitutional officers, commissioners, town selectmen, and other authorized officials. –For a listing of related 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: In two subseries: (1) Administrative files (2) Non-gubernatorial appointment files
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: In keeping with traditions established in the colonial period, the secretary of the Commonwealth is the custodian of the foundation records of Massachusetts, including the charters.  Indeed, at the time the Great Charter was being drafted in 1628 and 1629, a secretary was appointed by the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay to keep the records and manage the accounts of the company.  From then until the present, the charter has been in the custody, successively, of the secretaries of the company, the province, and the Commonwealth.
Restrictions: Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: Phineas Pratt came from England to the New Plymouth Colony in 1622, along with others backed by Thomas Weston. The party then left to colonize Wessagusset (later Weymouth) to the north.  After difficulties with native Americans, they abandoned the settlement, and Pratt returned to Plymouth in 1623. This series is his account of the incident.
Restrictions: Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
Notes: Quoted in William Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation, the ms. was presented to the Massachusetts General Court in 1662. Some two centuries later It was rediscovered in the State House by Richard Pulsifer, who gave it to Richard C. Frothingham, Jr., for transcription and editing under the auspices of the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1858.  Evidently returned to Pulsifer, found in his effects at his death, and thereupon placed in the custody of the Maine Historical Society, it was restored by the society to the Commonwealth of   Massachusetts in 1975
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: Per St 1836, c 241, s 2, the state secretary received annual returns from the Massachusetts county registries of deeds and provided an abstract of these returns to the legislature.
Notes:  Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 55. Fragmentary series; no succeeding abstracts included
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: In fulfilling responsibility as record keeper for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the state secretary maintained reports and accounts concerning the Treasury as follows:
Arrangement: In five subseries
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, boxes 20, 56
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: Per order of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Jan. 11, 1836, a special joint committee of the General Court was formed to investigate the conduct of banks in the Commonwealth, especially for violations of law or of bank charter restrictions.  Files documenting activities and finding of the committee was deposited in the office of the state secretary.
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 4
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: Pursuant to St 1820, c 15, a constitutional convention was held in Boston from Nov. 1820 to Jan. 1821, after approval by the electorate.  Administrative files of the convention were probably assembled by Benjamin Pollard, elected secretary.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Restrictions: Rolls are restricted as fragile. Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
Notes: In keeping both traditions established in the colonial period, the state secretary is custodian of foundation records of the Commonwealth, including this series. Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 19
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: Pursuant to St 1916, c 98, the voters of Massachusetts approved a proposal for a constitutional convention, which, meeting in a three sessions, 1917-1919, resulted in proposal and ratification of twenty-two amendments to the Constitution (Const Amend Arts 45-66).  (Approval was also given to an arrangement–later nullified–of the original text of the Constitution and all subsequent amendments in a unified form; see: Rejected rearrangement of the state constitution ((M-Ar)36X)).  Administrative files of the convention include resolutions relating to amendments and orders relating to business matters of the convention.
Arrangement: In five subseries
Notes: In keeping with traditions established in the colonial period, the state secretary is custodian of foundation records of the Commonwealth, including this series. Box 1: Subseries (1).  Box 2: Subseries (2)–no. 3-304.  Box 3: Subseries (2)–no. 305-433; subseries (3) June-Oct. 1917.  Box 4: Subseries (3)–Oct. 1917-Aug. 1919; subseries (4-5)
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: A constitutional convention was held in Massachusetts pursuant to St 1933, c 132 and a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, to accept or reject a proposed amendment to repeal the 18th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which allowed for the prohibition of the sale and distribution of liquor.  Forty-five delegates, nominated by a caucus of state officials and elected on June 13, 1933, met in convention for one hour on June 26, and voted unanimously in favor of the proposed amendment, to become the twenty-first to the U.S. Constitution.  Administrative files of the convention constitute this series.
Notes: In keeping with traditions established in the colonial period, the state secretary is custodian for foundation records of the Commonwealth, including this series
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC

Scope and Content: The Commonwealth, in order to fulfill its responsibility to provide education to its deaf residents, was required to pay tuition to the American Asylum in Hartford (Resolves 1819, c 60) for students who qualified as state beneficiaries.  The state secretary was required to act as secretary to the governor to receive all communications, applications, and returns concerning the education of these indigent students.  This series contains those administrative records.
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 84
Related Catalog Records:

Archivegrid
OCLC