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Series (2169 collections) CHC

Office of the Secretary of State: Copy of the resolution adopting the U.S. Constitution

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Copy of the resolution adopting the U.S. Constitution, 1788.

1 folded leaf: (partial folder; parchment)
Call no.: SC1/32X

Scope and Content: After the U.S. Constitution was approved on Sept. 17, 1787, it was transmitted to each state for submission to a state ratifying convention.  Three hundred and sixty-four delegates were elected to a constitutional convention in Massachusetts under the provisions of Resolves 1787, Oct Sess, 1787, c 9.  A resolution dated Feb. 6, 1788 indicating assent to ratification and outlining nine proposed amendments was signed by the convention president John Hancock and vice president William Cushing, and sent to Congress.  This ms. copy is attested by George Richards Minot, convention secretary.
Restrictions: Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
Notes: In keeping with traditions established in the colonial period, the state secretary is custodian of foundation records of the Commonwealth, including this series
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Restrictions: Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only

Office of the Secretary of State: Correspondence

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Correspondence, 1790-1995 (Bulk: 1790-1898).

6 record center cartons and 9 document boxes
Call no.: SC1/115

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, recording of appointments and commissions, storage of historical data, preservation of historic sites, administration and enforcement of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act, and information and referral on all aspects of state government.  Series records operations of the secretary’s office in communications with government officials, staff, and the public
Arrangement: In two subseries: (1) Incoming correspondence, 1790-1908; –(2) Outgoing correspondence, 1867-1898  (3) Incoming/outgoing correspondence, 1988-1995 (bulk 1991-1993)  (4) Chief of staff’s correspondence, 1980-1993 (bulk 1987-1993); arranged by topic –arranged within each subseries chronologically
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, boxes 56, 84, 92-94. Contents: Boxes 1, 3-10: Subseries (1). Boxes 11-14: Subseries (2). Box 15: Subseries (3).  Box 16: Subseries (4)
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Office of the Secretary of State: Correspondence and notes relating to republication of Province laws

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Correspondence and notes relating to republication of Province laws, [189-].

1 document box
Call no.: SC1/1075X

Scope and Content: Publication by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the complete and annotated set: The Acts and resolves, public and private, of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, including the years 1692 to 1780, and popularly known as the Province laws, was authorized by Resolves 1865, c 43 and again by Resolves 1867, c 87.  (See also Resolves 1893, c 12; St 1894, c 387; and St 1899, c 477.)  Under the mandated direction of the governor and council, the twenty-one volumes were issued between 1869 and 1922, with materials relating to the project being deposited with the state secretary.
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Office of the Secretary of State: Correspondence of Benjamin Perley Poore

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Correspondence of Benjamin Perley Poore, 1845-1847.

1 document box
Call no.: SC1/40X

Scope and Content: The governor was authorized by Resolves 1845, c 3 and Resolves 1846, c 76, to procure original documents or transcripts of them from public offices in France, in order to illustrate the colonial and other history of the Commonwealth.  Benjamin Perley Poore was commissioned to carry out this task, apparently under the direction of the state secretary.  This series contains correspondence relating to Poore’s work.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 54
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Office of the Secretary of State: Correspondence relating to certificates of Revolutionary War service

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Correspondence relating to certificates of Revolutionary War service, 1818-1881 (Bulk: 1843-1847).

2 document boxes
Call no.: SC1/2566X

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.
Arrangement: Arranged chiefly chronologically
Notes: Some files formerly part of state secretary’s: Miscellaneous collection, boxes 84, 94
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Office of the Secretary of State: Correspondence relating to transcription of colonial records

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Correspondence relating to transcription of colonial records, 1845-1852.

1 document box
Call no.: SC1/44X

Scope and Content: Pursuant to Resolves 1845, c 118 and Resolves 1846, c 35, the governor was authorized to have certain documents copied from the British State Paper Office (after 1848, the State Paper Dept. of the Public Record Office), for which task Robert Lemon was commissioned by Secretary of the Commonwealth John Gorham Palfrey.  Correspondence between them concerns transcription work and includes lists of documents in the State Paper Office and sample abstracts of documents.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 54
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Office of the Secretary of State: Declaration of independence

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Declaration of independence, 1776.

1 leaf
Call no.: SC1/2189X

Scope and Content: On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed a resolution to the Continental Congress that the United Colonies were free and independent states. On June 11, a vote on the resolution was postponed, and Congress recessed for three weeks, after appointing a committee of five to draft what became known as the Declaration of Independence. Congress reconvened on July 1, passed the Lee resolution on July 2, and revised the draft declaration, finally approving it on July 4.
Restrictions: Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
Notes: In keeping with traditions established in the colonial period, the state secretary is the custodian of the foundation records of Massachusetts
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Restrictions: Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only

Office of the Secretary of State: Deputy meeting minutes

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Deputy meeting minutes, 1982-1991.

1 document box
Call no.: SC1/2021

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, recording of appointments and commissions, storage of historical data, preservation of historic sites, administration and enforcement of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act, and information and referral on all aspects of state government.  The secretary meets weekly with deputy secretaries appointed to administer each of these functions.  Minutes record attendees and topics discussed.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Some files, 1982-1991, transferred from: Secretary’s subject files ((M- Ar)2024)
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Office of the Secretary of State: Deputy secretary’s administration subject files

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Deputy secretary's administration subject files, 1979-1995.

3 record center cartons
Call no.: SC1/2079

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.  Various of these functions may be delegated to deputy secretaries for implementation.  Series is created by deputies to administer their responsibilities.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by office holder, thereunder by subject/date
Notes: Publications issued by state secretary’s office removed to: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Publications ((M- Ar)2081)
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Office of the Secretary of State: Discharges of Revolutionary War soldiers

Part of: Massachusetts Office of the Secretary of State

Discharges of Revolutionary War soldiers, 1780-1783.

2 document boxes; List of discharges 1 file folder
Call no.: SC1/2278X

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.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by applicant
Restrictions: Restricted series; staff member must be present at use
Notes:  Supersedes series (M-Ar)1747X. Contents: Box 1: B-H. Box 2: J-W
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