Scope and Content: Legislation originates in the General Court as petitions filed by members on their own behalf or that of citizens or groups of citizens; appropriation bills from the House Ways and Means Committee; messages from the governor; or reports from state officers, agencies, or commissions.  Resolves, originally used for most legislative actions, in modern times have dealt with matters of a relatively immediate or temporary nature.  Passed resolves are those resulting from the legislative process that have been approved by the legislature and signed into law by the governor.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by legislative session
Restrictions: Some restrictions may apply
Notes: The state secretary is custodian of these and other foundation records.  Series is in part filed with the Massachusetts Regulations Division of the secretary’s office until the end of the following legislative year, after which it is transferred to the Archives
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Scope and Content: Individuals or corporations depositing funds with the state treasurer for perpetual care, maintenance, improvement, or embellishment of cemetery plots in any cemetery in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are required by MGLA c 114, c 20 (derived originally from St 1901, c 351) to file with the treasurer and with the state secretary a written instrument declaring that the funds are intended for this purpose and including, if the cemetery is owned by a corporation, an agreement signed by the president thereof to accept income derived from such funds for stated purpose.
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, boxes 93A-E
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Scope and Content: Between 1939 and 1961 the Parole Board, known in this capacity as the Advisory Board of Pardons, was required to file certified copies of petitions and other documents relating to pardons with the state secretary’s office to be kept as a permanent record (St 1939, c 479; St 1961, c 467, s 1).  Petitions for pardon contain certified copies of petitions, statements and signatures appended to petitions, and all written recommendations submitted to the governor by the Dept. of Corrections, the attorney general, and the district attorney in whose jurisdiction sentence was passed. –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: Arranged chronologically by year, thereunder alphabetically by petitioner
Restrictions: Evaluative information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
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Scope and Content: St 1890, c 428 enabled municipal officials or directors of railroad companies to petition Massachusetts Superior Court to abolish or alter railroad grade crossings; a court-appointed commission then made a decision to be confirmed by the court.  Series consists of copies of petitions maintained by the state secretary. –For related records see: Massachusetts. Treasury Dept. Railroad crossing abolition assessments, 1893-1926 ((M-Ar)2214X)
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 91
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Scope and Content: The clerk of the House of Representatives of the Massachusetts General Court, by authority of House rules, maintains an account of the actions taken by the House for each day of the legislative session.  Until 1983, in addition to a journal, the clerk kept an account arranged numerically by House bill no.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by legislative session
Notes: St 1939, c 508, s 3 (amending St 1844, c 153) places custody of the clerk’s files with the state secretary after the legislative year. No entries for 1940, 1942, 1944 (i.e., no regular legislative session). Entries for 1970, 1973, 1981 in 2 v. each
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Scope and Content: The Massachusetts state secretary, as keeper of public records, has received for filing specifications (or plans, if noted) for various state buildings
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: Per Resolves 1874, c 77, registers of probate of Massachusetts were to make a special return to the state secretary reporting the number of wills proved and the number of letters of administration granted for the period 1870-1874, and judges of probate court were to submit opinions concerning possible changes in the law regarding persons who died intestate.  Series consists of these returns in the form of letters.
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 57
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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.  Proceedings of the convention constitute an official journal of convention daily business as recorded by Benjamin Pollard, elected secretary.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: In keeping with 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
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Scope and Content: A convention of delegates from all New England states was called at Hartford by the Massachusetts General Court to discuss grievances stemming from dissatisfaction over the War of 1812 (Resolves 1814, c 85 and c 86), and met from Dec. 15, 1814 to Jan. 15, 1815.  The General Court approved the resolutions of the convention and called for the appointment of a commission to bring them to the attention of the federal government (Resolves 1814, c 107).  Before further action could be taken, news was received of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, subsequent ratification of which by the United States ended the war in Feb. 1815.  Proceedings of the convention consist of a journal (so-called on the flyleaf) of brief daily summaries variously signed, with a postscript attesting to the document’s authenticity signed by George Cabot, convention president, dated 1819 (for 1818?), and letters of transmittal from Cabot to the governor and the state secretary, dated 1818.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: In keeping with traditions established in the colonial period, the state secretary is custodian for foundation records of the Commonwealth, including this series
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Scope and Content: The first U.S. Congress considered articles for amendment to the constitution submitted by several states along with their affirmative vote for ratification.  Twelve amendments relating to rights of individuals were accepted by Congress in Sept. 1789 and sent to state legislatures, approval by three-fourths of which would constitute ratification.  Series includes official copy of proposed amendments sent to Massachusetts by Congress and accompanying letter from George Washington to Governor John Hancock, Oct. 2, 1789.
Restrictions: Originals are restricted; 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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