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.  In 1987 Secretary Michael J. Connolly created a Public Affairs Division to develop and coordinate special civic educational programs, some in conjunction with other divisions of the secretary’s office, which are documented in this series.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by half-year, 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. The secretary also communicates concerns arising from these functions to the citizenry as appropriate. This series of public service announcements for radio and television broadcast as hosted by the secretary covers election-related topics such as voter registration and absentee ballots, also participation in the federal decennial census, and alertness to the possibilities of securities fraud. Communications are in a variety of audio and audiovisual formats, including sound discs, video discs, videotapes, and videocassettes. Most items exist in multiple copies and in a few cases in multiple formats. –Items in series emanate from the administration of Secretary William Francis Galvin. –For similar materials from the administration of Michael Joseph Connolly, see: Secretary’s publicity files, 1980-1994 ((M-Ar)2023)
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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.  Publications administering or publicizing these activities are issued by the secretary’s office and constituent divisions for intraoffice and public use, as preserved in this series.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by office holder, thereunder by subagency
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Scope and Content: The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ((M-Ar)29X) was adopted in 1780 (see: Massachusetts archives collection ((M-Ar)45X, v. 160, 276-277)), as the result of a constitutional convention convened in 1779 and 1780. It contained a provision (Const Pt 2, C 6, Art 10) providing for taking, in 1795, the sense of the people as to the expediency or necessity of revising the original instrument. But no such revision was deemed necessary at that time.
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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Scope and Content: The state secretary was authorized by St 1846, c 244, to license to hawkers, peddlers, or petty chapmen selling any goods excepting jewelry, wines, spirituous liquors, playing cards, indigo, and feathers.  Applicants were required to file with the secretary a certificate signed by the mayor or majority of selectmen of applicant’s city or town stating residency and good repute.  The secretary included the name of each city and town in which the applicant was to sell goods on the license, receiving one dollar from the applicant for each name so listed.  Receipts (later ones on printed forms) show these revenues as received by the state treasurer from the state secretary.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 93
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Arrangement:  In three subseries (as indicated below after each descriptive section): (1) Commissions, etc., 1734 (1713)-1919. 23 v. (Vol. 23 formerly: Record of commissions, 1916-1919 ((M-Ar)2038X)) (2) Proclamations, 1888-1945. 3 v. (3) Pardons and requisitions, 1839- 1862. 6 v.; arranged within each subseries chronologically
Notes: Formerly known as: Transcripts of public documents
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Scope and Content: Per resolves 1896, c 87, the governor appointed commissioners to consolidate and arrange the Public statutes of the Commonwealth, collecting those relating to the same subject matter under appropriate titles and chapters, on the plan of the code then in force.  A joint committee of the General Court was appointed by order of Feb. 26, 1901 to review and amend the report of the commissioners.  The resulting codification known as the Revised laws was enacted on Nov. 21, 1901 (effective Jan. 1, 1902) and printed with federal and state constitutions per a resolve of Nov. 21, 1901.  Series was created to record deliberations of the special joint committee.
Arrangement: In two subseries: (1) Subcommittee reports; (2) Journal; arranged by chapter no. –arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: Various acts and resolves authorized payments by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture (also known as the Massachusetts Agricultural Society) and county agricultural societies. These include Resolves 1813, c 125 (1814) and Resolves 1816, c 141, authorizing payments to the society and to the Berkshire Agricultural Society for research, publication, and dispensing premiums relating to domestic animals, seeds, trees, fabrics, and useful inventions. Resolves 1829 c 82 (1830) and Resolves 1830, c 79 (1831) provided for annual payments to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society for the use of the Botanic Garden in Cambridge. An official bounty program starting with St 1818, c 114 (renewed every five years by St 1823, c 22; St 1828, c 101; St 1834, c 178) authorized annual payments to agricultural societies raising at least
Notes:  Formerly part of: Miscellaneous collection, box 56, 84. Formerly called: Agricultural society accounts
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Scope and Content: Following an Aug. 4, 1862 presidential call for troops during the Civil War, a subsequent federal War Dept. order of Aug. 8, 1862 required travel restrictions on anyone liable for the draft, to prevent evasion of military duty. Men between the ages of eighteen and forty-three were required to gain permission of the state secretary to leave the Commonwealth. These two registers listing men wishing to travel out of Massachusetts include date, name, residence, and destination for those men requesting such permission. –Applications of persons listed in this series are found in: Applications for travel permission, 1862 ((M-Ar)129X)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: As part of its responsibility for the education and training of mentally retarded youth, the Commonwealth, pursuant to Resolves 1851, c 44, paid tuition costs for indigent families at the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded (known until 1883 as the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth).  The school in turn was to admit, at no charge, thirty indigent children approved by the governor.  Applications filed by parents or guardians were forwarded to the governor for authorization upon recommendation by the secretary of the Board of Education.  Authorized applications were recorded in this register by the state secretary.  Entries document that the approved application was sent to the director of the school with a request for admission. –Also included in the volume is a request from Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind for a transfer of students from its Experimental School for Teaching and Training Idiotic Children (the first Massachusetts School’s predecessor) in 1851 and a list of beneficiaries authorized by the governor from September 1886 to June 1887.  The list includes date, name, age, parent or guardian, and town of residence. –Applications for those listed in this series are found in Applications for admission to the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded ((M-Ar)156X).  For later admissions see: Walter E. Fernald State School. Applications for admission, 1918-1947 ((M-Ar)958X).
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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