Scope and Content: The Middlesex County Truant School (renamed Middlesex County Training School per St 1908, c 103) was authorized by St 1892, c 273 and opened in 1894 for the commitment of boys in that county and from Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop between the ages of seven and sixteen adjudged habitual truants, absentees, or school offenders.  The school was closed in 1973.  Inmate case files were created as a central source for each inmate’s personal and institutional history.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by inmate name
Restrictions: Personal information restricted by agreement with donor and by statutory provision; for conditions of access consult repository; MGLA c 4, s 7, cl 26  (c ) and c 66A
Notes: Transferred to Archives from Middlesex County Commissioners, November 3, 1978
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Scope and Content: The Division of Academic Affairs under the Board of Regents of Higher Education is responsible for formulating and implementing policies concerning academic programs, as well as for participating in systemwide planning for state institutions of higher education and in other board functions.  College and university correspondence files contain correspondence with presidents and other officials of state-run community colleges, colleges, and universities that relates to a wide range of issues including proposed academic programs, evaluations of academic programs and institutions, admissions policies, continuing education, funding, and campus facilities.
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically
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Scope and Content: The attorney general of Massachusetts represented the Commonwealth before the Supreme Court of the United States regarding settlement of the estate of Colonel Edward Howland Robinson Green, son of Hetty Green and deceased in 1936, specifically to recover taxes allegedly owed the Commonwealth by Green.  At issue was determination of Green’s legal residence, as he maintained domiciles not only in Massachusetts, but in Florida, New York, and Texas.  The court ruled in favor of Massachusetts.
Notes: Boxes 1-2: Exhibits, Massachusetts witnesses, miscellany. Boxes 3-4: Texas v. Florida. Boxes 5-6: Texas v. Massachusetts. Boxes 7-8: Essex County (N.Y.) Surrogate’s Court photostats
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Scope and Content: Richard Devens, a member of the Committee of Safety, was appointed commissary general by Nov. 1775 (Resolves 1775-76, c 343). A store building was built in Watertown in Feb. 1776 (Resolves 1775-76, c 679), where the state government was then located. In May 1776 the commissary’s office moved to Boston, and a store opened there, following the British evacuation of that city. The commissary general initially was occupied in the delivery of arms and provisions needed by the state for the war effort. As war activity moved outside New England in the late 1770s, and following the end of the war, the office focused on supplying state forces, including  provisioning the garrison established on Castle Island (Resolves 1785, Feb 1786 Sess, c 166)  and the troops fighting Shays’ Rebellion. It also arranged for the building of lighthouses and helped administer a program of tax payments in kind instituted subsequent to the rebellion (St 1786, c 39). Once the Board of War was disbanded in 1781, the military stores in the board’s possession were forwarded to the commissary general. The commissary office closed in June 1792 (Resolves 1792, May Sess, c 61).  Resolves 1793, May Sess, c 52 (June 22, 1793) provided the elderly Devens with one year’s compensation for his services in closing his office.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Vol. 1: Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1777; June 19, 1779-Apr. 30, 1785. Vol. 2: Apr. 1781-Aug. 16, 1792
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Scope and Content: Fortifications at Castle Island, Boston Harbor, used since the 1640s for military and penal purposes, were rebuilt after being burned by evacuating British forces in 1776, and then manned by various militia troops, at times under the command of Paul Revere.  A military garrison consisting of a company of men was established there in 1779; the island became the site of a prison facility for Massachusetts from 1785 to 1798.  The commissary general was first authorized (including retrospectively) in May 1780 by Resolves 1779-80, c 1098 to supply rations to the garrison.  (Provisioning was contracted out per Resolves 1790, Jan 1791 Sess, c 170; for bond of authorized contractor Ruggles and Smith, Mar. 29, 1791, see: Massachusetts. Treasury Dept. Bonds of office holders and suppliers ((M-Ar)1665X)–miscellaneous, 1787-1803.)  Series was created to document rations requested by Castle Island officials.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by year
Notes: Records are for Nov. 1779-Dec. 1790; Feb., Apr.-Dec. 1786, Sept. 1787, May 1789, May-Dec. 1790 are in: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Massachusetts archives collection ((M-Ar)45X), v.315-316.  Jan.-Aug. 1787, Aug. 1789 lacking
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Scope and Content: Fortifications at Castle Island, Boston Harbor, used since the 1640s for military and penal purposes, were rebuilt after being burned by evacuating British forces in 1776, and then manned by various militia troops, at times under the command of Paul Revere.  A military garrison consisting of a company of men was established there in 1779; the island became the site of a prison facility for Massachusetts from 1785 to 1798.  The commissary general (Richard Devens) provided supplies and services to militia, garrison personnel, and convicts until dissolution of his office in June 1792.  Series consists of accounts submitted by contractors and others to and paid by that office.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: Richard Devens, a member of the Committee of Safety, was appointed commissary general by Nov. 1775 (Resolves 1775-76, c 343). A store building was built in Watertown in Feb. 1776 (Resolves 1775-76, c 679), where the state government was then located. In May 1776 the commissary’s office moved to Boston, and a store opened there, following the British evacuation of that city. The commissary general initially was occupied in the delivery of arms and provisions needed by the state for the war effort. As war activity moved outside New England in the late 1770s, and following the end of the war, the office focused on supplying state forces, including  provisioning the garrison established on Castle Island (Resolves 1785, Feb 1786 Sess, c 166)  and the troops fighting Shays’ Rebellion. It also arranged for the building of lighthouses and helped administer a program of tax payments in kind instituted subsequent to the rebellion (St 1786, c 39). Once the Board of War was disbanded in 1781, the military stores in the board’s possession were forwarded to the commissary general. The commissary office closed in June 1792 (Resolves 1792, May Sess, c 61).  Resolves 1793, May Sess, c 52 (June 22, 1793) provided the elderly Devens with one year’s compensation for his services in closing his office.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Restrictions: Restricted as fragile. Access by state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
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Scope and Content: Richard Devens, a member of the Committee of Safety, was appointed commissary general by Nov. 1775 (Resolves 1775-76, c 343). A store building was built in Watertown in Feb. 1776 (Resolves 1775-76, c 679), where the state government was then located. In May 1776 the commissary’s office moved to Boston, and a store opened there, following the British evacuation of that city. The commissary general initially was occupied in the delivery of arms and provisions needed by the state for the war effort. As war activity moved outside New England in the late 1770s, and following the end of the war, the office focused on supplying state forces, including  provisioning the garrison established on Castle Island (Resolves 1785, Feb 1786 Sess, c 166)  and the troops fighting Shays’ Rebellion. It also arranged for the building of lighthouses and helped administer a program of tax payments in kind instituted subsequent to the rebellion (St 1786, c 39). Once the Board of War was disbanded in 1781, the military stores in the board’s possession were forwarded to the commissary general. The commissary office closed in June 1792 (Resolves 1792, May Sess, c 61).  Resolves 1793, May Sess, c 52 (June 22, 1793) provided the elderly Devens with one year’s compensation for his services in closing his office.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: (1) May 1, 1776-Oct. 31, 1776.  (2)  Nov. 1, 1776-Dec. 31, 1777. (3) Jan. 1, 1778-Dec. 31, 1778. (4) Jan. 1, 1779-Dec 31, 1779. (5) Jan. 1, 1780-Dec. 31, 1781. (6) Jan. 1, 1782-June 19, 1787.  (7) June 20, 1787- Aug. 17, 1792
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Scope and Content: HISTORICAL NOTE: The post-Revolutionary Massachusetts legislature endeavored to collect taxes levied to pay war debt and other state expenses, particularly burdening farmers in the western part of the state.  Angered by foreclosures and imprisonment imposed for tax delinquency and not receiving satisfaction for grievance petitions filed with the legislature, the protesting farmers rioted and closed courthouses under the leadership of Revolutionary veteran Daniel Shays.  The state militia was called out to suppress Shays’ Rebellion in Sept. 1786, in Jan. 1787 a state army was formed for the purpose, and by February the insurgents were defeated. –With the establishment of the state army, the commissary general’s office was responsible for furnishing provisions for the army, including food rations as well as other supplies such as wood, stationery, rum, and candles. These duties continued through March, when the commissary general was empowered by the General Court per Resolves 1786, Jan Sess, c 128 (Mar. 9, 1787), to contract with persons to supply rations to the troops, funds to be provided by the treasurer.  This resolve indicated the precise number and type (beef, pork, bread, vegetables, rum) of rations to be received on a daily basis.  Resolves 1786, Apr Sess, c 12 (April 30, 1787) and Resolves 1787, May Sess, c 26 (June 18, 1787) directed the paying of bills submitted by individuals or town selectmen for supplies furnished directly to the commissary general.
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Scope and Content: Richard Devens, a member of the Committee of Safety, was appointed commissary general by Nov. 1775 (Resolves 1775-76, c 343). A store building was built in Watertown in Feb. 1776 (Resolves 1775-76, c 679), where the state government was then located. In May 1776 the commissary’s office moved to Boston, and a store opened there, following the British evacuation of that city. The commissary general initially was occupied in the delivery of arms and provisions needed by the state for the war effort. As war activity moved outside New England in the late 1770s, and following the end of the war, the office focused on supplying state forces, including  provisioning the garrison established on Castle Island (Resolves 1785, Feb 1786 Sess, c 166)  and the troops fighting Shays’ Rebellion. It also arranged for the building of lighthouses and helped administer a program of tax payments in kind instituted subsequent to the rebellion (St 1786, c 39). Once the Board of War was disbanded in 1781, the military stores in the board’s possession were forwarded to the commissary general. The commissary office closed in June 1792 (Resolves 1792, May Sess, c 61).  Resolves 1793, May Sess, c 52 (June 22, 1793) provided the elderly Devens with one year’s compensation for his services in closing his office.
Arrangement: Arranged by account, thereunder chronologically
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