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.  This series has been created as the secretary is notified of the administering of the oath of office to certain county officials by a justice or other appropriate officer as mandated by MGLA c 218, s 12; c 221, s 11, et seq. –Such county officials include clerks, assistant clerks, and temporary clerks of district courts; clerks for the Superior Court and the Supreme Judicial Court in Suffolk County; registers of deeds; assistant registers of probate; special sheriffs; county commissioners; and associate commissioners.  Notices of appointment include correspondence from the notifying official with name of county official elected or appointed, office, and date oath was administered.  It may also include a copy of the signed oath. –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) Notices of county officials  (2) Notices of clerks and temporary clerks; –Files for 1950-1985 arranged within each subseries chronologically. –arranged chronologically, thereunder by county, and then by office
Notes: Some files formerly part of state secretary’s: Miscellaneous collection, box 93E
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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.  This series has been created as the secretary is notified by the commissioner of mental health of appointments to community mental health and retardation area boards (St 1966, Ex Sess, c 735, s 1; amended by St 1986, c 599, s 8 (MGLA c 19, s 15) to community mental health area boards), and by the commissioner of social services of appointments to social services area boards (St 1978, c 552, s 10l as amended (MGLA c 18B, s 13)). –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 alphabetically by board type, thereunder chronologically. Arranged numerically by region
Notes: Social services board files through 1991 only; mental health board files for 1987 incomplete
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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.  Pursuant to St 1933, c 70 as amended (MGLA c 41, s 19A), the appropriate local official files with the state secretary a certificate of appointment or election of each clerk, assistant clerk, or temporary clerk of a fire, water, sewer, light, or improvement district. –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, thereunder alphabetically by municipality
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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.  This series has been created as the secretary receives certificates of appointment or election to municipal or regional housing authorities from municipal or county officials and, for the state appointee in each case, from the secretary of community affairs, pursuant to St 1946, c 574, as amended (MGLA c 121B, s 5) –Authorities are established to clear substandard areas; provide low-income housing; and preserve, restore, or relocate historical buildings.  Files may also include annual reports and bylaws. –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 in overlapping sequences, thereunder alphabetically by municipality
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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.  This series has been created as the secretary receives certificates of appointment or election to municipal redevelopment authorities (established to engage in urban renewal projects) from municipal officials and, for the state appointee in each case, from the secretary of community affairs, pursuant to St 1952, c 617, s 4, as amended (MGLA 121B, s 5) –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 in overlapping sequences, thereunder alphabetically by municipality
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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.  This series has been created as the secretary is notified of appointments by the governor, other state officials, and, for local representatives, by mayors, city or town managers, or boards of selectmen to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, pursuant to St 1963, c 668, as amended (MGLA c 40B, c 24). –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, thereunder alphabetically by municipality
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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.  This series has been created as the secretary receives notices of appointments to various temporary boards, commissions, authorities, bureaus, and corporations. –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) –See also: Council. Council files–subseries (2) –In conjunction with recent files, see closely related series: Massachusetts. Governor’s Personnel Office. Appointment files, 1800-2007 ((M-Ar)598)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically in two overlapping sequences, thereunder alphabetically by agency
Notes: 2nd sequence transferred from: Massachusetts. Governor’s Personnel Office. Administrative files ((M-Ar)612X). Most 1976-1978 files lacking; Jan.-Apr. 1995, 1996, 2008-2009 files lacking
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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.  Certificates are the secretary’s copies of sworn oaths of office. Early records contain primarily form and sample certificates, arranged chronologically. From 1850 actual commission certificates, signed by the governor, are included for such appointments as pilot and commissioner of Indians. Also included are letters of appointment and resignation. Holdings also include certificates for Massachusetts commissioners in other states, 1844-1926 (as well as some from other states in Massachusetts), commissioners in other countries, 1857-1948, and supervisor of elections, 1901-1905. From 1935, certificates are primarily for justices of the peace and notaries public. From 1968 other offices are included, such as commissioners to qualify civil officers, state police, special state police, deputy sheriff, assistant (and special assistant) attorney general, district attorney, assistant (and special assistant) district attorney, and weigher and measurer of motor vehicles and trailers. –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
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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. Register of civil commissions was created by the secretary to provide a chronological listing of nominations by county for civil officers including notaries public, justices of the peace, commissioners to qualify civil officers (from 1788-1824; for later see (M-Ar)183X), and clerks of court, with separate sections of justices and judges for the whole state. –For listings by office see:  Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Registers of civil officers classified 1855-1948 ((M-Ar)185X). For a listing of other 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 at vol. level chronologically by year span, thereunder by county, and then by date of nomination
Notes: Volumes for 1864-1866 lacking
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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. Resolves 1780, Oct Sess, c 58 authorized the governor and council to appoint persons empowered to administer oaths of office to public officials receiving commissions, called commissioners to qualify civil officers, dedimus justices, or, more recently, commissioners to qualify public officers. Series consists of a register, compiled probably in the early twentieth century, that serves as an index of commissioners to qualify civil officers. –Also included are sheets, 1822-1880 only, listing appointment date, name, municipality, and qualification date. Arranged in alphabetical sections, it is probably a draft of the register as it was compiled from original records. –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 by county, thereunder alphabetically by first letter of surname, and then chronologically
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