Scope and Content: Massachusetts has administered water works and sewage disposal for the Boston metropolitan area successively through the Board of Metropolitan Sewerage Commissioners (Metropolitan Sewerage Commission) (1889-1901) and the Metropolitan Water Board (1895-1901); the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board (1901-1919); and the Water and Sewerage Divisions of the Metropolitan District Commission (1919-1985).  Since 1985, the sewerage works functions have been assigned to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), and the water works functions have been shared by the MWRA (distribution) and the Metropolitan District Commission (to 2003) and the Dept.  of Conservation and Recreation (since 2003) (water supply reservoirs and their watershed management).
Arrangement: Alphabetically by reservoir, thereunder chronologically
Notes: Transferred to Archives from Metropolitan District Commission
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Scope and Content: The Dept. of Public Welfare has the responsibility to provide and administer a comprehensive public welfare financial assistance program (MGLA c 18, s 2). Until 1967 the department organized the state into districts to carry out this program, originally staffed by the Division of Aid and Relief (Division of Public Assistance from 1953), under a district supervisor, and from the early 1950s (cf. St 1952, c 602) also by the Division of Child Guardianship, with respective district supervisors under a district director.  District supervisors’ conferences were held to plan and coordinate the work of the districts.  Minutes of these monthly meetings were created to document planning and decisions.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Also known as: District supervisors’ notes
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Scope and Content: The Committee on Charles River Dam was established pursuant to Resolves 1901, c 105 to consider the feasibility and desirability of constructing and maintaining a dam across the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge.  Diversion of Boston sewage from the Charles River Basin above the site of such a dam was considered necessary before proceeding with dam construction.  Series was created to investigate alternative methods of diversion.
Arrangement: In two subseries: (1) Notes and computations  (2) Finished tables, maps, and blueprints; Arranged within each subseries by subject
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Scope and Content: The Inspection Dept. of the District Police was established in 1888.  It was divided into the Boiler Inspection Dept. and the Building Inspection Dept. in 1913.  The functions of these units were reunited in the Division of Inspection of the Dept. of Public Safety in 1919.
Restrictions: Some digitized/photographed originals are restricted. Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
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Scope and Content: Massachusetts has administered water works and sewage disposal for the Boston metropolitan area successively through the Board of Metropolitan Sewerage Commissioners (Metropolitan Sewerage Commission) (1889-1901) and the Metropolitan Water Board (1895-1901); the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board (1901-1919); and the Water and Sewerage Divisions of the Metropolitan District Commission (1919-1985).  Since 1985, the sewerage works functions have been assigned to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), and the water works functions have been shared by the MWRA (distribution) and the Metropolitan District Commission (to 2003) and the Dept.  of Conservation and Recreation (since 2003) (water supply reservoirs and their watershed management).
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Transferred to Archives from Metropolitan District Commission Files for 1921-1922 lacking
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Scope and Content: St 1919, c 350, ss 99-110 established the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Safety, including a Division of State Police, under the supervision and control of a commissioner. The state police performed the functions, throughout the Commonwealth, of the District Police Force, including the Detective Dept., and was at the command of the governor in suppressing riots and in preserving the peace (GL 1921, c 147, s 2). Per St 1991, c 412, the division formed part of the Dept. of State Police.
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Scope and Content: In connection with a robbery and murders committed Apr. 1920 in South Braintree, Massachusetts, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were indicted Sept. 1920 and prosecuted and convicted in 1921 in Norfolk Superior Court.  After reviews of the trial and conviction by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and by an advisory committee appointed by Gov. Alvan T. Fuller and denial of petitions by defense counsel in the U.S. Supreme Court, the sentence of execution originally imposed on Sacco and Vanzetti was carried out Aug. 23, 1927.
Restrictions: Boxes 1-2 (i.e. originals) are restricted. Access by permission of state archivist or curator of Massachusetts Archives only
Notes: Transferred to Archives from State Police Headquarters, Feb. 6, 1997. Photocopied from: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives and Records Preservation. Reference files/Dept. of Public Safety Commonwealth vs. Sacco and Vanzetti. State Police files (v. 2). Location of originals unknown. Transferred to Archives from Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives and Records Preservation, Mar. 4, 1997.  Photocopies retained in its: Superior Court Dept. Norfolk and Plymouth Counties Commonwealth v. Sacco and Vanzetti. Reference files (folder 12)
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Scope and Content: St 1692-3, c 25 (Nov. 3, 1692) provided that all controversies concerning marriage and divorce in the the Province of the Massachusetts Bay be heard and determined by the governor and council, which replaced in this function the colonial Court of Assistants.  In 1780, Const Pt 2, C 3, Art 5 continued this arrangement until it should be superseded by specific legislation, which occurred with St 1785, c 69 (Mar. 16, 1786), under which the Supreme Judicial Court assumed jurisdiction for cases of divorce and alimony.  Series consists of files from cases heard by the Council not included in other record series (see below).
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: As part of their function to oversee, protect, and develop the waterways of Massachusetts, the Division of Waterways and Public Lands of the Dept. of Public Works and its predecessors in this function (the Board of Harbor Commissioners, to 1879, the Board of Harbor and Land Commissioners, 1879-1916, the Directors of the Port of Boston, 1911-1916, and the Commission on Waterways and Public Lands, 1916-1919), issued licenses for changes or improvements to waterways, including harbors and tidewaters.  Docket books contain abstracts of decisions made at hearings to grant licenses and serve as an index by case number to: Massachusetts. Division of Waterways. Minute books, 1879-1974 ((M-Ar)633)
Arrangement: Arranged numerically by docket, thereunder by petitioner, and then chronologically by date of hearing
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Scope and Content: The State Board of Conciliation and Arbitration was established in 1886; until 1902 it was known as the State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation or the State Board of Arbitration.  It was succeeded in 1919 by the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, part of the Dept. of Labor and Industries.
Arrangement: Arranged by company name, thereunder chronologically
Notes: Dockets for 1905-1907 missing
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