Scope and Content: Massachusetts had unlimited claims on lands west of the Hudson River, based on provisions of the Plymouth Colony (1620) and Massachusetts Bay (1629) charters, while New York had competing claims based on provisions of the 1664 charter from King Charles II to his brother, James, Duke of York.  After American independence, Congress urged that boundary lines and land disputes between Massachusetts and New York be settled.  The boundary between the colonies of Massachusetts and New York (i.e., east of the Hudson River–for lands west of the Hudson see: Massachusetts. Office of the Secretary of State. Agreement between Massachusetts and New York relating to western lands, 1784-1793 ((M-Ar)31X)) was to have been settled by an agreement signed at Hartford, May 18, 1773, but the actual line had not been ascertained pursuant to that agreement.  St 1784, c 1 (June 4, 1784, replacing St 1783, c 61, Mar. 18, 1784, which erroneously dated the agreement as 1772) appointed Joseph Hawley, Caleb Strong, Timothy Edwards, and Theodore Sedgwick (member of the Continental Congress) commissioners to meet with their New York counterparts to ascertain the boundary and to adjudicate title claims of private landholders affected thereby.  Negotiations had broken down by November 1784, and Resolves 1784, Jan 1785 Sess, c 116 (Mar. 11, 1785) authorized the delivery of commissioner reports to agents who would represent the claims of Massachusetts in federal court. –On June 29, 1785, Congress appointed commissioners of its own to settle the dispute (Thomas Hutchins, John Erving, and David Rittenhouse as of Dec. 1785).  In Massachusetts, Resolves 1785, Feb 1786 Sess (Mar. 14, 1786) appointed Edwards, Sedgwick, and Jahleel Woodbridge agents to assist them, again with the collaboration of New York agents.  St 1786, c 8 (June 27, 1786) reiterated this arrangement, this time with Edwards, Strong, Woodbridge, and Dr. Samuel Williams as agents.  Massachusetts gave Congressional commissioners additional time to complete their mandate (St 1786, c 70, Mar. 1, 1787), and an agreement with both states was completed on July 21, 1787.  Resolves 1787, Oct Sess, c 101 (Nov. 21, 1787) directed the agreement and accompanying papers to be filed with the state secretary (actually now found in: Passed resolves ((M-Ar)228))
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Arrangement: In two subseries: (1) Evidentiary files (2) Commissioners’ report
Notes: Formerly part of state secretary’s: Miscellaneous collection, box 74
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Scope and Content: The Court of Registration, established in 1898, was successively renamed the Court of Land Registration in 1900 and Land Court in 1904.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Spine title: Decrees Microfilm reel number 5 (October 1955-February 1956) missing
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Scope and Content: The Council has constitutional authority to provide advice and consent to the governor in approving warrants authorizing expenditures from the Treasury (Const Pt 2, C 2, S 1, Art 11), and over time acquired similar statutory authority to approve a variety of financial transactions of the executive branch.  (Such authority was in general repealed by St 1964, c 740.)  In this connection Finance Committee reports contain annual information on state securities, bonds, and notes in effect during a given year.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: The Board to Investigate the Subject of the Unemployed inquired into the subject of the unemployed in Massachusetts and measures for their relief by the Commonwealth and its municipalities.  Series was created to record management of its appropriation.
Arrangement: In four subseries: (1) Cashbook  (2) Journal  (3) Salary list  (4) Ledger
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Scope and Content: The State Primary School, opened at the State Almshouse at Monson in 1866 and continuing after the almshouse’s closing in 1872 until 1895, provided lodging, instruction, and employment for dependent and neglected children under age sixteen without settlement in the Commonwealth and some juvenile offenders.  The institution managed an annual budget to sustain operations.  Attendant financial recoreds include these four fragmentary subseries.
Arrangement: Arranged in four subseries: (1) Bank account books, 1884-1892  (2) Check stubs, 1894-1895 (3) Bills, 1874-1875 (4) Inventory, 1880
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Scope and Content: Massachusetts Resolves 1846, c 117 appointed Commissioners on Idiocy to inquire on: the condition of idiots in the commonwealth and if anything can be done for them. The commission’s report, written by Samuel G. Howe of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind, led to the establishment by Resolves 1848, c 65 of the Experimental School for Teaching and Training Idiotic Children, located at the Perkins Institution. The school was incorporated as the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth (St 1850, c 150), located near Perkins in South Boston, with Howe serving as president until his death in 1876. It was renamed the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded by St 1883, c 239, reflecting the establishment of a separate asylum department for those beyond school age or not capable of being helped by the school’s instruction. Funds for the construction of a new facility in Waltham were provided by Resolves 1888, c 82, and occupation of the new site began in 1890, with the South Boston facility closing in 1892. St 1925, c 293 renamed the institution the Walter E. Fernald State School, in honor of the superintendent of the school, 1887-1924. A 2003 gubernatorial initiative to close the Fernald School (known as the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center since 1993) by 2007 was still in litigation as of 2013.
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Scope and Content: The State Primary School, opened at the State Almshouse at Monson in 1866 and continuing after the almshouse’s closing in 1872 until 1895, provided lodging, instruction, and employment for dependent and neglected children under age sixteen without settlement in the Commonwealth and some juvenile offenders.  The institution managed an annual budget to sustain operations.  Attendant financial records include annual financial statements summarizing financial transactions and worth of the school.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Statement for 1882 lacking
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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
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