State Library Newsletter - July Issue

Happy July! Even though it's the summer, it's still a busy time at the State Library! Come by to visit us to see our new exhibit and various display cases, described here in our newsletter! You can also read about some of our intern projects, catch up on our Author Talk series, and more.

Pictured here is a preview, but the full issue can be accessed by clicking here. And you can also sign up for our mailing list to receive the newsletter straight to your inbox.

Hereby Declaring the Declaration of Independence on Display!

Happy July! As the country looks to celebrate Independence Day, we are joining in by sharing a timely item in our Collection Spotlight case. Visit us throughout the month to see a version of the Declaration of Independence that was printed as part of The Perpetual Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1789.

For previous July celebrations, we’ve shared two other versions of the Declaration found in our collection. Both of these versions were printed less than two weeks after the Declaration was ratified by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

• A broadside version that was printed by Ezekiel Russell in Salem on July 17, 1776. Read more in our blog post.

• A newspaper version that was printed for The New-England Chronicle by Edward E. Powers and Nathaniel Willis on July 18, 1776. Read more in our blog post.

The version displayed this month was printed a few years later, in 1789 by Adams and Nourse, who were the official printers to the General Court. It is in a volume of the Perpetual Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which, as stated on the title page, were published by the order of the General Court and cover the period from the commencement of the Constitution in October 1780, to the last Wednesday in May, 1789. Prefacing the laws are reprintings of a number of foundational documents. In addition to the displayed Declaration of Independence, there are also printings of the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution of the Commonwealth, the Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and America, and the Constitution of the United States. 

Following the documents, the laws are organized into seven categories: Part 1: The Public and Private Rights of Persons; Part 2: Real and Personal Estate; Part 3: Courts and Forms of Process; Part 4: Criminal Matters; Part 5: Trade and Commerce; Part 6: Taxes, etc.; Part 7: Militia Regulations. It ends with a section of "miscellaneous." This is a comprehensive source representing the state of Massachusetts laws from 1780 through 1789, and if you want to peruse the full text, a digitized copy is available through the Internet Archive.

Visit us from July 1 through August 5 to see this version of the Declaration on display, and best wishes from the State Library for a festive and safe Independence Day!

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Town Report Season: 2025

It’s that time of year again! Across the Commonwealth towns are preparing their yearly town reports and sending copies to the State Library, per M.G.L. chapter 40, sections 49 and 50. Although we receive town reports throughout the year, there’s always an uptick towards the end of the fiscal year.

2024 Town Reports from the towns of Waren, Cohasset, Belchertown, Winchendon, and Wrentham

The State Library collects both physical and digital copies of these reports. The physical copies get shelved in a special room in the stacks which we refer to as the “Town Report Room.” This room contains centuries of Massachusetts town history – I’ve included some photos of our older volumes for you to enjoy – I’m only now noticing that I need to fix the shelving for Marlborough . . . oops! Anyway, ignoring that for right now, all the digital versions we have of these reports get uploaded to our Digital Collections Repository.

Town Reports from the town of Marlborough, dates 1897-1908

Left: Town Reports from the town of Malden, dates 1898-1902

Right: Town Reports from the town of Hyde Park, dates 1869-1911

You can read more about the Town Reports at the State Library by reading our past blog posts:

• Collections Highlight and New Acquisitions: Town Reports!
• Design of Town Reports
• Massachusetts City and Town reports: Paper and Electronic

Visit our Massachusetts State and Local Resources in the State Library page to learn more about State Documents Collection!

Thank you to all the Town Clerk’s Offices who have sent their 2024 reports to us!

Update: After scurrying back to the Town Report Room to reorient the Marlborough Town Reports and curse whoever shelved them that way (probably me), I realized that the volumes are actually right side up and the titles along the spines were printed the other way. Some librarian of yester-year, probably opting for a more consistent and aesthetically pleasing look, placed the call numbers accordingly!


Maryellen Larkin, Government Documents Librarian

Reference Tip: Legal Dictionaries

In any library, a reference collection will have dictionaries. At the State Library, the reference section is stocked with legal and general dictionaries for your legislative research.

An essential resource for any law library is Black’s Law Dictionary. The first edition was published in 1891 by author, lawyer, and legal scholar Henry Campbell Black (1860-1927). While not the first legal dictionary to exist, Black’s became popular for being concise and comprehensive. A second edition was published in 1910 with more terms and case citations. In 1933 a third edition was released. The 1933 dictionary was the first published after Black’s death with a new title and the title still used today; the first two editions were titled A Law Dictionary.

The State Library has in its collection the 1933 edition. This edition also includes the preface that Black had written for the first edition and the second edition. The third edition was compiled by editors from West Publishing. Black’s Law Dictionary is now in its 12th edition (2024) and it remains the most used and cited legal dictionary. The current edition is available on Westlaw as well as past editions back to the 4th revised (1968).

Legal dictionaries such as Black’s are a great, fast resource to pull when coming across an unfamiliar legal term or phrase. Historic dictionaries can also be used as a resource for legislative history. When tracing a statute or interpreting intent, historic legal dictionaries provide valuable context by revealing how specific words or terms were understood and used at the time a law was written.

In addition to historic dictionaries, the State Library has in its reference collection the following:

• Modern Dictionary for the Legal Profession (2021) Hein
• Prince's Bieber Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations (2017) Hein
• Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language
• The Oxford Dictionary of American Legal Quotations

A special thank you to our Preservation Librarian for repairing and preserving both the 1933 dictionary and the sixth edition; both copies had wear and tear from use, which is a testament to the importance of Black’s permanent position on the reference shelf.


April Pascucci
Legislative Reference Librarian

Catch an Oystercatcher in the Library!

With summer and beach days on the horizon, it's time to share some shorebirds in our Audubon case! This month, we're displaying the Pied Oyster-catcher (plate 223). A fun addition to this depiction is an as-seen-from-above sketch of its head and long beak; the only other time that we've seen this addition to Audubon's prints is in the American Flamingo. 

According to the Bird Observer website, American Oystercatchers are migratory shorebird that breed from Maine all the way to Florida. Here in Massachusetts, 25% of the state’s oystercatchers have nested on Nantucket, 20% on Martha’s Vineyard, 15% on the Bristol County coast of Buzzards Bay, and 16% in Boston Harbor (link). Maybe you will spot one, with its bright-colored and prominent beak, on your next beach trip!

Visit us from June 11 through July 9 to catch the oystercatcher in our reading room! And check out our previously featured shorebirds here: piping plover, herring gull, brown pelican.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

New Exhibit at the State Library: The Spongy Moth Infestation in Massachusetts and Beyond

The State Library of Massachusetts is pleased to announce our latest exhibit: The Spongy Moth Infestation in Massachusetts and Beyond, now on view outside the Library’s entrance. This exhibit highlights the history, impact, and management of one of the Commonwealth’s most destructive forest pests. 

Formerly known as the gypsy moth, the spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) is an invasive species with deep roots in Massachusetts history. First introduced to the state in the late 1860s, this insect has caused widespread damage to forests and landscapes for more than a century. Known for its destructive caterpillars that strip trees of their leaves, the spongy moth remains a threat to local ecosystems during periodic outbreaks.

This exhibit traces the story of the spongy moth in Massachusetts, from its accidental arrival to modern-day control efforts. Visitors will find historical documents, scientific illustrations, photographs, and state reports that show how the Commonwealth has monitored and responded to this pest over time.

Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a history lover, or simply curious about one of Massachusetts' most notorious insects, we invite you to explore this fascinating and impactful chapter of our state’s environmental history.

View the exhibit during our open hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 5:00. You’ll find it in the hallway outside of the Library (room 341 of the State House). This exhibit is on display now through September, so be sure to visit us to learn more about the spongy moth’s impact on Massachusetts and beyond.


Exhibits Working Group

State Library Newsletter - June Issue

Welcome June! It's a busy month at the State Library, and you can read all about it in our latest newsletter. This month, we have displays, events, and general information about some of June's many distinctions: Pride Month, Juneteenth, and the Battle of Bunker Hill. And more!

Pictured here is a preview, but the full issue can be accessed by clicking here. And you can also sign up for our mailing list to receive the newsletter straight to your inbox.