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.

For Juneteenth – The Emancipation Proclamation

This month, our Collection Spotlight case recognizes Juneteenth, the federal holiday that commemorates the ending of slavery with the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas on June 19, 1865. We are displaying the copy of the Emancipation Proclamation found in our collection, which was published as a pamphlet by the War Department on January 2, 1863, and distributed to the Army.

In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 stating his intention to free all individuals held as slaves in secessionist states on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation itself was then issued on January 1, 1863. The version that we hold in our collection was published the following day by the War Department with the notation that “The following Proclamation of the President is published for the information and government of the Army and all concerned.” The proclamation was relevant to the War Department because also within it was the announcement that freed Black men could enlist in the Union Army and Navy. Later in January, following the enactment of this provision, Massachusetts governor John Andrew received permission from the U.S. War Department to raise a Black regiment as part of the Union Army. Enlistment began in February, and those who joined became the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. You can read more about those regiments, and see some photographs of enlisted soldiers, in previous blog post.

Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19, 1865, the date that marks the official end of slavery, when General Gordon Granger and Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation, over two years after it was initially issued. Since then, Black communities have gathered on that date to celebrate Juneteenth as an Independence Day. Part of those celebrations sometimes includes a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, which is why we have chosen to display it this month. You can read more about Juneteenth on the National Museum of African American History & Culture website, and view the original Emancipation Proclamation at the National Archives.

Visit us from June 3 through July 1 to see the Emancipation Proclamation pamphlet on display. Though only the first page of the Emancipation Proclamation can be exhibited, we have included facsimiles of the subsequent two pages. Also on display is a copy of the official proclamation issued by Governor Charlie Baker in 2020, which established Juneteenth Independence Day as a state holiday. The following year, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian