The Traditional Exchange of Governor's Gifts

Yesterday marked one month since the inauguration of our new Governor, Maura Healey--welcome, Governor! The State House was buzzing during the transfer of power and now with the renewed energy of a new administration. 

What are some of the finer details of this transfer of power, though? You may have read stories in the news or watched clips on TV of former Governor Charlie Baker’s last day in office. One thing that I found interesting was the exchange of ceremonial tokens of office, or the traditional exchange of gifts, that happens between the outgoing Governor and the Governor-elect.

All four traditional gifts, photo courtesy of WCVB

Photo courtesy of WCVB

These four gifts all hold a special place for this office, but also for the history of the Commonwealth. One of the gifts is a pewter key to the governor’s office. Here we see former Governor Deval Patrick holding the key after it was passed down to him by former Gov. Mitt Romney. This is the original key to the corner office, though you won’t see Gov. Maura Healey carrying this around in her pocket--it’s just a ceremonial key.

Former Gov. Charlie Barker and Gov. Maura
Healey with one of the MA General Statutes
volumes, photo courtesy of the Boston Globe

Another gift is the Butler Bible. This bible was left by former Gov. Benjamin Butler in 1884 to all those who would serve after him. Governor Butler left this bible in the office because he previously had not found one there. The bible also includes a note from the outgoing governor to the new governor.

Two volumes of the Massachusetts General Statutes dating back to 1860 are also part of these gifts, as is the governor’s gavel. The gavel is carved out of white oak original to the U.S.S. Constitution and in 1906 was accepted as the “permanent official gavel” of the Governor’s Council.

Former Gov. Charlie Baker also presented Governor Maura Healy with a coin that had been given to him by the family of Sergeant First Class Jared Monti, who had been killed in Afghanistan in 2006. Baker said to WCVB that the coin is a “reminder of the sacrifice of military families.”

There have been plenty of news stories about these gifts if you’d like to read more:

• Charlie Baker passes 4 traditional symbols of Massachusetts governor's office to Maura Healey
• Handover from Baker to Healey begins with symbolic gifts, Lone Walk on Wednesday 
• Charlie Baker’s final days marked by ceremony, tradition

If you missed the televised coverage of Inauguration Day, take a look at WCVB’s video of the traditional exchange of gifts. We’d also like to give a special shout out to WCVB and the Boston Globe for some of the images featured in this post. If you’d like more information on all former governors of the Commonwealth, take a look at the National Governors Association website, but don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may have! Once again, welcome to Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, and everyone in the new administration!

Jessica Shrey
Reference Librarian