From Card to Click: Discover the Massachusetts Legislative Biographical File

For just shy of two centuries, the State Library of Massachusetts has been a vital resource for those seeking information on past and present legislators. At the core of this legacy are two biographical card files—collections of both typed and handwritten index cards that together chronicle over 300 years of Massachusetts political history. Thanks to a three-year collaboration with our dedicated partners on the Application Development Team in the Executive Office for Administration and Finance Office of Information Technology (“A&F IT”) and our passionate, history-obsessed interns, we’re excited to announce the beta launch of the Massachusetts Legislative Biographical File Database! You can bookmark and access it directly—just choose “Search State Library” to begin exploring!

From card catalog to new database!

Digitizing a Legacy

Once available only in-library, these index card files were digitized and then transcribed into a searchable database. Each entry will eventually include the card image and links to related materials such as photographs and manuscript letters in the State Library’s collections, creating a unified, one-stop research experience.

Two Files, One Mission

The first file, located in the Main Reading Room, spans from the colonial era to today. The second, housed in our Special Collections Department, covers the late 18th century through approximately 1915. Together, these files contain over 20,000 cards, each offering biographical details such as names, birth and death dates, residences, education, occupations, party affiliations, and legislative service. Many cards include information on both sides and may reference letters or additional documents in the library’s collections.

Manuscript 151: The Tillinghast Legacy

Much of this collection owes its existence to Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast (1843–1909), Massachusetts’ first State Librarian. A passionate genealogist, Tillinghast sent over 75,000 letters and questionnaires to compile biographical data on legislators. These letters, now digitized and housed in Special Collections as Manuscript 151, are often cited directly on the cards and will be linked to the individual database entries.

Manuscript 138: Boston Journal Memoranda

Also digitized is Manuscript 138, a set of printed questionnaires sent to legislators between 1868 and 1892 by the Boston Journal. These offer rich biographical sketches and will also be integrated and linked to the individual database entries.

For more background on both of these collections, check out our previous blog post.

Preserving History, Enhancing Access

This database project has faced its share of challenges—from missing or inconsistent data on the original cards to shifting geographic names over time. Still, the State Library remains committed to preserving and enhancing access to this valuable historical resource, while working to verify and expand the information contained in the database. Whether you're a researcher, historian, or just curious, the Legislative Biographical File offers a unique glimpse into the lives of past Massachusetts lawmakers and Massachusetts history. If you have information that could help us authenticate the information or fill in the gaps, we’d love to hear from you! Just reach out via email or the form on our website!


Judith Carlstrom
Head of Technical Services

A Collection of Corvids in the Library!

It's a four-for-one special in this month's Audubon! Featured in plate 362 is I. Yellow billed Magpie; 2. Stellers Jay; 3. Ultramarine Jay; 4. Clark's Crow (which is also known as Clark's Nutcracker). The magpie is in the center, with two jays above and crows below. All of these birds are members of the Corvidae (Corvid) family, which includes over 139 species! So why are they being displayed for September? In keeping with the month's back-to-school theme, we're highlighting the print full of corvids because they are known to be amongst the most intelligent birds. Species in this family have tool-making abilities, memory skills, and show self-awareness. Young corvids have also been observed participating in complex games.

Also shown in the print is a rather large acorn, this is a significant addition to the print because, similar to squirrels, some corvids engage in scatter hoarding. They bury acorns in different locations and then retrieve them at a later date. There's that good memory in action!

Find some inspiration to be head of the class this school year by visiting the library and checking out the corvids. They are on display from September 10 through October 14, and you can read more about each of them in the Audubon Field Guide: Yellow-billed Magpie, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Clark's Nutcracker.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Understanding the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR)

In 2013, the State Library published a blog post about the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR), the official compilation of rules created by Massachusetts state agencies. Since then, access to the CMR has expanded, and the Library has continued to grow its collections, both in print and online. This updated post revisits the topic to provide current information about the CMR and the many ways researchers can explore these resources at the State Library and beyond. 

As we mentioned, the CMR contains the official rules that Massachusetts state agencies create and use to carry out state laws. These regulations cover a wide range of topics, from food safety standards to professional licensing requirements, and are published to ensure transparency and public access to the procedures and policies that affect daily life in the Commonwealth.

The CMR as we know it began in 1976. Prior to that there was no centralized way in which agencies published their regulations. A second edition of the CMR was released in 1978, and the third and current edition was released in 1987. This edition continues to be updated to this day.

How Regulations Are Published

Regulations are filed with the State Publications and Regulations Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and published biweekly in the Massachusetts Register. Each issue of the Register includes:

• Notices of proposed regulations and public hearings
• New, amended, and emergency regulations
• Executive Orders and Attorney General Opinions
• Cumulative Tables showing changes since the last codification

What the Numbers Mean

Each regulation is assigned a three-part citation. For example, 105 CMR 125.004:

• Title number (e.g., 105 CMR) designates the agency
• Chapter number (e.g., 105 CMR 125) indicates a subject area
• Section number (e.g., 105 CMR 125.004) pinpoints specific provisions

The first digit of the title number typically corresponds to the Executive Office, while the remaining digits identify the agency itself.

Accessing the CMR at the State Library

The State Library of Massachusetts is a valuable resource for anyone researching Massachusetts regulations. Here's how we can help:

• CMR in Print 
• We maintain a current Reading Room copy of the CMR for quick reference, updated as new regulations are filed.
• Historical Collection and Stacks Copy 
• Our Stacks copy of the CMR includes older versions with the Massachusetts Registers still intact, which is useful for identifying regulatory changes over time.
• Massachusetts Register 
• We have the Massachusetts Register in print, and many issues are available in our digital repository.
• Cumulative Tables 
• We house a comprehensive collection of the Cumulative Tables starting in 1976 to present. The tables list updates made to the CMR and allow researchers to trace when changes were made to specific chapters and sections.
• Pre-Codified Regulations 
• For older regulations issued before the formal CMR codification system began in 1976, we provide access to the pre-codified edition in print at the library, as well as in our digital repository. The pre-codified edition consists of 12 boxes, each containing several folders. The boxes are organized by agency, similar to the way the CMR now contains title numbers. Read on for information about accessing the pre-codified CMR digitally.

Online Access to the CMR

If you can’t visit the Library in person, the following resources provide online access to current and historical regulations:

• State Library’s CMR Research Guide 
• Our research guide provides detailed instructions on how to locate regulations, track changes, and cite regulatory sources.
• State Library Digital Collections 
• Find the latest issue of the Massachusetts Register, plus back issues. You’ll also find the Cumulative Tables in our digital repository. 
• NEW: Access the pre-codified version of the CMR in our digital repository.
• Secretary of State’s Regulations & Publications Division 
• Read about and download the Regulations Manual
• Trial Court Law Libraries’ Online CMR 
• Browse the CMR by agency title or subject on the Trial Court Law Libraries’ webpage.

Whether you’re a legal researcher, student, public policy professional, or just curious about how state government works, the State Library is here to support your research into Massachusetts regulations. Visit us in Room 341 of the Massachusetts State House or contact our reference librarians for assistance at reference.department@mass.gov.


Jessica Shrey
Legal Research Reference Librarian

State Library Newsletter - August Issue

Hello September! Read about everything happening at the State Library in this month's newsletter, out now. 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.

Back to School on Federal Street

September is synonymous with “Back to School” and with that comes the opportunity to share some education related materials in our Collection Spotlight case. This month, our items take us to Federal Street in Boston in 1797, where we are highlighting materials that represent two schools found on that street: Memoir of Mrs. Rowson, published in 1870 and about the founder of a girls school, and Regulations for the Government of the School in Federal Street, published in Boston in 1797. Both Mrs. Rowson’s school and the Federal School came to be not long after Massachusetts passed “An Act To Provide For The Instruction Of Youth, And For The Promotion Of Good Education” in 1789.

Schools in the 1790s would have been segregated by gender, and we know from the language of the Regulations for the Government of the School in Federal Street that this was a school for boys. The small pamphlet is only sixteen pages long and includes thirty articles adopted for the governance of the school and pupils. A notation at the end reads that at a meeting of the proprietors on September 13, 1797 the articles were voted on and adopted. You may notice that some of them are marked with an asterisks, this indicates that these articles are permanent, and do not need to be voted on again in the future. We are displaying the pamphlet open to the two pages that include Articles 3 through 8, which primarily address appropriate school behavior. It appears that the Federal School was rather strict and the students were held to a high standard! Three of the articles are transcribed below:

Article VI: That Silence be considered as an essential preliminary to the business of the day, and that no conversation be permitted in the School, but such as immediately relates to it.

 Article VII: That all kinds of social or private Amusement, during the hours appointed for Study or Instruction, be considered a transgression of the Rules.

 Article VIII*: That any Scholar who shall break a square of glass, or any of the furniture of the Academy, such as desks, benches, &c. shall be required immediately to repair it; or, in default, to pay twice the cost of such repairs.

We doubt that Articles VI and VII would be very popular with students today!

After reading through all the regulations, we tried to find additional information about the school. A search of Federal Street School or even “schools on Federal Street” did not turn up any information. A stamp on the interior pages indicates that the State Library acquired this item on December 29, 1887, so with that information we checked the section in the 1888 annual report that lists additions to the collections, in case that listing included any identifying information. Unfortunately, the annual report did not shed any light, as the pamphlets listing simply reads “School in Federal Street, Regulations for the government of the school. Bost., 1797.” It’s possible that this was a short-lived institution, or not one that was formally established. 

A school on Federal Street that we could find a reference to is Mrs. Susanna Rowson’s Academy for Young Ladies, which also dates to 1797. Susanna Rowson was born in England but immigrated to Boston at age five; she was an actress, author, playwright, and an educator and early proponent of education for females. Over the course of thirty years, she lived in Canada, England, and Philadelphia before returning to Boston 1797. It was at this time that she established the girls school on Federal Street, which was the first of its kind in Boston. We’re displaying her memoir open to the page that describes the school's first year:

On leaving the stage in the spring of 1797, Mrs. Rowson, under the patronage of Mrs. Samuel Smith, began a school in Federal street, and with but a single pupil, Mrs. Smith’s adopted daughter, continued it for one whole term. She was known in Boston only as a novel writer, as an actress – how could children be confided to her care? But the light cannot be hid; her motto was "tant que je puis," and persevering steadily, she came before the close of the scholastic year to number one hundred pupils on her daily roll; and applications were received for more than she could possibly accommodate.

The image of Susanna Rowson shown above is also found in her memoir. The school relocated to Medford and Newton before returning to Boston in 1809.

Beyond these two items, the State Library holds an impressive collection of education focused materials, in part because in its early days as a research library, it was under the care of the Board of Education. From 1849 until 1893, the Secretary of the Board of Education also served as the State Librarian. Check out the links below to read about some of the items that we’ve shared in past years, click here to read through an education timeline, and visit us from September 8 through October 7 to see these two items on display.

Elizabeth Roscio
Preservation Librarian

Historical Textbooks, 1775 through 1828

"Rules and regulations for the public schools in Quincy: also, some remarks on the due observance of the rules, addressed to parents.” Quincy School Committee, September 1, 1835

“Rules and Regulations to be observed by the Teachers of the Public Schools in Dorchester” and “Order of Exercises at the Dedication of the Building and Installation of the Teacher of the High School” Dorchester Public Schools, 1810 and 1852

Author Talk with Elizabeth Heslop Sheehy

• A Home in Woods Hole: Life and History on Eel Pond (2024) 
• Wednesday, September 17, 2025. 12pm - 1:00pm
• In-person and Virtual event. No registration required.
• State Library of Massachusetts - Room 341, Massachusetts State House
• Livestream on YouTube
• Books available for purchase; $24.99 plus tax; Cash, Venmo, or Credit Cards accepted

The State Library of Massachusetts Author Talks Series returns from summer break on September 17th! We have an exciting lineup of authors as we close out 2025 with speakers in October, November, and December. Bookmark our Mass.Gov page for information/details on upcoming author talk events.

Author Elizabeth Sheehy will be joining us in our historic reading room on Wednesday, September 17th at noon to present her book A Home in Woods Hole: Life and History on Eel Pond. We can’t think of a better book to wrap up summer. Please keep reading for more details on the author and book.

This is an in-person and virtual event. The livestream available on our YouTube channel courtesy of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Broadcast Services. Tune in at noon!

Be sure to sign up for our Author Talks newsletter and follow our social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, and X) for the latest information on our visiting authors. If you are unable to attend, the recording will be posted to our YouTube channel to watch anytime - view all past recordings here!

About the book: Woods Hole is an iconic location on Cape Cod; it is home to WHOI or the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Nobska Lighthouse. Author Elizabeth Sheehy traces the history of Woods Hole through a unique perspective. A Home in Woods Hole delves into the lives of Walter Nickerson and Helena Nugent and the house they built over a hundred years ago. It is a family history, a history of a seaside community, and a history of New England through many eras.

About the author: Elizabeth Sheehy is a writer with a passion for local history. She bought a house in 2018 in Woods Hole which inspired her to write and research which resulted in her 2024 book A Home in Woods Hole. Sheehy had a long career as a retail executive but now writes full time. Sheehy holds a degree in history from Trinity College.

As always, this author talk is free and open to all. Assisted listening devices will be made available upon request. If you are able to join us in person for this talk, attendees will be able to participate in a question-and-answer session with the author. Books will be available for purchase; $24.99 plus tax (~$26.55) Cash, Venmo, or Credit Cards via Square accepted.

Any questions or concerns, please email us at AuthorTalks.StateLibrary@mass.gov. For more information on the State Library Author Talks series, please visit our site.

April Pascucci 

On behalf of Author Talks Working Group

A Look at Our Government Documents Program in FY25

FY25 has been an exciting year for the Government Documents Department. This fiscal year the Department received roughly 2615 documents; 2508 of those were digital items (95%) while 107 were paper items (5%). Town reports made up the majority (97%) of paper items we received.

December 2024 marked the 40th anniversary of the enactment of St.1984 c. 412. This statute, which became codified as M.G.L. 6 § 39B, stipulates that every state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must submit copies of their publications to the State Library. Since its passage in 1984, M. G. L. ch. 6 section 39B has been vital to the State Library’s mission of preserving the legislative history of Massachusetts and ensuring access to the Commonwealth’s public documents.

Turning 40 wasn’t the only major milestone for M.G.L. 6 § 39B. With the passage of chapter 206 of the 2024 Acts, M.G.L. 6 § 39B has been updated! The new legislation takes into account the fact that government documents are increasingly published digitally rather than in hard copy. The original legislation required that 8 hard copies of every published government document be sent to the State Library. It now requires only a single copy (if originally published in hardcopy) or shareable PDF for preservation.

The State Library rung in the New Year with the publication of its first training module on MassAchieve! This module covers the basics of the State Library’s Government Documents Program and advises state employees on what materials to send to the Library for public access and preservation. Since the announcement in our February Newsletter, the module has been made available to the public on the State Library’s YouTube channel.

MyPath on MassAchieve screenshot

The Department has had two interns (not simultaneous) from Simmons University’s MLIS program. Both have been invaluable additions to the Department. They have put together awesome exhibits and written blog posts highlighting the Government Documents collection. Read some of their work here:

• Design of Town Reports by Emily Buff, published July 29, 2024
• Y2K: Crisis Averted by Emily Colson, published April 7, 2025

Check out more blog posts about our Government Documents:

• M.G.L. 6 § 39B Turns 40 and Gets a Glow Up! published December 9, 2024
• SuDoc Numbers and Other Things published January 27, 2025
• Town Report Season: 2025 published June 23, 2025

Maryellen Larkin

Government Documents & Reference Librarian

Lesser Terns Alight in the Library

August marks one more installment in our summer of Audubon shorebirds! We are rounding out the season with the Lesser Tern (plate 319), which is also known as the Least Tern. This moderately sized shorebird is found in Massachusetts on both sandy and gravelly beaches. The Commonwealth's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has a webpage devoted to the least tern, where we learned that in 2024 there were 89 breeding sites in Massachusetts. Sometimes, the least tern nests alongside the piping plover since they have similar nesting requirements!

 
The least tern has been identified as a species of greatest concern by the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan. You can read all about the tern on the SWAP website, including information about its lifecycle, habitat, and conservation. 

In Audubon's print, the black capped bird is labeled as "adult spring plumage" which is its breeding plumage. Also shown is the young tern, which is more brown.

Visit our reading room from August 12 through September 9 to see the print on display.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

“Precious Tatters of Silk”

As I’m coming upon my second-year anniversary of working at the State Library, I can’t claim to be new around here; however, there is no shortage of new (to me) special collections items I have the joy of discovering for myself. One of my more recent discoveries is our Civil War regimental battle flag photograph collection.

Regimental battle flags of the 54th and 55th Infantries,
Massachusetts’ first Black regiments to serve in the Civil War.

According to an inscription, the photos were presented to the Commonwealth by the Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Military Order of the Loyal Legion. In 1885, the Loyal Legion was permitted to photograph the many Civil War battle flags borne by Massachusetts’ infantry, cavalry, and artillery units; at the time, the flags were on display in Doric Hall.

I was struck by the number of flags included – more than 160 – and wondered how so many made their way to the State House following the Civil War. I found the answer on the State House Tours website and information published by State House Art Curator Susan Greendyke Lachevre. "The Return of the Colors," shown in Edward Simmons' mural in Memorial Hall, depicts the return of the flags that Governor John A. Andrew presented to the Massachusetts regiments as they departed to fight for the Union. The return ceremony took place on December 22, 1865.

Left: Colors of the 7th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, formed in Taunton.

Center: Flag of the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, also known as the Harvard Regiment, formed in Readville.

Right: Colors of the 41st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, organized in Lynnfield.

Present day visitors to Memorial Hall can see transparencies of battle flags on display. The original flags are part of the Massachusetts State House Battle Flag Collection, and textile conservators moved them to environmentally controlled archival storage in 1987.

Pictured below are two closeup shots of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry regimental battle flags. Governor Andrew spoke of the regiment, saying, "I know not where, in all of human history, to any given thousand men in arms there has been committed a work at once so proud, so precious, so full of hope and glory." The storied 54th regiment is commemorated with a monument on the Boston Common, and the site is part of Boston’s Black Heritage Trail. You can learn more about the 54th and 55th in our Colonel Alfred Stedman Hartwell Collection.

A news clipping dated October 21, 1885 pasted on the inside of the battle flags’ photo album cover reads,

The Old Bay State’s Tattered Flags

... These precious tatters of silk, stained with smoke and fire, and, in some instances, with the blood of their bearers, continue to be the object of appreciative curiosity to the visitors to the State House. The color which bears the stain of Sergeant Plunkett’s blood, showing where he clasped it with his broken, bleeding arms, is the most admired piece of silk probably in New England. Veterans lead their children up to it to see the stain of the brave Sergeant’s blood, and every day groups of sightseers ask to be shown Sergeant Plunkett’s flag.

There will be more to read on Sergeant Plunkett in a future blog post, as what I found about him while researching necessitates a much deeper dive.


Alyssa Persson
Special Collections Processing Archivist

Vacation Inspiration Courtesy of Gleason’s Pictorial!

There's still a solid month of summer left, which means there's time for one more vacation getaway! If you’re looking for inspiration, then turn to our August Collection Spotlight case. Displayed this month is the August 7, 1852 issue of Gleason’s Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion, with a picture of the Pleasant Mountain House on the first page.

Gleason’s Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion was published by Frederick Gleason in Boston from 1851 through 1859, though in 1855 its name changed to Ballou’s Pictorial when Maturin Murray Ballou took over. As per its name, you might find an issue of Gleason’s in someone’s drawing room, also known as a withdrawing room. These were formal spaces in a home in which leisure activities (like reading, needle point, or musical performances), or private or business conversations would occur. For the homeowner or guests, this weekly periodical would provide interesting information to read or discuss, along with illustrations to examine. And in case there is any confusion about where Gleason’s was published, the masthead includes a picture of Boston Harbor and the city skyline, with the dome of the State House prominently displayed on a slightly exaggerated Beacon Hill!

In keeping with the time of year, we’re displaying an issue that was published this month in 1852. Shown on the first page is an illustration of Pleasant Mountain and Pleasant Mountain House, located in Denmark, Oxford County, Maine. Pleasant Mountain rises 4,000 feet above sea level, and the text under the image describes the height as follows, “it is novel to look down upon the clouds, to watch the shower as it passes over different towns and villages, to see it creep around the base of the mountain, or up its side, to hear the rain below you, and be all the while yourself in sunlight.” The text concludes with a description of a hotel that was constructed atop the mountain by Joseph S. Sargent “a beautiful and commodious hotel, while the mountain has become one of the most favorite resorts in New England.” For those itching to visit, the text also makes a point to state that it is only forty-five miles from Portland, a very convenient location if you’re looking to get away!

Note that Pleasant Mountain is located in Denmark, Maine. A fun fact about Maine is that there are over 40 towns named after other countries or cities abroad! In addition to Denmark, there is Peru, Bath, Norway, Lisbon, Mexico, Naples, and Paris – just to name a few. Keep an eye out for some when you’re on your next road trip through Maine!

Gleason’s Pictorial is on display in our reading room from August 5 through September 2, so stop by to take a look. And if you’d like to read about a few of other New England resorts, check out our previous blog post on Souvenir of New England’s Great Resorts published in 1891, and a bird’s-eye view map of Magnolia on the North Shore between Manchester-by-the-Sea and Gloucester.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

State Library Newsletter - August Issue

From lighthouses, to shorebirds, to mountain retreats, summer is still going strong at the State Library! Read about all these and more in our August newsletter, out now.

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.

The Appalachian Mountain Club in the State Library

Early AMC rock climbing from the

June 1976 issue of Appalachia

The Northeast has many beautiful natural places to explore, but when a person has just moved to Boston with no car and no community, what is the best way to get explore the great outdoors? This was the question that I faced when I first moved to Boston last year, and it was a question that was quickly and thoroughly answered by the Appalachian Mountain Club.

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is the country’s oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization. It was founded in Boston in 1876 and currently boasts a community of more than 90,000 members with chapters and activities from Maine to Virginia. Members of the Appalachian Mountain Club work to build and maintain trails, teach outdoor skills, advocate for the preservation and protection of the natural world, and cultivate fun outdoors experiences for everyone.

Rescue Practice, Mountain Leadership Workshop, 1975

from the June 1976 issue of Appalachia

Throughout its existence, the AMC has put out a variety of publications, some of which are now housed at the State Library. One such publication is the Bulletin of the Appalachian Mountain Club, which documents the meetings, excursions, and general doings of the club and of organizations adjacent to the club. For example, in 1908 for a fee of twenty-five cents, you could be part of the Snow-Shoe Section of the AMC and go on organized group trips to locations such as the Adirondacks in New York or Iron Mountain in New Hampshire. In the November 1968 issue, you can find requests for art submissions for an AMC Membership Art Show, or a suggestion to write in to the AMC Trader listing to offer and barter your outdoor gear with other members. In the 1907 December edition, the Bulletin mentions that the AMC library’s classification system is based on that of their late member’s, Charles A. Cutter. Any fellow librarians or library enthusiasts might know that Cutter’s Cutter Expansive Classification is the basis for library classification systems such as the Library of Congress.

When I read this, I was excited to find that a fellow librarian from the past was also interested in the AMC, but I wanted to confirm my findings. So, I turned to another of the State Library’s holdings: The Register of the Appalachian Mountain Club. This publication includes a lot of interesting information about the club and how it is run, including details such as the membership of the AMC, officers and committee members, club by-laws, trails and camps maintained by the club, and recent publications. At the State Library, we have many editions of the Register between the years 1882 and 1951. So, when I read that a Charles A. Cutter of library fame may have been in the AMC, I turned to the register to learn more. After flipping through a few registers and finding a few other Charles Cutters, I finally found our Charles A. Cutter in the 1892 register. The address provided for him is the Boston Athenæum, which is where Cutter served as head librarian, so this is a match! Hopefully this aside is enjoyable to all readers as a demonstration of one method of utilizing resources here at the State Library, even if this is the first time a reader may be hearing of Charles A. Cutter.

The State Library also has many copies of the journal Appalachia from the years 1876 to 1980. The contents of this publication include information internal to the club as well as writing on a variety of topics, such as mountaineering, outdoor equipment, trips, environmentalism, and poetry. Many publications also include detailed maps and diagrams of the outdoors, particularly in the areas where the AMC concentrated their expeditions and conservation efforts. Though the State Library only has copies of the journal up until 1980, the journal is being published to this day. You can find articles at the AMC’s website.

Madison Spring Hut #1, 1892 from the June 1976 issue of Appalachia

The AMC publications are not limited just to serials such as the ones discussed previously. It also puts out many guides and maps useful to outdoor adventurers. At the State Library, for example, we have AMC guides for canoeing in the New England area and walking, hiking, and biking around Boston and the rest of the state of Massachusetts.

For outdoorsy folks such as myself, the AMC is a great way explore the nature around us, find community, and get involved in conservation work. I am lucky to be part of an organization with such a rich history and culture, and I am delighted that my time at the State Library has given me the opportunity to explore the AMC’s impact through a new lens.

Emily Colson

Government Documents Intern

Sources

• About – Appalachian Mountain Club. Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). (2025, March 12).
• Belcher, C. F. (1976). A Century of the Appalachian Mountain Club. Appalachia, 41(8), 5-45.
• Bellerose, G. (1976). The AMC Today. Appalachia, 41(8), 48-80.
• U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Conservation timeline 1801-1900. National Parks Service.

Massachusetts State Library Goes Full DSpace-GLAM

If you've visited the State Library's Digital Collections website recently, you might have noticed some exciting changes! We've officially transitioned to a new DSpace-GLAM digital repository, thanks to our partnership with 4Science— a global leader in open-source innovation and DSpace platform development.

Our digital repository was originally launched in 2009 with a mission: to ensure long-term access and preservation of electronic Massachusetts state publications, as mandated by law. Since then, we've made a wide range of materials available—from Acts and Resolves, bills and legislative documents, House and Senate Journals to city and town reports, state agency annual reports and publications, and historic photograph and map collections—downloaded millions of times by users around the world.

DSpace-GLAM landing page

You’re probably wondering what exactly is DSpace-GLAM? DSpace-GLAM is a version of DSpace built specifically for Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums. It includes features like:

• Smarter Search: more search filters and a user interface that makes browsing easy
• Rich Metadata: more context through people, events, places & concepts (coming soon!)
• Powerful Visuals: More engaging visual features including interactive maps and charts
• High-Tech Extras: Including a built-in Image viewer, Video/Audio streaming, and OCR tools (coming soon!)
• Cloud Power: Faster speed and reliability for accessing items in the repository
• Improved Discoverability: By adhering to international standards, the State Library’s digital resources will be more visible in search engines

So, what is different? While revamping our digital repository’s appearance and visualization of collections, we took great care to preserve the core functionality of our previous platform by ensuring there are plenty of search options to help you find exactly what you are looking for! In DSpace-GLAM you can:

• Use the global “search bar” on the homepage to browse all our digital collections
• Use the “Advanced Search” in the menu if you prefer a targeted multi-field or “Boolean” search 
  
• Explore the publications of a specific Massachusetts State Agency by going to “All of Digital Collections” in the menu (our reinvented “Communities and Collections” page). The “All of Digital Collections” page features a search bar so you can easily narrow it down further to a specific Digital Collection by agency or publication name 
  
• Use the “filters” on the left of each results page help you refine and focus your search if you have too many results
  
• Use the “Search Within Digital Collection” option to add precision to your search after you have selected a Digital Collection

We’re excited to continue expanding our digital collections to showcase even more of the State Library’s holdings, while also rolling out new platform upgrades to enhance discoverability and improve your user experience. We welcome your feedback as we move ahead into a GLAMourous new DSpace future at the State Library!

Technical Services Department

Libby at the State Library

Summer’s here, but if you’re anything like me, reading isn’t just a summer thing--it’s a year-round, everyday habit (occupational hazard, maybe?). I’m usually reading a minimum of at least two books at a time and always on the lookout for something new—whether it’s from a favorite author, someone I’ve just discovered, or on a favorite topic. If you haven’t tried it yet, Goodreads is a great way to keep track of what you’ve read, what you want to put on your TBR list, and get some pretty great recommendations too.

In last week's blog post, we covered how to request books from our print collections. But honestly? I don’t love lugging around multiple books everywhere I go. That’s why I’m a little obsessed with my Kindle—it’s always with me, whether I’m commuting, traveling, or just reading at home.

Wondering where I get all those eBooks? I use the OverDrive Libby app (download from your favorite app store)! In the app I can borrow eBooks (or audiobooks and even e-magazines if you prefer!), place holds and keep them coming straight to my e-reader. Super easy, super convenient, and best of all, super lightweight! What you may not know is that your State Library card entitles you to borrow eContent (books, audiobooks, and magazines) from not just our CW MARS network libraries, but also five other partner library networks in Massachusetts as well as the Boston Public Library. By adding these libraries to your Libby account, you can search, browse, and check out items from their digital collections. Here’s how to add those libraries in the Libby app:

• Open the Libby app
• Tap the menu icon (☰)
• Scroll down and tap "Add Library"
• Search for and select any of the following:
• CLAMS
• Minuteman Library Network
• NOBLE
• Old Colony Library Network
• SAILS
• Boston Public Library
• Tap "Sign In With My Card"
• Expand the list and choose “CW MARS Patrons”
• Enter your library card number information and password [Forgot your password? Reset it in our online catalog]
• Tap "Next" to start browsing that network’s collection
• Repeat these steps to add more networks and the Boston Public Library, Libby will remember them for you!

Then just use Libby’s search feature to look up a specific author or title—or if you’re in the mood to browse, click on the buttons for “newest” or “popular” for some great picks. While you’re exploring, you can switch between different library networks by tapping the little library card icon on a book’s page.

Adding all these collections gives you way more options for placing holds or borrowing, which means less waiting around for the books you want! Libby even shows you which libraries have a copy, how long the wait is, and if you’re lucky, you might even find one that’s available to borrow right away! Questions? Need help? Contact us at reference.department@mass.gov

Judy Carlstrom
Head of Technical Services

Spot a Sandpiper in the Library!

Our summer of Audubon shorebirds continues this month with a depiction of the Semipalmated Sandpiper (plate 405). Interestingly, this is one of thirteen sandpipers included in Birds of America! With so many to choose from, we picked the semipalmated sandpiper because it is one of the most commonly found small sandpipers in Massachusetts.

The Commonwealth's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has a page devoted to the semipalmated sandpiper, where we learned that it is species of greatest conservation need, due in part to a vulnerability caused by a reduction in their breeding ground from climate change and beach erosion. But even with their declining numbers, they are still often found on sandy Massachusetts shorelines, so you might just spot one on your next beach trip. They move fast and are tiny, so you will have to be on your toes!

If you want to guarantee seeing a semipalmated sandpiper, then plan your visit to see our displayed print. It will be on view from July 8 through August 12 in our reading room! 

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

CWMARS at the State Library

You may have read our posts about Interlibrary Loan at the State Library. In case you missed them, or in case you want a quick recap: full-time, permanent state employees can request books via Interlibrary Loan (ILL) by filling out a form or by emailing interlibrary.loan@mass.gov. ILL, a staff-mediated service, can only be used to request work-related materials. What do you do then, if you’re looking to read that New York Times Best-Seller you heard about in the news? What if you’re looking for a light beach read to take on vacation with you?

This is where the CWMARS network comes in! CWMARS, or Central and Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing, is a network of 165+ libraries from around the Commonwealth who have partnered together to create a set of shared resources. If the State Library doesn’t own that beach read you’re interested in, perhaps another CWMARS library owns it. You’ll simply search for that title in our catalog and place a hold on it via your library account. It will then be delivered right to the State Library for you to pick up.

You can request titles in several different formats including physical books, e-books, audiobooks, Kindle, large print, and more. Before you start, you’ll need to request a library card from the State Library. You can do that using our online form found here. Once you have a card, go to our online catalog and log in with your State Library credentials. Now you’re ready to start searching for your favorite books!

Use the search bar at the top of the catalog to search for a title, keyword, author, or more. Once you find an item you’re interested in, click on that title and you’ll be brought to that item’s record. There you will see a “Place Hold” button. Click on that and you’ll be prompted to fill out a brief request form to officially place your hold.

Once you place a hold on a title, go to your library account and take a look at your Pendings Holds. There you’ll be able to see how many people are “in line” ahead of you for the item before it will ship to the State Library for you. You can see this by looking at the “position” of the hold on your title. If there isn’t anyone else using this book ahead of you, the lending library will process your hold request and update the status to “In Transit,” meaning the book is on its way to the State Library.

You can also cancel a hold and suspend a hold. Suspending a hold allows you to select a specific date that you would like your hold to activate. If you suspend your hold, this essentially puts you back in the active hold line on the date you chose. For example, on the date you choose to have your hold activate, if there are already 10 people “in line” for the book ahead of you, you will be placed 11th in line on that date. This is a great feature to use if you already have a couple of books you’d like to read and know you won’t have time for a new one if it arrives. Essentially, suspending a hold lets you defer the arrival date of your item, while not having to remember to place that hold later.

Our YouTube video provides a great summary of how to request a library card, search for books, and place holds, as does our previous blog post. Questions? Contact us at reference.department@mass.gov.


Jessica Shrey
Legal Research Reference Librarian

State Library Newsletter - July Issue

Happy July! Even though it's the summer, it's still a busy time at the State Library! 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