State Library Newsletter - March Issue

Happy March! In this month's newsletter, read about the various Women's History Month displays found in our library, along with information about our upcoming Author Talk (complemented by a special loaned item), and our new wildflower exhibit!

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.

Welcome Home Big George

This month the State Library is thrilled to announce that in honor of author Jeffrey Boutwell’s visit to discuss his new book, Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy, we have partnered with the State House Art Commission to bring Governor George Sewall Boutwell’s bust into the reading room so it can be on display throughout the month of March.

Boutwell served as governor of Massachusetts from 1851 to 1853. His illustrious career in government includes; First Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service 1862-1863, U.S. Representative 1863-1869, Secretary of the Treasury 1869-1873, and U.S. Senator 1873-1877.

The large solid marble Boutwell bust (28 x 26 x 13”) was created by sculptor Martin Milmore in 1869/1870. While doing some research about this sculpture, it turns out that the first home for this piece of art was the State Library! In 1871 the Massachusetts legislature accepted the bust donation from Isaac Rich with the intention that it be placed in the State Library.

Further investigation shows that about 27 years later, according the Saturday, January 29, 1898 edition of the The Daily Item (Lynn, Massachusetts), the bust was placed in the State House’s Senate chamber to commemorate Governor Boutwell’s 80th birthday and where he started his legislative career. 

Excerpt from The Daily Item 

The sculpture lived in the Senate chamber for about 119 years, until another Senate chamber renovation in 2017. The Boutwell bust was taken out of the chamber and sent out to be cleaned, and then remained in storage until it made this trip back to the State Library. It has been over a century’s journey for this beautiful work of art, and the State Library is happy to have the radiant Governor Boutwell bust back on display.

Martin Milmore (1844-1883), the artist that created this sculpture, is known for his Civil War sculptures and for his classical statuary and busts of notable men throughout New England. Milmore’s most important work of art was the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Boston Common. Other notable sculptures by Milmore included the statue of Revolutionary War hero John Glover (1875) on Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Boston, the bust of Senator Charles Sumner (1875) at the U.S. Senate Chamber in Washington, and the American Sphinx Monument (1872) and Copenhagen Monument (1874), both at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.

Discovering the history of the Boutwell bust and its journey in the State House has made finding space in the reading room extra special, so we endearingly nicknamed the sculpture Big George. Please come visit the State Library throughout March to see Big George and attend Jeffrey Boutwell’s author talk on March 5 at noon to learn more about this radical Republican and champion of democracy.

Dava Davainis
Assistant Director/Head of Reference and Information Services