Establishing the Minutemen in 1774

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and in celebration of that anniversary, the State Library launched the exhibit Raising the Alarm: Revolutionary Broadsides at the State Library. Using broadsides from 1773 through 1779, the exhibit tells part of the story of the American Revolution in Massachusetts while also highlighting a significant primary source resource in our collection. Due to the nature of the cases, the exhibit utilizes facsimiles, but each month for the duration of the exhibit, one featured broadside will be on display in our Collection Spotlight case – this month we’re sharing a broadside notice issued on October 26, 1774 following a meeting held by the Provincial Congress in Cambridge that established town militias.

Last month’s display of the broadside related to the Boston Port Bill referenced the Intolerable (or Coercive) Acts, which were a series of punitive acts against the colonists following the destruction of tea in Boston Harbor in December 1773. The Acts also revoked the Massachusetts Charter and with that, changed the nature of the Governor’s Council, the governing body which had previously been elected by assembly and would now be appointed by the King. Consequently, colonists felt they had lost their right to self-government, which led them to create their own governing body. This broadside puts us right in the thick of that moment. On October 5 through 7, representatives of the now disbanded General Court met in Salem and organized as the Provincial Congress, choosing delegates and officers, with John Hancock as Chair and Benjamin Lincoln as Clerk (note his name at the bottom of the broadside). The Provincial Congress became the de facto government, with authority to govern the rebellious portions of Massachusetts. This authority included both collecting taxes and raising a militia. After the initial meetings in Salem, the Provincial Congress met again in Concord from October 11 through the 14, where they focused on organizing committees to bring order to their cause during this time of revolt and political crisis, resulting in the formation of Committees of Safety. The Provincial Congress met again in Cambridge on October 26, and the broadside on display this month was published and distributed following that meeting.

This broadside was previously on display in 2024 as we celebrated the beginning of MA 250. Click here to read that post, which describes the pivotal Provincial Congress meeting that established town militias, or the “minutemen” that we so often hear about in Revolutionary history. And though this broadside was on display just two years ago, it is safe to display again for a one-month duration. The Collection Spotlight case has a microclimate conditioned to 68% relative humidity, and its viewing panel is “SmartGlass” which has UV filters and a layer of light-controlling film. When not in use, the glass portion of the case is dark, until it is activated by a button which lights the case for 30 seconds. While we don't frequently repeat items in our Collection Spotlight case, we make an exception when it aligns with an exhibit or important anniversary, and the measures in our SmartGlass case allow us to safely do so.

Step back into October 1774 by visiting us from September 29 through November 3 to see this broadside on display. Click here to read about the previously shared Raising the Alarm broadsides.


Elizabeth Roscio
Preservation Librarian