State Library Newsletter - August Issue

Happy August! Our monthly newsletter is out now and full of information about our seasonal exhibits, new books on the shelves, our online store, 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.

A Call for Supplies in 1775

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 – this month we’re sharing a broadside notice issued by the Provincial Congress on July 9, 1775 that calls for towns within Massachusetts to provide articles of clothing for the newly formed Continental Army.

By the time this broadside was issued, the first major battles of the Revolutionary War had already been waged – Lexington and Concord in April and Bunker Hill in June. You are likely familiar with “minutemen” which were locally organized and trained militia members that would be ready on a minute’s notice, and it was these individuals who engaged in the battles at Lexington and Concord. In the immediate aftermath of Lexington and Concord, the Provincial Congress had authorized the raising of a colonial army in Massachusetts. In June 1775 in Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress followed suit, establishing the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington. It was in the following month that this notice was issued by Massachusetts’ Provincial Congress, seeking supplies for the newly formed Continental Army and asking towns within Massachusetts to contribute.

In this notice, towns are tasked with supplying a specific number of shirts, breeches, stockings, and shoes for the soldiers. Urgency is stressed, and individuals are instructed to provide these items to a town representative, who would then supply them with a receipt for the item and an agreed upon sum which would be dispersed within forty days. Individuals from each county are selected as the receivers of the garments, and the bottom portion of the notice lists the towns and the quantity of articles they are responsible for supplying. The garments were then to be transferred to Watertown, where the Provincial Congress was based, where they would be exchanged for payment from the public treasury to reimburse the townspeople.

While this is possibly one of the earliest calls for supplies to be issued to local communities, it is a practice that would continue throughout the war. Towns were asked to provide clothing, shoes, blankets, food rations, and more. It emphasizes the many ways that individuals supported the war efforts, even if they were not a “Founding Father” or actively engaging in battles.

Step back into summer 1775 by visiting us from August 4 through September 2 to see this broadside on display. Click here to read about the Oath of Allegiance broadside shared last month.


Elizabeth Roscio
Preservation Librarian

Ezekiel Russell, the Printer behind our Declaration Broadside

Ezekiel Russell’s woodcut portraits of

George Washington and Horatio Gates.

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress

Ezekiel Russell is featured in our Revolutionary Broadsides exhibit currently on display outside Room 341, and we thought it would be fun to do some more digging into this printer’s backstory for the blog.

Ezekiel Russell was born in Boston in 1745, the son of Captain Benjamin Russell and Elizabeth Belknap. In 1765, Russell traveled to New Hampshire to learn printing with his brother Joseph, who had partnered in publishing the Portsmouth Mercury and Weekly Advertiser. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Boston to pursue his own printing career.

Russell married Sarah Hood in 1773. According to Isaiah Thomas’s History of Printing, Sarah assisted him closely in his printing business. She learned the trade, wrote memorial verses for broadsides, and even took over running the business after his death. Together, the Russells issued Phillis Wheatley’s first proposal for a collection of poems and James Swan’s argument to abolish slavery. They published disabled young almanac-maker Daniel George and poets Hannah Wheaton and Jenny Fenno.

Controversially, Russell was also the printer (though not the publisher) of short-lived magazine The Censor, supporting the royal administration in the early 1770s. His willingness to print for the British government gained him an unfavorable reputation among patriots in Boston by 1773. Russell changed course by the following year, establishing himself as a printer for the patriot cause in Salem.

One of Ezekiel Russell’s most famous prints was titled Bloody Butchery, by the British Troops; of the Runaway Fight of the Regulars. It was published on April 21, 1775, and recounted the events at Lexington and Concord and included a funeral elegy likely written by his wife, Sarah. Of course, Russell would become even more well known for his printing of the Declaration of Independence.

Image courtesy of Massachusetts Historical Society

via Digital Commonwealth

Inscription on the back of
our Declaration broadside

After the Second Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration, the text was sent to Philadelphia printer John Dunlap, who printed two hundred copies as broadsides. The text was then distributed to the thirteen colonies, where it was printed in newspapers and as broadsides. These were sent to ministers to share with their congregants at the next Sunday service. Ezekiel Russell was authorized to print the Declaration at his shop and distribute it to ministers throughout the North Shore. Written in iron gall ink on the back of the broadside is the notation “To the Rev. Mr. Holyoke, Boxford” so we know which congregation received this specific version. You can read even more information about our Declaration broadside in this previous blog post written by our Preservation Librarian.

 

Ezekiel Russell also had success printing almanacs, including the Bickerstaff's Boston Almanac series, which were the first in Massachusetts to use illustrations. He was the first printer in Salem and one of the first in Massachusetts to use portrait woodcuts. Shown here is a 1776 woodcut from Bickerstaff’s featuring a man with an astrolabe looking at the stars, surrounded by astronomer’s instruments. In 1777, Russell moved his printing business from Salem to a building connected to the Bell Tavern, located in what was then part of Danvers but is in present-day Peabody.

From Harriet Silvester Tapley’s Salem Imprints, 1768-1825, on Ezekiel Russell’s printing legacy:

“...we are indebted to him for some of the most interesting broadsides that have come down to us from the Revolutionary period. The product of his press during his residence of seven years in Salem and Danvers is surprisingly large. There being no newspaper in Salem during the most ominous years of the war, it gave him an opportunity, which he shrewdly embraced, to engage in the printing of these ephemeral sheets. They announced the most important public events as they happened, serving as the newspaper ‘extras’ of the time, and, of course, were eagerly sought.”

Alyssa Persson
Special Collections Processing Archivist

Sources:

• J.L. Bell’s Boston 1775 Blog
• Salem Imprints, 1768 – 1825: A History of The First Fifty Years of Printing in Salem, Massachusetts by Harriet Silvester Tapley
• The History of Printing in America by Isaiah Thomas

New Resource: State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections!

We’re excited to introduce the State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections—a new online platform that makes it easier than ever to discover, explore, and engage with the State Library’s unique historical collections. The new platform is now live and available at mastatelibrary.org.

For many years, the State Library has provided online access to digitized government publications and historical resources through our DSpace-GLAM Digital Collections Archive that you already know and love. Our new Digital Archival Collections platform on AM Quartex complements that repository by providing an enhanced experience for browsing and discovering unique archival materials.

Launched at the end of June 2026 with the support of Administration and Finance Office of Information Technology and the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, the State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections site currently features maps, historic photographs, broadsides, manuscripts, and other items from our Special Collections, and we plan to add lots more additional content in the months and years ahead.

Why do we have two platforms? Simple! The State Library is committed to preserving and sharing the historical resources of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as carrying out our statutory mandate as the depository library for Massachusetts. We will do whatever it takes to enhance exploration, accessibility, and discovery to our collections while giving users the best possible experience while also ensuring long-term access. Ultimately, the State Library of Massachusetts Digital Archival Collections will include the same content as our DSpace-GLAM digital archive repository. With two options to choose from, you can utilize the platform that best meets your research needs!

Want to learn more? Check out our website page on all our State Library Digital Collections and watch our new “Tech Tour” video on YouTube. Just visit mastatelibrary.org to begin exploring the State Library’s Digital Archival Collections and archives.ma.state.us for our DSpace-GLAM repository.

Technical Services Department

The Baltimore Oriole Detours from Fenway to the State Library!

Our 250th road trip continues this month as we head to another colonial state; we're going south to Maryland, with the Baltimore Oriole! Just like the city, this bird is named after Lord Baltimore, Maryland's first proprietor, since its plumage was reminiscent of the colors in Lord Baltimore's coat-of-arms. And as you likely know, the city of Baltimore's baseball team has also adopted it as their name and mascot.

In the print, the male is shown with bright orange and black feathers, while the female is a more subdued brown. But the female is perched on another interesting feature in this print, the inclusion of the nest. Oriole nests are distinctive and impressive! They are hanging pouches, woven by female orioles and designed to hold seven to eight eggs. You can read more about them on the Audubon Society website. Also note the flowering blooms of the tulip tree. 

The Baltimore Oriole was on display last year during Women's History Month, with an interesting connection to a female artist and ornithologist sometimes referred to as "the other Audubon." Check that post out here, and visit us through August 11 to see the oriole on display! Since it has already been on display, after this exhibition, it will return to storage for the foreseeable future.

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Resource Spotlight: New Books on the American Revolution, Constitution, and U.S. History!

It’s mid-July and MA250 is in full swing! If you’re local or visiting Boston, hopefully you’ve had the chance to experience some of the State Library’s recent events and exhibits. If you would like to find out about MA250 events near you – visit the MA250 Events page!

You can also download a copy of the MA250 Field Guide from our digital repository.

If you’re more of a bookworm and would prefer to celebrate through reading about American Revolution and the Commonwealth’s involvement – both in the war and the formation of the U.S. (or maybe you just need a refresher!) – and if you have a library card with us, you’re in luck! The State Library recently added some new books to its collection:

Published by the U.S. Army Center of Military History, these titles cover various battles and campaigns in the War of Independence:

• Opening Shots in the Colonies, 1775-1776 by Glenn F. Williams & Jonathan D. Bratten
• Valley Forge to Monmouth, 1778 by Mark Edward Lender
• The Canadian Campaign, 1775-1776 by Michael P. Gabriel

Can’t visit us in person? Don’t worry, you can access these online through the GPO and download them for free as PDFs:

• Opening Shots in the Colonies, 1775-1776
• Valley Forge to Monmouth, 1778
• The Canadian Campaign, 1775-1776

If you’re a fan of the Freedom Trail and want to visit historic sites significant to the American Revolution, then you’ll want to check out Boston 1776: A Rogue Tour of Revolution City by J.D. Dickey. This book “features nine immersive walking tours on seven period-style maps” and provides tips for those who might be unfamiliar with Boston.

Other new additions to our collection include:

• The Dreadful Word: Speech Crime and Polite Gentlemen in Massachusetts, 1690-1776 by Kristin Olbertson
• The American Revolution and the Constitution, edited by Y. Levin, A. White, & J. Yoo
• Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840-1920 by Akhil Reed Amar
• American Legal History: A Very Short Introduction by G. Edward White
• American Women’s History: Avery Short Introduction by Susan Ware

Bonus resource: In honor of the 250th, the State Library has been giving away free pocket Constitutions curtesy of the Federal Depository Library Program. If you missed your chance to pick one up, don’t worry – you can download a free pdf version of the Constitution of the United States with Index and the Declaration of Independence, Pocket Edition from the GPO website!

Happy reading!


Maryellen Larkin

Government Documents Reference Librarian

Tall Ships Return to Boston Harbor for Sail250

From July 11-16, Boston Harbor will welcome an impressive fleet of Tall Ships as part of Sail250 and Sail Boston. Sail250 is a nationwide maritime celebration connected to America250, the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. To mark the occasion, the State Library of Massachusetts will be displaying materials from its collection related to maritime history, sailing vessels, and Boston’s historic connection to the sea. The arrival of these historic ships offers visitors the chance to experience a connection to America’s maritime past while celebrating Boston’s long and important relationship with the harbor.

Tall Ships are traditionally large sailing vessels known for their towering masts, extensive rigging, and multiple sails. Today Tall Ships often serve as training vessels, museum ships, and goodwill ambassadors. These ships represent centuries of exploration, trade, naval history, and immigration, and they continue to capture the imagination of visitors around the world.

Boston has a particularly strong connection to maritime history. As one of the nation’s oldest ports, the city played a vital role in colonial trade, the American Revolution, and the development of the early United States. Events such as the Boston Tea Party highlighted the importance of Boston Harbor in America’s fight for independence, making the harbor an especially fitting location for Sail250 and the larger America250 celebration.

Tea leaves: being a collection of letters and documents relating to the shipment 

of tea to the American colonies in the year 1773, by the East India Tea Company.

By Francis S. Drake, 1970

Boston is also home to one of the nation’s most famous historic naval vessels: the USS Constitution. Launched in 1797 and still located in Charlestown Navy Yard, the USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. Nicknamed “Old Ironsides” after its victories during the War of 1812, the ship remains a symbol of early American naval history and the nation’s longstanding maritime traditions.

Old Ironsides: The rise, decline, and resurrection of the USS Constitution

by Thomas C. Gillmer, 1993

Old Ironsides: The story of the USS Constitution

by Thomas P. Horgan, 1963

America250 commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and encourages communities across the country to reflect on the people, events, and ideas that shaped the nation’s history. Sail250 brings this history to life through maritime events, educational programming, and visits from Tall Ships from around the world. The celebration emphasizes not only America’s revolutionary beginnings, but also the importance of maritime trade, naval service, and international cooperation throughout American history.

To celebrate the arrival of the Tall Ships, the State Library of Massachusetts has gathered books and resources exploring maritime history, famous sailing vessels, and Boston’s historic connection to the sea. Some titles from our collection include:

• The tall ships: a sailing celebration by Hyla M. Clark, 1976
• Tall ships by Sail Boston 2000, 2000
• Sail Boston 1992 by Jane M. Moss, 1992
• Old Ironsides: The rise, decline, and resurrection of the USS Constitution
• by Thomas C. Gillmer, 1993
• Old Ironsides: The story of the USS Constitution by Thomas P. Horgan, 1963

We invite visitors to stop by the State Library throughout the month of July to explore these materials and learn more about the maritime history that continues to shape Boston and the nation. As the Tall Ships sail into Boston Harbor this summer, they serve as a powerful reminder of the people, ships, and waterways that helped define America’s story.

Jessica Shrey
Reference Librarian

State Library Newsletter - July Issue

This July, cool off at the State Library! We're open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 5:00, including July 3 and July 6. In this month's newsletter, read about everything you can explore in our space - our upcoming collaborative archive event, our new exhibit, and our temporary displays. You'll also find information about our new digital repository, 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.

New Exhibit: Raising the Alarm

The State Library of Massachusetts joins the rest of the country in celebrating our 250th anniversary in 2026, and we are excited to announce that our new exhibit, Raising the Alarm: Revolutionary Broadsides at the State Library, is now open!

Boston and the surrounding area are known as the “Cradle of Liberty,” staking its claim as the birthplace of the American Revolution. And while many of the thirteen original colonies could make similar claims, the first battles and protests were waged within Massachusetts, the Sons of Liberty sprung up from its citizenry, and the first Committees of Correspondence, an integral system of communication employed during the war, were established here by Massachusetts’ own Samuel Adams.

Exhibit cases outside of the Library

Displayed chronologically, Raising the Alarm uses a selection of broadsides dating from 1773 through 1779 to interpret the Revolutionary War period in Massachusetts, providing a historical overview and examining how news was shared during the war, while also highlighting a significant primary source resource in our collection. Beginning in 2017, the State Library focused on a multi-year effort to conserve and digitize the 18th century broadsides in our collection. Recognizing the significance they hold in documenting the Revolutionary period, our Special Collections Department worked with the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, Massachusetts to treat 70 broadsides. 

Ten broadsides are featured in our exhibit, like the one shown here from April 17, 1776. In this broadside, the topic of equal representation is raised by members of the Committees of Correspondence of Salem and Marblehead who acknowledge the loosening connection with Great Britain and looked towards the growing possibility that “we may soon be obliged to take up Independency for ourselves . . . as undoubtedly a Republic or Commonwealth will be our Form of Government.”

In the final case, the broadsides are complemented by other 18th century items found in Special Collections, including newspapers, almanacs, directories, and more. The exhibit also explores the Committee of Correspondence and some of the well-known patriots in its ranks, and gives special notice to one of our most famous broadsides, the Declaration of Independence, published by Ezekiel Russell in Salem on July 17, 1776.

Raising the Alarm is on view in the display cases outside of the library (Room 341) and is available during our open hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 5:00, through spring 2027.

Elizabeth Roscio, Preservation Librarian
Exhibits Working Group

The State Library Celebrates the 250th!

Join us on Wednesday, July 1 to celebrate the Declaration of Independence! We are pleased to announce our upcoming event in honor of the 250th, where we will have our broadside version of the Declaration of Independence, printed by Ezekiel Russell in Salem on July 17, 1776, on display in the Collection Spotlight case in our main reading room (room 341 in the State House).

Special Collections staff will be on hand to share the Declaration along with the ten broadsides featured in our new exhibit, Raising the Alarm: Revolutionary Broadsides at the State Library. Though the exhibit features facsimiles, the originals, which date from 1773 through 1779, will be pulled from storage for this special event so that visitors can see them up close and imagine themselves as members of the Committee of Correspondence, distributing word of the Revolutionary War.

This event is free and open to the public; stop by the State Library between 11:00 and 1:00 to see these stirring documents on display as the country approaches its 250th birthday. Reach out to us at special.collections@mass.gov with any questions, and we hope to see you there!

As a patriotic bonus to in-person visitors, we are giving out free Pocket Constitutions and Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) rulers while supplies last. The Pocket Constitutions also include the Declaration of Independence, and the FDLP Ruler is an 8" ruler and its reverse shows the presidents of the United States in chronological order. Please note the Library has a limited supply and visitors are limited to one copy of each per person. Stop by the reference desk to pick them up!

"The Gravest of Responsibilities"

Last summer, I wrote about our Civil War regimental battle flag photograph collection. During my research for that post, I became familiar with several Civil War solders’ incredible stories. There is never enough time to research and write about the fascinating subjects with which we come into contact in this line of work; I often have to set information I’ve gathered aside and hope to come back to it another day. Such was the case for me with the stories of William Harvey Carney and Thomas Plunkett.

Carney and Plunkett are linked together in my mind, though I do not know whether the two ever met. There are several reasons for this. Both men served the Union as flag bearers for their respective Massachusetts regiments; both were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions during battle; and both of them once worked in the State House, which I learned through the battle flag photograph collection and stories Silvia, our Head of Special Collections, told me. This building holds so many stories, many which risk being lost to time if we do not make a point to pass them on. This is especially true for the stories of people who are not memorialized in portraits, murals, and plaques throughout the State House halls. 

Thankfully, Thomas Plunkett and William H. Carney are represented in Memorial Hall. I wanted to expand on their stories in this post in honor of Juneteenth. Many thanks to Boston African American National Historic Site’s comprehensive article about William Harvey Carney and The Armless Hero of Fredericksburg by Mark Savolis and Ronald S. Coddington, which I relied on heavily here.

From the description under the 21st Regimental battle flag facsimile in Memorial Hall:

The position of color bearer was undoubtedly one of the proudest as well as most dangerous a soldier could hold. The flags, always posted at the front, served as a beacon for one’s fellow soldiers and the enemy alike. To “preserve the Union”- to never let it fall to the ground- was the gravest of responsibilities... one for which many color bearers gave up their lives.

William Harvey Carney

Sergeant William Harvey Carney in uniform, holding the flag he bore
for the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. 
Courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

William H. Carney was born to William Carney Sr. and Ann Dean in Norfolk, Virginia on February 29, 1840. Carney was born into slavery, and at 14 years old began secretly attending a private school led by a minister, where he learned to read and write. It is not known for sure exactly how Carney escaped enslavement. He might have escaped on his own through the Underground Railroad and joined his father in Massachusetts; it is also possible his father purchased his freedom after reaching Massachusetts himself. Carney's family ultimately settled in New Bedford, where William considered going into ministry.

 
But in 1863, the Union army finally allowed Black Americans to serve in combat roles. Carney's life changed course: "I had a strong inclination to prepare myself for the ministry; but when the country called for all persons, I could best serve my God by serving my country and my oppressed brothers. The sequel is short – I enlisted for the war,” Carney wrote in October 1863. Carney joined the Morgan Guards in February of 1863, at 23 years old. This Black militia, originally named for a white benefactor from New Bedford, changed its name to the "Toussaint Guards" in honor of Haitian Revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture. The Toussaint Guards joined with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, where Carney served in Company C. He was promoted to sergeant in March 1863.

On July 18, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts led the charge on Fort Wagner outside of Charleston, South Carolina under the command of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. When their flag bearer was shot down, Sergeant Carney retrieved the flag and continued to march, though he was seriously wounded himself. When the Union was forced to retreat, Carney continued carrying the flag until he could hand it to another soldier of the 54th behind Union lines. Carney famously exclaimed, "Boys, I did but my duty; the dear old flag never touched the ground!"

Sergeant Carney's story inspired many pieces of art
and music, like the song pictured here.

Carney was honorably discharged in June 1864 due to his injuries. He spent some time in San Francisco following the war, but then returned to New Bedford, working for 32 years as the state’s fourth African American postman. He married Susannah Williams on October 11, 1865 in New Bedford and had one daughter, Clara Heronia. For the rest of his life, Carney was an active participant in Black veterans’ organizations. He attended reunions and battle anniversary memorials as a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post 1 and was the featured singer of the Star-Spangled Banner at a ceremony in 1889.

On May 31, 1897, Carney joined his fellow surviving members of the 54th for the dedication ceremony of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ The Robert Gould Shaw/54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial, in the Boston Common directly across from the State House. Sergeant Carney finally received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Fort Wagner in May 1900, when he was 60 years old. He was the first of 22 African American Civil War veterans who ultimately received the Medal of Honor.

After leaving the postal service in New Bedford, Carney came to work as a messenger at the State House. Then in November 1908, he was tragically, fatally injured in an elevator accident at the State House. Printed accounts of the event state that Carney was trying to back out of the elevator to make room for others when the doors closed, catching his injured leg. He died at Boston City Hospital on December 9, 1908. He was 68 years old. Carney was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford. And on the afternoon of December 11, 1908, the flags at the Massachusetts State House flew at half-staff in honor and remembrance of Sergeant William Harvey Carney’s valiant life.

Thomas Plunkett

Sergeant Thomas Plunkett in uniform, pictured with the flag he bore
for the 21st Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. 
Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Thomas Francis Plunkett was born in County Mayo, Ireland in 1839. After the death of his mother, his father Francis brought Thomas and his brothers to America and settled in Boston. By 1861, Thomas was working as a bootmaker in West Boylston and was engaged to be married. He enlisted in Company E of the 21st Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. In September, the regiment became part of Major General Ambrose Burnside’s Coast Division. In early 1862, Plunkett’s regiment participated in successful operations along the North Carolina coast. By that summer, his actions in battle gained him a reputation for bravery, and he was promoted to sergeant. In September 1862, during the Battle of South Mountain, Plunkett stopped to assist a wounded, thirsty officer from Ohio. That officer turned out to be future President Rutherford B. Hayes, who recognized, embraced, and thanked Thomas years later during a presidential tour of New England.

At Fredericksburg in December 1862, the 21st Regiment fought an uphill battle. Plunkett marched on with the regimental flag as bullets tore through, shooting a hole in his cap. A shell fragment tore through his right arm, then shattered his left forearm. As he bled profusely from what was left of his arms, he planted a foot against the flagpole, still standing. His blood left a large, permanent stain on the flag. Plunkett was then sent to the rear by his colonel. He walked until faint from blood loss, and stretcher bearers carried him into Fredericksburg. Surgeons felt his case was hopeless; they left him on the floor in excruciating pain as they performed surgeries on tables just above him. Two hours later, he was finally given chloroform and surgeons cut away the mangled skin of his arms. Thomas’s life was saved by Clara Barton, who sutured and dressed his arm stumps. 

A news clipping dated October 21, 1885 pasted on the inside of our battle flags’ 

photo album cover about Plunkett and the 21st Regimental battle flag.

He was honorably discharged on March 9, 1864, and he returned home to Massachusetts to $7,000 in charitable funds raised for him. He also received a pension as a result of Clara Barton’s letter writing assistance. Thomas bought a home in Worcester with the funds, where he married Helen Lorimer and raised three children. In March 1866, Sergeant Plunkett received the Medal of Honor. He was invited to all Civil War-related events in Worcester for the rest of his life. And like William H. Carney, he became a messenger in the State House, a position he held for 15 years. Thomas Plunkett died of inflammatory bowel and stomach disease in 1885 at 44 years old. There was a large turnout at his funeral, and one of his pallbearers was the 21st Regiment Chaplain, George Ball. He was buried in Hope Cemetery in Worcester, and his monument displays an urn draped with a flag.

Alyssa Persson

Special Collections Processing Archivist

First a Declaration of Independence, Then an Oath of Allegiance

This month, the country is gearing up for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To coincide with that historic milestone, we are sharing An Act for Prescribing and Establishing an Oath of Fidelity and Allegiance in our Collection Spotlight case. Visit us from June 16 through August 4 to see this item on display.

Published on February 3, 1778, this is a broadside printing of an Act that was enacted by the Council and the House of Representatives in the General Court. As the new country was establishing its independence, oaths of allegiance were commonly administered by the colonies as a means to confirm loyalty from its citizens while affirming separation from Great Britain. This act recommends the manner in which an oath of allegiance should be established and enforced within Massachusetts. It begins with these stirring words:

Whereas the King of Great-Britain hath abdicated the Government of this and the other United States of America, by putting them out of his Protection and unjustly levying War against them, and the said United States by their Representatives in General Congress assembled by a Declaration bearing the date of the fourth day of July, A.D. 1776, for the Reasons therein mentioned, solemnly declared, that the United Colonies of North-America, are and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Union between them and the State of Great-Britain is, and ought to be totally dissolved; which Declaration has been solemnly Ratified and Adopted by this State.

As this Act harkens back to the language of the Declaration of Independence, it seems a fitting broadside to display as we come upon the July 4 anniversary. The Act then goes on to describe how an oath should be administered, under what circumstances, and by whom. If an individual was presented with an oath and refused to take it, then the county’s Justice of the Peace could commit them to the county jail. Forty days after refusal, the individual would then be removed to a port within the “Dominions of the King of Great Britain, at their own expense."

The Act also includes the language of the oath, as follows:

I, A.B. do swear (or affirm as the Case may be) that I will bear true Faith and Allegiance to the State of Massachusetts-Bay, and will faithfully support and maintain and defend the same against George the Third King of Great-Britain, his Abettors and all other Enemies and Opposers whatsoever, and will discover all Plots and Conspiracies that shall come to my Knowledge against said State, or any other of the United States of America. So Help Me God.

It is interesting to note a line included at the bottom of the Act, that allows Quakers to omit the word “defend” and the phrase “So help me God” should the Oath be administered to them, as it is language that is against their religious beliefs.

We are excited to share that this broadside is part of our upcoming exhibit Raising the Alarm: Revolutionary Broadsides at the State Library, which opens on June 17 and will be on display in the cases outside of the Main Library (Room 341). 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 – beginning with this Act! The exhibit utilizes broadsides published from 1773 through 1779 to provide a historical overview of the Revolutionary War period in Massachusetts, while also highlighting a significant primary source resource in our collection. Stay tuned for more information about the exhibit later this month!

We would also invite you to join us for a special event on July 1 as the State Library celebrates the 250th! Come to our Main Reading Room (Room 341) between 11:00 and 1:00 to see our copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed in Salem on July 17, 1776, on display in our Collection Spotlight Case. Special Collections staff will be on hand to share the Declaration, and for this special event, all of the original broadsides featured in our new exhibit will be pulled from storage, giving visitors the rare opportunity to see them up close and imagine themselves receiving news of the Revolutionary War directly from the Boston Committee of Correspondence.

Our July 1st event is free and open to the public and we hope you join us to see these stirring documents on display as the country approaches its 250th birthday. Reach out to us at special.collections@mass.gov with any questions.


Elizabeth Roscio
Preservation Librarian

A Double-Duty State Bird

Our next state bird deserves extra credit! Within the thirteen original colonies, the cardinal is the state bird of both Virginia and North Carolina. In fact, this popular bird is the state bird of five other states, too - Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The North Carolina State Assembly established the Northern Cardinal as its state bird in 1943, and seven years later, Virginia did the same on January 25, 1950.

Even though the cardinal is not our state bird, you can still spot them around Massachusetts. They are year-round residents, found from Cape Cod to Western Mass.

In this print, Audubon depicted the Cardinal Grosbeak (plate 159), with the vibrant male shown above and the more subdued female below. Both are shown in the branches of the wild almond tree. The cardinal was previously on display in January 2025, so after it is displayed for just three weeks this month, it will return to storage for the foreseeable future. Visit us from June 9 through June 30 for your chance to see it now.

We are also excited to share that as a special treat, the Bird of Washington will be on limited display from June 30 through July 14, in celebration of the country's 250th birthday!

Elizabeth Roscio

Preservation Librarian

Reference Tip: Bulletin of Committee Work vs. the Legislative Record

At the State Library, Massachusetts legislative history assistance is one of our top research requests. Conducting a Massachusetts legislative history is a journey; sometimes you hit a gold mine (hearing transcripts, committee files, an actual written report) and sometimes you find the bare bones (bills and journals). And most often it is the latter scenario. However, the basic resources are the starting point; they give the framework for tracing the action of a bill through the legislature and open up key research access points (session dates, petitioner names, committee information).

The State Library has these key resources in print and digital - House and Senate Journals, Legislative Documents volumes, the Bulletin of Committee Work and its companion volume the Legislative Record.* Per our legislative history guide, the Bulletin of Committee Work and Legislative Record provide bill information and short bill histories for the years 1907-2000. While it may seem like these are two different sets; the information they contain is the same, the difference lies within their organization.

From 1907-1977, the Bulletin of Committee Work and the Legislative Record were combined into one physical volume. The Bulletin is in the front half and the Legislative Record is found in the second half of the volume. Starting in 1978, the titles were separated into two individual volumes. The Legislative Record physically looks different; the pages are landscape. As noted previously, the information contained in these volumes is the same, it is just a matter of how an individual prefers to research legislation/what information they already have.

Bulletin of Committee Work: As the title suggests, the Bulletin content is compiled and organized alphabetically by committee. The Bulletin provides general overview information such as committee member lists, room number for the committee within the State House, and the days on which the committee met. For bill information, bills that were referred to the committees are listed numerically by bill number (Senate followed by House) with the Subject (short description), Hearing Date, and Report. Report meaning the last action of the committee - this could be the next bill version, discharge to another committee, withdrawn, moved to the next annual session, etc.

Legislative Record: This resource is organized by bill number. Think of it as a giant listing of all Senate bills followed by all House bills for each session. Researchers should use the Legislative Record once they have identified the bill number they are interested in. The Legislative Record provides a short bill history (same as what you would find in the Bill History section of the journals).

While bill histories are succinct, they provide the key research access points: date of a public hearing, bill number of a new draft, committee name, etc. You take this information and then move on! Take that public hearing date and search Boston Globe articles and SHNS articles and see if the hearing was reported on. You can view all versions of the bill in the library's digital repository and find their subsequent bill histories. You take the committee information and see if the committee hearing files or legislative files are at the State Archives (see example).

Additional sections: The volumes contain a subject Index and an Acts list. Both great for quickly identifying a bill number. The earlier volumes also contain Orders, Resolves, and list Public Documents issued during each session.


The Bulletin of Committee Work and the Legislative Record can be found in the library’s third floor reading room. Please contact the Reference Department with questions reference.deparmtent@mass.gov.


April Pascucci
Legislative Reference Librarian

*House and Senate Journals and Legislative Documents available digitally.

State Library Newsletter - June Issue

Happy June from the State Library! In this month's newsletter, read about our upcoming events and our new exhibits and displays, and catch up on past blogs commemorating Juneteenth and Pride Month.

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.

Initial Capitals Found at the State Library

A whaling cruise to Baffin’s Bay and the Gulf of Boothia

There are many beautiful books in the State Library’s collections. Covers and spines are the flashiest, catching your eye as you walk by the shelf, but it is always a welcome surprise to open a plain-looking book and find detailed illustrations. My favorite genre of these illustrations are initial capitals. During a recent project I kept finding more and more of these initial capitals and thought it would be fun to highlight them for our patrons.

An initial capital refers to when the first letter of a section of text is larger than the rest for emphasis. The history of initials goes way back, all the way to before the invention of lowercase letters. People used to write in all capitals, and to differentiate the start of a new section people began to use a larger initial letter. Eventually, people began incorporating decorations and illustrations to those initial letters. Thus was born a long and beautiful history of “initials.”

Voyages of Samuel de Champlain (left) The Great Centennial Exhibition (center) and
Whale hunt: The narrative of a voyage by Nelson Cole Haley (right)

Some of the most famous and most intricate initials come from the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript from around 800 A.D. These initials sometimes took up an entire page. If you’re interested in seeing some of this stunning artistry, this website has collected and organized them all.

With the invention of the printing press, people less often illustrated initials by hand and instead carved them out of wood blocks. Though this style is quite different from a hand illustration, it is still just as striking. These carved initials often were done without magnification and in natural light—an impressive feat for a work of art that is often no larger than a postage stamp! In the 19th century, people grew so enamored with initials that it was a trend to cut them out of books and trade them as though they were baseball cards. Modern readers are likely to be more accustomed to simpler initials. Often a text will just increase the font size of the first letter without any embellishment-- for example, this blog post! 

The Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution

Whether an initial is a full page of gilded color or a square inch of black ink, an initial elevates the reader’s sense of the text’s content. Though initials are not confined to any one genre or style of writing, their beauty and artistry indicate a care for the design of the text. In this post, I’ve included some of my favorite examples of initials in the State Library's collection. Enjoy!

Emily Colson

Government Documents Intern

Sources:

(2018, August 21). An illuminating workshop and exhibit with Bill Moran. Hamilton Wood Type &    Printing Museum. https://woodtype.org/blogs/news/an-illuminating-workshop-and-exhibit-with-bill-moran

(2020, August 20). Make the letter bigger. I Love Typography. https://ilovetypography.com/2020/08/20/history-of-illuminated-initials/

Haley, N. C. (1948). Whale hunt: The narrative of a voyage by Nelson Cole Haley, harpooner in the ship Charles W. Morgan 1849-1853. Ives Washburn, Inc.

Heller, S. (2018, July 31). Initial caps: The birth of illustrated typography. Design Observer. https://designobserver.com/initial-caps-the-birth-of-illustrated-typography/

Lossing, B. J. (1860). The pictorial field-book of the revolution. Harper & Brothers, Publishers. 

Markham, A. H. (1874). A whaling cruise to Baffin’s Bay and the Gulf of Boothia. Sampson Low, Marston, Low, and Searle. (image one)

Otis, C. P. (1880). Voyages of Samuel de Champlain. Prince Society.

Sandhurst, P. T. and others. The great centennial exhibition. P. W. Ziegler & Co. Publishers.

In Celebration of MA250 and America250: Author Talk with Donna A. Seger and Brad Austin

• Salem’s Centuries: New Perspectives on the History of an Old American City - Edited by Donna A. Seger and Brad Austin
• Wednesday, June 10, 2026. 12pm - 1:00pm
• In-person and Virtual event. No registration required.
• State Library of Massachusetts - Room 341, Massachusetts State House
• Livestream on YouTube

In honor of Massachusetts250 and America250 the State Library of Massachusetts Author Talks Series is celebrating with the 2026 release Salem’s Centuries edited by two local professors from Salem State University, Donna Seger and Brad Austin.

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: Salem’s Centuries celebrates the 400 year history of the city from multiple perspectives. The book is a compilation of essays written by Salem State University History Department faculty and graduates of the university’s master’s program. Of course the book includes the infamous witch trials, but the focus is on the other areas of Salem’s vast history. Included are essays on Salem and the Civil War, Salem’s maritime history, and Salem’s labor and industrial history; the essays not only highlight Salem’s history beyond the witch trials but emphasize the history of the indigenous and enslaved peoples of Salem. Salem’s standing as a centuries old city is a reflection of not only Massachusetts history but the nation’s.

Donna A. Seger is Professor of History at Salem State University. She is the author of The Practical Renaissance: Information Culture and the Quest for Knowledge in Early Modern England, 1500–1640 and manages the blog Streets of Salem.

As a resident of Salem, Seger has a passion for local history. This passion combined with her professional and academic background resulted in Salem’s Centuries. Seger holds a doctorate from Brandeis University and is professor of medieval and early modern European History at Salem State University.

Brad Austin is Professor of History at Salem State University. He is the author of Democratic Sports: Men's and Women's College Athletics during the Great Depression and the coeditor of Understanding and Teaching the Vietnam War and Teaching U.S. History through Sports.

Austin holds a PhD in modern American history from Ohio State University. He is the current chair of Salem State University’s History Department.

As always, this author talk is free and open to all. Assisted listening devices will be made available upon request courtesy of the State House ADA Coordinator. 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 authors.

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 the Author Talks Committee