State Library of Massachusetts

Summer is officially here! And the State Library has something for everyone to read and enjoy. Stop by the reading room (room 341 of the Sta...

Massachusetts is home to a number of great libraries and has been for many years! But do you know just how many libraries were functioning i...

Happy June! Now that the summer months are upon us, Boston will become even busier with visitors. Whether you are a local playing tourist fo...

Happy Spring! Did you know that Massachusetts was home to beloved naturalist and author Thornton Burgess. Born in Sandwich in 1874, Burgess ...

Did you know that the State Library has a large collection of real estate atlases documenting the development of cities and towns in Massach...

This month, we’re excited to remind you that you can now visit the library and view our featured collection item in person! Currently on dis...

February 2 is well-known in the United States, and especially in our Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as Groundhog Day. We are proud to honor ...

During a major cataloging project at the State Library, the staff rediscovered many of our beautiful collections, including maps, photograph...

According to the Legislative Research and Drafting Manual, in Massachusetts a bill has the “force of law” when “(1) the Governor signs it...

From March 12th to April 30th I completed the Civic Data Ambassadors program , which was offered by the City of Boston in collaboration with...

This past Saturday marked the 180th anniversary of a fatal duel between two United States congressmen.  On February 24th, 1838, in Prince Ge...

Geographical mapping technology has gone a long way in just a short 30 years.  Many interactive tools have been or are being developed and d...

A page from the 1905 Acts and Resolves  listing the name changes that occurred in Essex and Franklin counties during the year 1904....

The doorway of "The Stearns House," which was built in 1776. Image from Historic Doorways of Old Salem (1926) by Mary Harrod ...

The State legislature designated the chickadee as the “bird or bird emblem of the commonwealth” in 1941. A few years ago, in preparation ...

Martin Luther King image from Wikimedia Commons This week the nation pauses to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. Martin ...

Many researchers who visit the State Library for legislative research purposes also inquire about videos of executive branch coverage or le...

Bradford manuscript special display case (bottom right) in main Library, ca. 1908. In 2014 the State Library completed a major pro...

As a repository for official state documents, the State Library of Massachusetts has many annual reports from agencies and entities of th...

Martin J. Walsh On January 6th of this year, Martin J. Walsh became Boston’s 54th Mayor. Walsh had had a long career in state government...